Construction Maison

Roughly 220 children in lower-income families in Bloomington qualify for but do not have access to affordable pre- kindergarten education . In an effort to change this, Alex Crowley, director of the city’s Economic and Sustainable Development Department , said a state-sponsored initiative, On My Way Pre-K pilot program, which provides funding to programs serving 4-year-olds from families with household incomes at or below 127 percent of the federal poverty level , is coming to Monroe County next year, and it is estimated it can help about 50 children. That begs the question: What can the city and others do to make sure no children who are eligible for pre-kindergarten are left out? As part of that answer, the city is proposing investing $100,000 to support quality child care for lower-income families. “Every dollar initially invested in early education programs for children from low-income families is estimated to generate $4 to $11 in economic benefits over a child’s lifetime,” May...

Cedar Rapids residents continue fight against affordable housing project as City Council prepares to make decision May 18, 2017 at 5:40 pm | Print View CEDAR RAPIDS — Neighbors to a proposed affordable housing complex in the northwest quadrant say they are frustrated with unresponsive elected officials as the project that months ago appeared dead now appears primed to pass. CommonBond Communities, a St. Paul, Minnesota- based nonprofit affordable housing developer , wants to build the $9 million, 45- unit Crestwood Ridge Apartments at 1200 Edgewood Road NW . Neighbors have fought back but been painted as biased, city leaders won ’t give them a fair chance and an east-west divide is fueling opinions, said Boyd Severson, 65, who has been part of a core group of opposition. “People are aligning as east side versus west side , at least that is the appearance,” said Severson, who is among 769 people who have signed a petition against rezoning to allow the development. “People say our...

If plans work out, the city will be gaining a new restaurant called the Spin-N-Win Cafe. During its meeting Aug. 7, the Highland City Council voted to increase the number of class D2 liquor licenses from 10 to 11 permits. A D2 license allows restaurants to operate video gaming terminals . The council also approved the issuance of the additional license to Surjuit “Sunny” Tut, the owner of Tut Properties Inc. and Highland Liquor and Food Mart, located at 201 Walnut St. In a letter to Mayor Joe Michaelis , Tut said he is in the process of negotiating with a chain food service provider in hopes of opening a restaurant called the Spin-N-Win Cafe. Tut said he originally wanted to open the restaurant out of his existing business. But he decided it would not provide enough space, so instead he purchased a property at 213 Walnut St. with the intent of tearing down a dilapidated home and garage on the property. He said the plan is to construct a new structure for a restaurant. The restaura...

High- density proposal in El Pueblo Viejo District draws opposition from historic preservationists , Anacapa School unit apartment building is proposed for 800 Santa Barbara St . in downtown Santa Barbara . The project would include eight studios, 10 one-bedroom units and five two-bedroom units; commercial space; and underground parking for 29 vehicles." height="667" width="1000" id="upsize" /> A three-story, 23- unit apartment building is proposed for 800 Santa Barbara St . in downtown Santa Barbara . The project would include eight studios, 10 one-bedroom units and five two-bedroom units; commercial space; and underground parking for 29 vehicles. (Hochhauser Blatter Architecture & Planning rendering) A three-story, 23- unit apartment complex with an underground parking garage has received a key approval for its proposed construction at the corner of Santa Barbara and De la Guerra streets , near El Presidio de Santa Bá rbara State Hist...

Downtown Merchants Association coordinator Jessica Kohn said one resounding issue is brought up at each monthly meeting of downtown Auburn business owners . “A huge hurdle is employees not having designated parking spaces for them,” Kohn said. “Unless business owners lease parking spaces , that’s really the only way they’re guaranteed a space. Certain business owners tell their employees to catch a ride or walk.” On average, 125 employees work at businesses downtown each day, she added. Not having them park their personal vehicles downtown frees parking spaces for customers. Yet the rallying cry from people who work, shop and eat in Auburn is that there is simply not enough parking space available to everyone. “In all the parking studies we’ve done, we’ve always been told that what Auburn needs is not one huge deck with 1,000 cars or 2,000 cars. It’s several little spaces,” interim city manager Jim Buston said. “Because our town is not that big; our town is smal...

