A boarded-up East Side complex that once served as an orphanage is slated to be converted into housing for low-to moderate-income people.

The $16.3 million St. Martin Village project was reviewed Thursday by the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, which allocated $2.4 million in federal housing funds toward it.

The project is being undertaken by the Community Action Organization of Erie County, an agency with close political ties to Mayor Byron W. Brown.

“This is an excellent project,” said Brown, chairman of the Urban Renewal Agency. “This facility has been vacant for nearly 30 years. This will go a long way toward stabilizing that part of the community.”

The Community Action Organization, a nonprofit community group, is partnering on the project with Delta Development of Western New York, the development arm of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

Plans call for partial demolition and renovation of the former German Catholic Orphanage, 564 Dodge St., along with new construction.

Three buildings will be demolished, and two others will be renovated and converted into 24 two-bedroom apartments. Six new buildings will be constructed, creating 36 three-and four-bedroom townhouses. The chapel will be converted into a common area for St. Martin Village residents as well as a community services facility occupied by the Community Action Organization.

In addition to the $2.4 million from the Urban Renewal Agency, project funding includes $2.4 million from the state Housing Trust Fund Loan Program, $1 million from the Community Preservation Corp. loan program and more than $9.5 million from the Key Community Development Corp.

L. Nathan Hare, executive director of the Community Action Organization, was not available to comment Thursday. Hare has ties to Grassroots, the political organization that has served as Brown’s political springboard.

Also Thursday, the Urban Renewal Agency allocated $900,100 in federal funds to help convert the former Holy Family Elementary School on Tifft Street into affordable senior housing. Plans call for converting the three-story building into 35 apartments. The building also will become the permanent home of the South Buffalo Food Pantry.

The $8.2 million project is being undertaken by Delta Development along with Living Communities LLC. Additional funding includes $2.2 million from the state Housing Trust Fund Program and $4.9 million in tax credits from the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal.

“This is an excellent project,” said South Council Member Michael P. Kearns. “It keeps our seniors in South Buffalo.”