The notion that Buffalo could become a model for how to curb the nation’s problem of vacant housing has activists excited about an initiative from Gov. David A. Paterson.

The strategy, outlined in Paterson’s State of the State address Wednesday, would turn Buffalo into a pilot project for a statewide effort aimed at rehabilitating abandoned structures.

“We’re excited about the collaborations across agencies that will achieve some pretty dramatic results,” said Eric Walker, organizing director of the West Side group PUSH Buffalo and one of people attending Paterson’s address in Albany.

Walker said the group, People United for Sustainable Housing, thinks the governor’s initiative can produce significant results here and across the state.

The strategy includes a proposal for a “Green Development Zone,” a plan for rebuilding a 16-block neighborhood on the West Side.

The goal behind the zone, which would be located west of Richmond Avenue and south of West Ferry Street, is to create a national model for green-designed neighborhood revitalization. Others wanted more specifics about the Sustainable Neighborhoods Project, including details on how the state intends to fund it.

“I don’t see new money in the [plan],” said Michael Clarke, executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corp., a nonprofit group promoting neighborhood revitalization. “Without [new funding], it’s hard to say that you’re talking about anything that’s much different than what’s already being done now.”

Paterson administration officials said the answer lies in spending existing funds more wisely.

“You could put it under the heading of ‘Could we do government better?’ ” said Michael Weber, an aide to the governor’s adviser for infrastructure and transportation.

State officials said there already are significant funds in affordable-housing and economic-development programs that can be “redirected” to priority projects.

They also underscored the importance of making sure that funds already allocated are spent prudently, including a $7.5 million allocation that Buffalo recently received through the Restore New York program.

In Wednesday’s speech, Paterson talked about the large number of vacant houses in cities such as Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.

“We will develop that housing stock into affordable housing, starting with Buffalo, which right now has 23,000 vacant units,” Paterson said to applause.

In the coming weeks, state officials will meet with local government and community leaders to begin charting an action plan, advisers to the governor told The Buffalo News.

Michael A. Skrebutenas, deputy commissioner in the state’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal, gave assurances that the neighborhoods project will be shaped by local officials.

“This won’t be top-down planning,” he said. One key component will involve rehabilitating blighted structures and marketing them to first-time homeowners who would be selected through a lottery process, state officials said.

In addition to rehabilitating empty structures, the blueprint calls for other green-friendly reuses of fallow property, including community gardens and urban farming. Walker said energy efficiency would be one priority. The projects also would aim to link development to job creation.

“We believe we could use this as a launching pad to replicate projects statewide,” Walker said.

At the federal level, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N. Y., and Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, are sponsoring legislation that would set aside $400 million over three years to address vacant housing and create 30 pilot projects in cities such as Buffalo. State officials said the governor’s plan would complement the federal initiative, not compete with it.