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By Emily Hone BLACKFOOT — A new complex offering affordable housing for senior citizens is open and ready for occupancy in Blackfoot, and its owner/developer, The Housing Company of Boise, hosted an open house there Tuesday for the news media.  Morning News - Emily Hone
Blackfoot Mayor Mike Virtue prepares to cut the ceremonial ribbon during an open house Tuesday for the Rose Park Place Apartments, a new affordable housing complex for senior citizens in Blackfoot. Holding the ribbon at right is Gerald Hunter president and executive director of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. At left is Douglas Peterson, director of The Housing Company, which owns the apartments. Behind Hunter is Kevin Gardiner, vice president of community development for Wells Fargo Bank.
Blackfoot Mayor Mike Virtue cut the ribbon at the doors to the complex's clubhouse Tuesday, signifying its official opening, after which tours of some representative apartments took place.
Virtue, one of the speakers at the open house, said the apartments are a welcome and much-needed addition to Blackfoot. He said the availability of high quality housing is one of the things that attracts people to a community. "You can tell the quality of this one is outstanding," he said.
Gerald Hunter, president and executive director of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, said the development was a cooperative effort of THC, IHFA and Wells Fargo Community Development Equity Investment that was at least five years in the making.
Hunter said their group had a meeting with community leaders five years ago at which a need for affordable senior housing in Blackfoot was expressed. “It seems like it took a long time to get it together," he said, "so this was a long-term effort."
THC is a nonprofit corporation created by IHFA in 1990 to provide rental housing options for Idaho families. Its director, Douglas Peterson, said the IHFA allocated income housing tax credits, a HUD Home loan and provided construction and permanent loans for the development, providing equity to reduce debt and bring rents within the reach of more seniors.
Kevin Gardiner, vice president community development for Wells Fargo Bank, said based on what he has seen, there has never been more need than there is right now for affordable housing, and the same program that made Rose Park Place Apartments possible has been responsible for many more units.
Arave Construction was the construction manager on the project, and Sundberg & Associates was the architect.
Tom Arave said the contract specifications for the apartments required the use of only high quality materials.
Peterson said Arave was to be congratulated on a job well done.
"This is a example of what can be accomplished when people get together and work real hard," Peterson said.
The approximately 40,000 square-foot complex, completed in August, has 40 apartments in 10 single-level fourplexes.
Each has a microwave and self-cleaning electric range, frost-free refrigerator, dishwasher and garbage disposal, electric heat and air conditioning, washer and dryer,and a one-car garage.
The clubhouse has a community room, exercise room and a covered patio.
The apartments are available to senior citizens 55 and older who meet income requirements, and to handicapped disabled people, but not to those with children, Vitelli said. She said they accept Idaho Housing Agency vouchers.
Based on income, rent for the apartments ranges from $225 to $450, and tenants must pay a $350 security deposit plus a $15 application fee. Lease agreements are for 6, 9 and 12 months.
Vitelli said she has already filled seven of the apartments and is processing applications for three more.
"I've been getting a lot of calls for them as the word has gotten out," Vitelli said, "many of them from people in Pocatello."
She can be reached at 782-0085.
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