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NILES -- Residents attending a Tuesday forum hosted by Neighborhood Development Services at Grace Fellowship Church heard about the proposed construction of a new senior housing project, slated to open in 2025.
The development, on three acres adjacent to the church's property, is being funded through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency 2023 tax credit program.
Theresa Capitoni, senior development manager with NDS, explained: "They've allocated so much money in tax credits every year. They put out a plan, and it's our job to find a project that fits the plan. This project was submitted back in February and it was funded, but we do have to follow it up with a final application."
The property is on the corner of Youngstown Warren Road and Wabash Avenue. The proposed multistory building, tentatively titled Graceland Village, would have 42, one-bedroom, one-bathroom units along with several amenities.
Jonathan Morschl, vice president of Four Points Architectural Services in Akron, said NDS, along with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, identified a need for senior housing in the community.
"In general, the reason for the project is because there is a need here," Morschl said. "With a lot of the projects that is the reasoning … because the organization which handles the tax credits hires a consultant to do a survey every year identifying the communities that have the most need. This was an area of need that was pretty high on the list."
The rent amount for interested individuals in Trumbull County is based on average median income as determined by 2022 numbers provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to the presentation, Graceland Village will have five units rented at 30 percent of AMI, which is $15,570, 12 units will be rented at 50 percent of AMI, $25,950, and 25 units rented at 60 percent of AMI, which is $31,140.
For residents who fall in the 30 percent range, monthly rent would be $394. Individuals who fall in the 50 percent range would pay $629 monthly, and individuals who are in the 60 percent range would pay $724 per month.
Building tenants will be responsible only for their electric bill, as well as any cable or internet service that they desire. The building owner will pay for sewer, water and trash.
Supportive services will be provided on-site by Family & Community Services, including meals, wellness programs, counseling services, job training and placement assistance, and connection to different resources.
Morschl said each unit on average is about 680 square feet.
"It's a pretty nice unit, honestly," he said.
Morschl said that there are similar housing developments in Newton Falls and Windham.
At the end of the presentation, Capitoni gave a timeline for the project. She said that the final application for the project's tax credits is due Sept. 21. She said that NDS hopes to have the entirety of the funding secured by the beginning of 2024. Capitoni said that construction could commence in the early spring of 2024, if not sooner. She said that the project will take 12 to 15 months. NDS hopes to have residents moving in by mid-2025.
Some of the amenities would include an exercise room, a game room, laundry facilities on the first floor, a library, a patio with seating, residential garden beds and interior resident mailboxes.
There will be a second information meeting for the public at 5 p.m. Sept. 14. at the church.
NDS acquired the property from Grace Fellowship Church.
No one spoke against the project Tuesday.
Roy Mack is the senior pastor of the church. He said a need for additional senior housing exists in the area and thinks that there will be continued interest from area seniors, including those in his congregation.
"We have about 100 seniors … 80 to 100 who will come and see what we're doing," Mack said. "I'm sure there would be people who would get interest out of that, or if nothing else interest in a few years."