BY JOSH DAVISNorth Country This Week

CANTON– The town council has agreed to sponsor two grants for the rehabilitation of Church Creek manufactured home park.

Matt Welsh purchased the community in October of 2024, and appeared at Wednesday’s town board meeting via telephone to ask the town for its assistance in applying for two New York State grants to make infrastructure and other improvements in the park. 

The community is located roughly 3.5 miles west of the village of Canton on U.S. Highway 11. 

Park owner Welsh described the property  as “very scenic,” saying it has “a lot of potential” if it can receive the proper improvements. 

Welsh is seeking grant money through the state Community Development Block Grant program, as well as the HOME program, which is specifically intended to fund the improvement of substandard housing. 

Because both the HOME grant and Community Development Block Grants require a municipality to be the primary sponsor, Canton will assist Welsh in the process, essentially serving as a “pass through” for any funds awarded, according to Canton Economic Development Director Leigh Rodriguez.  

Welsh said that much of the park’s construction took place over 50 years ago, and there are some “deferred maintenance” issues that he hopes to address through the state programs. 

Church Creek is Welsh’s third manufactured home park purchase. He also owns a park in Tennessee and another in Nebraska. 

The park currently has about 30 residences, and has space for roughly 45 on its 16 acres, Welsh reported. 

Welsh’s foremost goal is to install about five new manufactured homes in the park, though he is also  eyeing improvements to electrical infrastructure, walkways, lighting, and gravel for roadways. 

He hopes to receive roughly $170,000 for each of the five homes and park improvements, for a total nearing $1 million being discussed. 

Welsh said that some parts within the park’s well pump house are also “beyond their useful life” and due for replacement. 

Welsh said that his current draft budget is “sort of a wish list,” and includes more items than he believes may be funded. 

Welsh also said that his community is dedicated to affordable housing, noting that leases at Church Creek are rent-controlled, with a maximum annual increase of three percent allowed.

“I think it provides a really important source for affordable housing,” he said. 

Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley described Welsh’s plan as “quite the venture,” and pledged the town’s assistance following a unanimous vote from the town board. 

The New York State HOME Program funds a variety of activities to acquire, rehabilitate, or construct affordable housing, or to provide assistance to low-income home-buyers or renters through partnerships with counties, towns, cities, villages, private developers, and community-based non-profit housing organizations. 

Community Development Block Grants are wider in scope, and can be used for a variety of rehabilitation and development initiatives. 

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