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Hornell Today
By the People, for the People
Hornell Sells 'Lucky' BOCES House 13 on Madison Avenue
The brand-new home was built by BOCES building trades students onsite, a change from previous homes in the program.
Mar. 20, 2026 at 9:03am
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The City of Hornell has officially sold the 13th home built through its partnership with GST BOCES. The brand-new house on Madison Avenue was constructed onsite by BOCES building trades students, a change from previous homes in the program that were built at the campus and then transported to the address. The home was sold for $180,000 to Jonathan and Charlie LeRoux.
Why it matters
The ongoing partnership between Hornell and GST BOCES provides valuable hands-on experience for building trades students while also delivering well-built, modern homes to address the city's need for new, single-family housing. The Steuben County Land Bank also played a key role in the project by previously acquiring and demolishing the property before the new home was constructed.
The details
The ranch-style, two-bedroom home at 179 Madison Ave. has approximately 1,200 square feet of living space and features two full bathrooms, including a curbless shower in the master bathroom and a full tub/shower in the second bath. The house also has first-floor washer and dryer hookups. The minimum accepted bid for the new home was $165,000, and the winning bid of $180,000 was made by Jonathan and Charlie LeRoux.
- The city closed the bidding process on Feb. 26, 2026 and the offers were read aloud the same day.
- Construction will continue for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. After that, BOCES will turn the project over to the city for finishing touches.
The players
GST BOCES
A regional educational services agency that partners with the City of Hornell on the home-building program, providing building trades students with valuable hands-on experience.
Steuben County Land Bank
Played an integral role in the project by previously buying the Madison Avenue property before demolishing the existing structure.
Jonathan and Charlie LeRoux
The winning bidders who purchased the new home at 179 Madison Ave. for $180,000.
What they’re saying
“With the ongoing need for new, single-family homes in Hornell, this partnership continues to be a strong investment in our community. It provides Building Trades students, led by Rob Lemay, with valuable hands-on experience while delivering well-built homes with modern features.”
— John Buckley, Mayor
What’s next
The 440 Canisteo St. location will be home to the 14th BOCES house on land donated to the city by St. James Hospital. Plans call for a ranch-style residence that replicates the design of an earlier home built through the program on Preston Avenue. Construction will continue for the remainder of the school year. After that, BOCES will turn the project over to the city for finishing touches.
The takeaway
The successful partnership between Hornell and GST BOCES demonstrates how community-driven initiatives can provide valuable educational opportunities for students while also addressing local housing needs. The program's ability to adapt, such as building homes onsite rather than transporting them, highlights its flexibility and responsiveness to evolving requirements.
