NIAGARA FALLS — The street sweepers still were tidying up the area Tuesday afternoon, and the first tenants moved in only a few days ago, but the city’s newest residential neighborhood already was drawing rave reviews as it planned for its grand opening today.

“It’s going to be a lovely neighborhood. It’s going to grow. They are coming tomorrow to hook up the telephones. And we have two full bathrooms — and one of them is downstairs,” gushed Neziezadie Brown as she relaxed in the afternoon sunshine on the spacious front porch of her new apartment at 1350 Garden Ave.

“Look how big this porch is. We’ll have lights all over the porch for Christmas, and everybody else will have them too,” Brown said as she looked ahead to the changing seasons in the new Hope VI community being created by the Niagara Falls Housing Authority. It replaces the decaying, 67-year-old Center Court public housing project in the city’s North End.

“There’s even a new city bus route right down Garden Avenue, so we can get on the bus without walking all the way to Highland Avenue,” Brown said. The more convenient transportation is among the ameni-

ties that appeal to people like the 65-year-old Brown, who walks with a cane.

The first five buildings, with a total of 10 duplex apartments, opened within the last few days. Brown was among the first tenants to move in, along with her husband, Walter, a retired employee of both Bethlehem Steel and the Housing Authority.

Just up the street, Barbara Jeter also was among the first tenants, at 1358 Garden Ave.

Having been there for just a few days, Jeter said she still was getting settled into her new home after having lived in the Center Court project for 33 years. “It’s going to take some getting used to, but I just love it,” she said.

Brown and Jeter plan to be on hand for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a. m. today at Garden Avenue and nearby Aaron Griffin Way. Among the speakers will be Stephanie W. Cowart, executive director of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority; Carmelette

M. Rotella, chairman of the authority; and a list of public officials and Housing Authority tenants.

The Housing Authority is billing its Hope VI project, expected to cost more than $72 million, as the “Creation of a Be-loved Community. We empower. We enrich. We build strong communities!”

Material being distributed at today’s ceremony explains that the development being built adjacent to the Center Court project is a private-public partnership forged by the Housing Authority and Norstar Development USA.

Phase I, which is being built on city-donated lots, consists of 115 rental units ranging from one bedroom to four bedrooms in 59 buildings. No building will contain more than two apartments. The authority is announcing today that financing for Phase II, to be built on the site where the existing Center Court is to be torn down, has been authorized and construction will begin next summer.

When the entire revitalization program is finished, its 282 new housing units will replace the 134 obsolete units on and around Center Court.

The authority said the “modern, well-designed units will not just be replacement housing for Center Court residents, but will offer a mix of home ownership and low-, moderate-and upper-income level rental units to strengthen the overall social and economic foundation of the community and the growing needs of individuals and families who want to live and work in the City of Niagara Falls.”

Other components of the program will include job development and training, health care programs, personal and professional development opportunities, credit counseling, home ownership counseling, after- school tutoring, computer training, budgeting classes and parenting classes.

rbaldwin@buffnews.comnull