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Council endorses tax credit application for HOI
HOI hopes to develop new senior housing facility
HOI parrish road pic
Above is the barricade that now notes the dead end of Parish Road at Eisenhower. With the planned development of apartments for seniors in the area, more of Parrish Road will be paved at the expense of project developer Housing Opportunities Inc. - photo by DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Maybe, the second time will be the charm.

A resolution approved by the Great Bend City Council Monday night should help bring more affordable rental housing for the communities seniors. The action supported the application for tax credits to aid in a new $4 million Housing Opportunities Inc. development adjacent to the current Cherry Village senior apartments in southwest Great Bend. 

“We are home-grown,” HOI Executive Director Vicky Dayton said of the organization. Formed in 1996, it is based in Great Bend and serves Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Scott counties.

The council previously approved such support in February 2016, but HOI’s application was rejected by state officials, Dayton said. Now, HOI is again applying for the credits through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to build a 24-unit rental housing development for senior citizens.

Dayton said the first time around, the HOI project scored high. But, the state turned it down so available funds could be spread around to other communities.

Also, in support of this application, the city waived building permits and utility tap fees to a nearby water main. In all, these will not exceed $25,000. 

Pending approval from the state, the complex would fall under the Neighborhood Revitalization Program for five years. This program offers tax rebates of diminishing amounts over the five years, after which the property will be subject to the full property taxes.

Located at Parrish Court in the Cherry Village Addition (in the southwest corner of town), the new facility will target those 55 and older, Dayton said. Each unit in the property will have the following amenities: washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, attached single car garage, garage door opener, trash pick-up, storm shelter, lawn care, snow removal and keyless entry.

Dubbed Quail Cove, this would be HOI’s seventh such facility in Great Bend, Dayton said. “We are here to serve.”

She will make the application by Feb. 7. It will be filed with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. 

The project incudes constructing Parrish Road within the development that would serve the new structures, as a cul-de-sac. As of now, the only access will be off of Eisenhower on the south edge with no plans to extend Parrish through to Broadway on the north side.

In its 24 years, HOI has developed 62 home-ownership homes, 17 rental properties with 208 units dedicated to seniors and 20 family rent-to-own homes in its coverage area, totalling over $40 million. A certified Community Housing Development Organization by the state of Kansas, it has a seven-member staff. 

“We have a vacancy rate of less than 5%,” she said. HOI maintains a waiting list for its properties of over 200 names.

The start date for construction is pending, depending on approval of the tax credits.


Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance

Here is a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did Monday night:

•  Approved a request from Housing Opportunities Inc. to support a tax credit application.

• Heard a report from City Administrator Kendal Francis. He focused on the proposed Emergency Operations Plan for the city and traffic problems with people turning into McDonalds off of 10th Street.

• Heard a report from Community Coordinator Christina Hayes. She focused on Trail of Lights results and her first-ever community coordinator/Convention and Visitors Bureau annual report.

• Approved a Cereal malt beverage license for John Nothnagel with Smokers Outlet.

• Approved abatements at: 1815 Hubbard, accumulation of trash/refuse, owned by Billy Jay Love; 2421 12th, accumulation of trash/refuse, owned by John Melton; 1923 Kansas, accumulation of trash/refuse, owned by Louis Williams and Stueder Rentals; 1923 Kansas; Motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Louis Williams and Stueder Rentals; 1918 Holland, accumulation of trash/refuse, owned by Jamie Garcia; 455 Evergreen, motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Paul Chism; 1411 Hubbard, accumulation of trash/refuse, owned by John Helfrich; and 3124 28th, motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Vernon Stevens.