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Independence, MO —
If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
The developers associated with the Mount Washington senior housing project proved the old saying true when they were rejected for tax credits in late 2011. So, they applied again, and received word in June that the project would be able to move forward, thanks to the tax credits.
And now, Donovan Mouton, a development consultant with Sherman Associates Inc., the project’s developer, has coined a phrase for the area of town that includes the former Mount Washington Elementary School: “The west side is the best side in Independence.”
The announcement regarding the future of the Mount Washington redevelopment took place Tuesday night during a “behind the scenes” meeting with the Truman Heartland Community Foundation and several dozen residents, hosted at Fairmount Community Center.
“We’re elated about it – to see that building saved and to see 45 more apartments for seniors is exactly what we need over here,” said Bill Rogers, executive director of the NorthWest Communities Development Corporation. “We’re really excited about it – it’s a real plus for us.”
The sale of the Mount Washington property from the Independence School District to the developer is expected to close in early 2013, Mouton said, with construction now slated to start in the spring of 2013.
The Independence School District received the property at 570 S. Evanston Ave. as part of the annexation in late 2007, moving eight buildings from the Kansas City School District into the local district. The Independence Board of Education declared Mount Washington as surplus property in August 2008.
The school building will need to be completely gutted, and upon completion, will include about 45 total one- and two-bedroom affordable units for senior residents. Occupants must meet the at or below 50 percent of the area median income requirement.
Residents at the complex also will have access to nearby social services and activities through the NWCDC and the Fairmount Community Center.
“Now we’ll be able to tie in activities between the Fairmount Plaza Apartments, Mount Washington and Fairmount Community Center,” Rogers said. “With our bus transportation, we can make that happen.”
Mouton added that this could be a project that spurs other redevelopment and new economic development in that area of Independence. The developer also is trying to save two crucial components of the structure.
“We’re very seriously considering reutilizing the gym and auditorium for some public use,” Mouton said. “We’re evaluating that currently and we’ll hopefully have some definitive answer on that in the next 60 days. The developer is very much looking at ways to preserve those and to bring them back to public use.”
If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
The developers associated with the Mount Washington senior housing project proved the old saying true when they were rejected for tax credits in late 2011. So, they applied again, and received word in June that the project would be able to move forward, thanks to the tax credits.
And now, Donovan Mouton, a development consultant with Sherman Associates Inc., the project’s developer, has coined a phrase for the area of town that includes the former Mount Washington Elementary School: “The west side is the best side in Independence.”
The announcement regarding the future of the Mount Washington redevelopment took place Tuesday night during a “behind the scenes” meeting with the Truman Heartland Community Foundation and several dozen residents, hosted at Fairmount Community Center.
“We’re elated about it – to see that building saved and to see 45 more apartments for seniors is exactly what we need over here,” said Bill Rogers, executive director of the NorthWest Communities Development Corporation. “We’re really excited about it – it’s a real plus for us.”
The sale of the Mount Washington property from the Independence School District to the developer is expected to close in early 2013, Mouton said, with construction now slated to start in the spring of 2013.
The Independence School District received the property at 570 S. Evanston Ave. as part of the annexation in late 2007, moving eight buildings from the Kansas City School District into the local district. The Independence Board of Education declared Mount Washington as surplus property in August 2008.
The school building will need to be completely gutted, and upon completion, will include about 45 total one- and two-bedroom affordable units for senior residents. Occupants must meet the at or below 50 percent of the area median income requirement.
Residents at the complex also will have access to nearby social services and activities through the NWCDC and the Fairmount Community Center.
“Now we’ll be able to tie in activities between the Fairmount Plaza Apartments, Mount Washington and Fairmount Community Center,” Rogers said. “With our bus transportation, we can make that happen.”
Mouton added that this could be a project that spurs other redevelopment and new economic development in that area of Independence. The developer also is trying to save two crucial components of the structure.
“We’re very seriously considering reutilizing the gym and auditorium for some public use,” Mouton said. “We’re evaluating that currently and we’ll hopefully have some definitive answer on that in the next 60 days. The developer is very much looking at ways to preserve those and to bring them back to public use.”
