MANSFIELD — The Ritter’s Run Apartments, a project to provide affordable housing for 55-and-older residents, hopes to receive an additional $140,000 in federal money.
Mansfield City Council on Tuesday evening heard a request for the funds from the city’s pool of Home Investment Partnership dollars available through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency.
The project, previously approved for $600,000 in federal money, is being built by a partnership led by the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging.
There was a “virtual” groundbreaking for the project in March, but actual construction has not yet begun.
Agency CEO Duana Patton has said the single-story property at 200 Ohio St. will have 12 units, consisting of six one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units.
The apartments will be handicapped-accessible and pet-friendly. Appliances, utilities and off-street parking are included. Each unit will also have a covered front porch.
Working with the Area Agency on Aging on the project is the Richland County Land Bank, City of Mansfield, Mechanics Bank and PRAXIA-Partners. The Land Bank transferred the property to the agency in March 2020 and reimbursed $61,500 in January for removing the soil and concrete slabs from previous buildings.
Joe Recchie, founder of Praxia Partners, told City Council on Tuesday that the “scope” of the project has expanded to include an adjoining house that was damaged in a fire and needs to be demolished.
“We plan to change the grade of the hill, thus improving the drainage, and accommodating the storm-water detention that is required,” Recchie said. “So the scope of the project has increased while we continue to maintain the commitment to both affordability and supportive services for seniors.”
In addition, Recchie said, construction costs have increased due to materials and supply shortages, which also led the group to expand its loan from Mechanics, raising the total price tag of the expanded project by a total of $300,000.
This is the first project in the Area Agency on Aging’s nine-county service area where the owner is also the developer.
Patton has said the agency has had a vision for many years to build homes and create a place where individuals can have programs and supports.
City Council is expected to vote on the request on Sept. 21. If it’s approved, it would be sent to HUD for review.
Also on Tuesday, City Council:
— approved a contract worth up to $750,000 for phase one of a new storm-sewer installation system between West Third Street to Touby’s Run. The contract with B.K. Layer, LLC, of Perrysville will replace a collapsed 19th century storm sewer. City engineer Bob Bianchi said phase two could come in 2022 at a cost of about $1 million.
— give first read to a proposal that would allow for engineering services to begin on the construction of a dry dam in North Lake Park. The engineering and design work, if approved, would cost about $1.5 million and would take two years to complete.
— gave a second read to proposed changes to city ordinances regulating emergency alarms.
— approved a payment of $1,400 to Michael Swarn of 587 Park. Ave. West for damages related to a broken lateral water line in January.
— approved acceptance of a gift from Chuck Hahn for the maintenance of trees and shrubs on Fourth Street and Main Street, including mulching and fertilization.
— approved acceptance of $2,500 from the Ohio Division of Emergency Medical Services to be used in the purchase of EMS equipment for the Mansfield Fire Department.
— approved the transfer of $78,057 in the safety-services fund to pay for the training of nine new police officers at North Central State College.
— discussed during caucus the release of $50,000 from the transient occupancy tax fund to make payments to Downtown Mansfield, Inc. and Destination Mansfield-Richland County.
— voted to ratify the city’s participation in a state settlement of a lawsuit against three distribution companies Ohio officials have contended helped create an opioid crisis in Ohio.
— voted to approve a request from city economic development director Tim Bowersock to seek release of Mansfield’s participation in the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s revolving loan fund. Bowersock said the release of about $645,000 will allow the money to be used for “broader economic development purposes.”
