Applications are officially closed for the new Glove City Lofts apartments after 200 people sent in applications for the 75-unit building, which has a preference for artists, to revitalize Gloversville’s downtown.

Kearney Realty & Development Group, the developer, will forward applications to the state for it to conduct a randomized lottery to approve applications on Sept. 9 for the building. Since the applications are currently closed, any new applicants will be put on a waiting list.

“I don’t know the breakdown of local versus away, or artist versus non-[artist], but for 75 units, 200 applicants, I thought was pretty good,” DRI Specialist Jennifer Donovan said. “If anybody applies now, they just automatically go on a waitlist if things open up down the road.”

The $21 million project, funded in part by Gloversville’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds from the state, is considered affordable housing because the rent price is dependent on household income and the number of people staying in the unit. The most expensive unit is a two-bedroom apartment totaling $1,384 for a family of four that earns $36,325 to $88,500 a year.

“When I saw the quality of what they’re doing with the big windows, a lot of natural light, there’s air flow, and it’s beautiful, high ceilings — it’s not your average apartment,” Gloversville Mayor Vince DeSantis said. “They’re not your average apartments, so I’m not surprised that so many people applied for [them].”

DeSantis said 30 artists applied for the apartment complex, and that the complex has 32 units preferred for them.

“Some of the people who are artists will be involved in the other artistic things that are going on in our arts district,” DeSantis said. “Some of them may be involved in the Glove Theater, some of them in other aspects of the community. The reason we want these creative people here is because they’re the people who create businesses, they create jobs.”

However, an official move-in date is still up in the air. DeSantis said the official date has moved further back this year due to ongoing construction.

“It was supposed to be July, and they’re working as fast as they can to get everything done,........

© The Leader Herald