It’s been only two months since the Portland Housing Authority opened Bayside Anchor , its first new housing development in decades. But already, the low- income housing provider is poised to file plans for two additional projects , totaling more than 155 units of housing at a time when a dearth of affordable housing in Maine’s largest city is reaching crisis levels . “This is the continuation of our effort to be a part of the solution to the affordable housing crisis in Portland,” said Jay Waterman, the housing authority ’s development director. The authority is looking to build a 55- unit apartment building at 58 Boyd St. in the city’s East Bayside neighborhood . The site is practically across the street from Bayside Anchor , a highly energy- efficient PHA apartment building at 81 Oxford St. with 45 units that opened in June. A public meeting about the East Bayside proposal has been scheduled for Monday, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 47 Smith St. Meanwhile, about 2 miles away, t...

At its Monday meeting, the Alexandria City Council set a public hearing for Oct. 9 to consider the request. Unique Development LLC is proposing to eventually build four 15,000-square-foot buildings on McKay Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh avenues. Each building would house six three-bedroom units, five four-bedrooms and one five-bedroom. The TIF that's being requested is only for the first phase of the project. The total cost of all four phases would amount to $6 million. The apartments would be available for households with incomes that are 60 percent or less than Douglas County's median income. Also, restrictions will be placed on the rents so they won't exceed those allowed by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency , according to Nicole Fernholz, director of the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission . The property is owned by LifeRight Outreach, a nonprofit organization, and is currently tax-exempt. The development would increase the value of the land and bui...

Private yards, a man cave, a dog park and Package Concierge are a few of the amenities that will be offered at The Julian at South Pointe apartment complex . The 436-unit complex will lease for $1.49 a square foot when it opens in 2018, said Kim McCaslin, vice president of MR Development. Pre-leasing will start by the end of 2017. The City Council unanimously approved the detailed site plan for the project at its Monday meeting. The apartments are proposed on Harmon and Lowe roads. Only 36 percent of the units will be two bedrooms. The remainder will be one bedroom. No three-bedroom units are proposed. McCaslin said they wanted to offer new amenities at this complex that they don’t offer at the Villagio Apartments on Debbie Lane. Councilman Larry Broseh praised McCaslin for the Villagio project . “I’ve never seen a nicer setup than what you have there,” he said. McCaslin responded , “We’re hoping this one will be better.” Diamond Creek tabled indefinitely The council tabled the co...

CLOSE A quick history of how Asheville's "RAD" went from post-industrial grittiness to tourist haven. Joel Burgess/Citizen-Times The Stoneyard Apartments are proposed for 175 Lyman St. in the River Arts District . (Photo: Form & Function Architecture)   ASHEVILLE - Approval of a proposed $19 million River Arts District apartment complex has been delayed a second time after City Council concerns about high rent prices . The 133- unit Stoneyard Apartments were slated to be reviewed at Tuesday's council meeting, but Mayor Esther Manheimer asked that the public hearing be delayed to "a date uncertain." The council unanimously approved the change with no discussion. No one from the Saluda- based AltInvest development group spoke at the meeting. On Wednesday morning Sasha Vrtunksi , with the city's planning and urban design department , said the delay happened at the request of AltInvest. Chief developer David LaFave couldn 't be reached by text...

The developer of a large proposed Lomita apartment complex will pay the city more than $450,000 initially and then $50,000 annually in development fees to offset the effects of a project more dense than municipal standards currently allow. In addition, to get around the density issue, the city plans to create a specific plan for the area that would permit residential densities of up to 88 units an acre. That’s the exact density of the 220- unit Picerne Apartments , which would sit on a 2.7-acre site on the Torrance border at the northeast corner of Lomita and Crenshaw boulevards. The Planning Commission will discuss the project and specific plan at a 6:30 p.m. Monday public hearing at City Hall, 24300 Narbonne Ave. City staff is recommending approval of the project, saying it is consistent with the goals and objectives of the city’s land-use policies. “Specifically, the project furthers these goals by developing an under-utilized parcel, helping to address a documented housing shor...