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MORE HOUSING ON THE WAY
Council OKs tax credits for senior housing; Grant received to help with new home down payments
new deh city council HOI main 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 Parish Road will be paved at the expense of project developer Housing Opportunities Inc. - photo by DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

 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 Housing Opportunities Inc. development adjacent to the current Cherry Village senior apartments in southwest Great Bend. 

The council also agreed to waive the building permit fees (totalling about $5,000), sewer fees (about $2,400) and water tap fees (about $18,000). Housing Opportunities had originally sought an $80,000 cash contribution from the city, but has since withdrawn that request, City Administrator Howard Partington said.

Pending approval from the Kansas Attorney General, the complex would fall under a newly renewed Neighborhood Revitalization Program. The council had previously approved seeking a NRP renewal for one year, but has not received word from the state.

If the program goes through, the project would be eligible for five years of tax credits. 

The housing tax credit application will be filed with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. The project includes 24 new units in duplexes for those 55 and older.

The apartments will have the following amenities: washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, attached single-car garage, garage door opener, trash pick-up, storm shelter, lawn care and snow removal and keyless entry.

In addition, HOI will pay to pave Parish Road (which fronts the property) from Eisenhower to Parish Court,and Parish Court. Parish Court is a platted but undeveloped cul-de-sac that would serve the new structures.

In a related matter, the council authorized Mayor Mike Allison to sign a grant agreement with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation in the amount of $175,000 for HOI. The funds will provide home buyer assistance for the purchase of seven newly constructed single-family homes with no more than $25,000 in down payments assistance for each home buyer. 

Construction of this development shall begin by June 1 and be completed no later than June 1, 2017, unless a change is approved by KHRC.

“This will help us fill in moderate-income housing,” Partington said.