TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -
The Lucas County Commissioners have given approval for
United North to apply for low-income housing tax credits to pay for the St.
Hedwig's senior housing project, which is expected to exceed $7 million.
The plan calls for converting the former school building
into 23 units, and tearing down the former convent and building a new structure
with 18 units.
"We've been concentrating on that corridor, right across
the street is the new Shops on Lagrinka, a couple of blocks away is a senior
center, Fifth Third Bank just built a new building a couple of years ago, and
we're restoring the old Ohio Theatre," said Terry Glazer with United North.
Sharon Wade lives next door to St. Hedwig's, and said
it's hard to look at the vacant school building day after day.
"My in-laws were raised here and they say it's beautiful
inside," Wade said. "They'd hate to see it torn down and I would, too, because
that's like almost a monument to the neighborhood."
United North recently completed construction of the
40-unit Crane's Landing senior housing development, with funding through
low-income housing tax credits, and a similar application will be filed with
the state this month for the St. Hedwig's project.
"The tax credits are a very competitive process," Glazer
said. "We've been able to get them over the last few years, but we need to
submit a very comprehensive application."
If the tax credits are awarded this year, Glazer said
construction will start in 2014 and finish in 2015.
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The former St. Hedwig's school is currently empty.
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