Housing Opportunities Of Warsaw Proposes Rolling Hills Development
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Their concerns about property values may be answered with a market study, but Rolling Hills subdivision residents probably will continue to express their doubts about the nature of a proposed senior housing complex.
The Housing Opportunities of Warsaw board of directors and executive director hosted a public meeting Thursday at Center Lake Pavilion to answer questions and provide information regarding the development.
HOW has an option on 4.3 acres west of Ind. 15, south of Gilliam Drive.
The development plan shows nine building sites with 19 units - eight duplexes and one triplex.
"Concern about property values is understandable," said HOW Executive Director Pam Kennedy. "Statistics show that a home is the single largest investment most families will ever make."
Flanked by board members Robert Kline, Joel Curry, Patricia Ellis, Page Himes, Glenn Goudey, Ken Nichols, Wayne Walston, Libbie Thom and Bill Rhoades, Kennedy described the housing as "affordable," which means the rent charged to tenants cannot exceed the current Fair Market Rent rate set for the county, based on the Area Median Income rates: $41,925 for one person; $47,925 for two people.
"It is not public housing where tenant income is 50 percent or lower than the area median income," she said. The units would be leased by individuals 55 years old or 62 years old and older on fixed incomes.
"People who live on interest income have been hit hard recently," Kennedy said.
Qualified single individuals can earn up to $33,550 per year, two persons - $38,350. The county's fair market rent for a one-bedroom is $396 per month. If an individual earns less than $12,600 per year, or two persons $14,400, the fair market rent would be $338 per month.
HOW, a non-profit organization, will be owner and manager of the development. Part of their responsibilities would be to screen applicants and take care of the property.
"We intend to be good neighbors," Kennedy said. "We would be monitored yearly for 20 years. Even if we think we're good, there are constant checks and balances conducted at the federal and state level."
In an attempt to tamp down resident's concerns about property values she said property values go down when properties aren't kept up.
She said her office could not find a study which compared the effects of values and included a senior housing complex. A market study will begin in January 2004.
"If the study shows a negative impact on property values, we really would reconsider the project," Kennedy said.
HOW's assistant director Linda Beall presented the development's budget saying one unit will house a maintenance person in lieu of rent.
The audience held about 60 people, some seniors interested in the project along with Rolling Hills residents.
Many wanted to be assured that low income residents would not move into the complex in the future.
HOW attorney Steve Snyder said once the property is established as affordable senior housing, certain conditions would be imposed upon it.
"You can't sell it free from the conditions," Snyder said, adding the loan documents are available to the public for review.
"If you commit to state and federal funds you must comply or the funds will be removed."
Other residents expressed concern about increased traffic and Snyder said seniors have a very low impact on traffic.
When this statement was met with guffaws, he asked folks to consider that these drivers are not 16-year-olds coming and going five times a day, going to the grocery store four times a week or shepherding children around.
Phase one of the project calls for construction of five one-bedroom duplexes. The others would be added later. The units are 720 square feet and American Disabilities Act compliant. Covered carports face the interior street. A community garden and a walking path are part of the design, which includes about two acres of open space.
The proposed development must come before the Warsaw Planning Commission and the Warsaw City Council for approval as a planned unit development. Legal advertisement will be published in the Times-Union and letters of notification will be sent to adjacent property owners prior to those meetings.
For more information call HOW at 269-7641. [[In-content Ad]]
Their concerns about property values may be answered with a market study, but Rolling Hills subdivision residents probably will continue to express their doubts about the nature of a proposed senior housing complex.
The Housing Opportunities of Warsaw board of directors and executive director hosted a public meeting Thursday at Center Lake Pavilion to answer questions and provide information regarding the development.
HOW has an option on 4.3 acres west of Ind. 15, south of Gilliam Drive.
The development plan shows nine building sites with 19 units - eight duplexes and one triplex.
"Concern about property values is understandable," said HOW Executive Director Pam Kennedy. "Statistics show that a home is the single largest investment most families will ever make."
Flanked by board members Robert Kline, Joel Curry, Patricia Ellis, Page Himes, Glenn Goudey, Ken Nichols, Wayne Walston, Libbie Thom and Bill Rhoades, Kennedy described the housing as "affordable," which means the rent charged to tenants cannot exceed the current Fair Market Rent rate set for the county, based on the Area Median Income rates: $41,925 for one person; $47,925 for two people.
"It is not public housing where tenant income is 50 percent or lower than the area median income," she said. The units would be leased by individuals 55 years old or 62 years old and older on fixed incomes.
"People who live on interest income have been hit hard recently," Kennedy said.
Qualified single individuals can earn up to $33,550 per year, two persons - $38,350. The county's fair market rent for a one-bedroom is $396 per month. If an individual earns less than $12,600 per year, or two persons $14,400, the fair market rent would be $338 per month.
HOW, a non-profit organization, will be owner and manager of the development. Part of their responsibilities would be to screen applicants and take care of the property.
"We intend to be good neighbors," Kennedy said. "We would be monitored yearly for 20 years. Even if we think we're good, there are constant checks and balances conducted at the federal and state level."
In an attempt to tamp down resident's concerns about property values she said property values go down when properties aren't kept up.
She said her office could not find a study which compared the effects of values and included a senior housing complex. A market study will begin in January 2004.
"If the study shows a negative impact on property values, we really would reconsider the project," Kennedy said.
HOW's assistant director Linda Beall presented the development's budget saying one unit will house a maintenance person in lieu of rent.
The audience held about 60 people, some seniors interested in the project along with Rolling Hills residents.
Many wanted to be assured that low income residents would not move into the complex in the future.
HOW attorney Steve Snyder said once the property is established as affordable senior housing, certain conditions would be imposed upon it.
"You can't sell it free from the conditions," Snyder said, adding the loan documents are available to the public for review.
"If you commit to state and federal funds you must comply or the funds will be removed."
Other residents expressed concern about increased traffic and Snyder said seniors have a very low impact on traffic.
When this statement was met with guffaws, he asked folks to consider that these drivers are not 16-year-olds coming and going five times a day, going to the grocery store four times a week or shepherding children around.
Phase one of the project calls for construction of five one-bedroom duplexes. The others would be added later. The units are 720 square feet and American Disabilities Act compliant. Covered carports face the interior street. A community garden and a walking path are part of the design, which includes about two acres of open space.
The proposed development must come before the Warsaw Planning Commission and the Warsaw City Council for approval as a planned unit development. Legal advertisement will be published in the Times-Union and letters of notification will be sent to adjacent property owners prior to those meetings.
For more information call HOW at 269-7641. [[In-content Ad]]