Some private citizens voiced their concerns about the potential construction of a low-income senior-housing complex at the location of the Former Salter School during a Monday Night City Council Meeting.
An Illinois-based developer is looking to construct a new building containing up to 60 new living units on the Maple Street property. Richard Sova is a spokesperson for the company, he spoke at the meeting. “We looked at the city of Burlington, there is a significant need for senior housing in this town. In fact, I don’t think there’s an empty senior apartment in the whole area.”=
But the project is getting some pushback from residents who live near the area, such as Eric Renteria who says that, “My biggest fear is that we’re going to get a low quality facility in one of the most challenging areas of our town and that it’s going to convert and devolve into something that we really don’t want.”
The apartments will be for those 55 and older who are living on 60% of the Average Median Income or less, which amounts to around $32,000.
The Burlington City Council is willing to rezone the area, but the rezoning is conditional. Rezoning would occur upon receipt of low incoming housing tax credits from the Iowa Finance Authority. Failure to obtain such credits, or failure to begin construction by the end of 2016 will result in the area remaining a commercial zone.
