Apartments for low-income seniors coming to Redmond

If you’re wondering whether it’s tough to find a place to live in Redmond, just visit the Senior Center around lunchtime.

“Everything is so expensive, and there just doesn’t seem to be anything out there,” Redmond senior Mary Gifford said Wednesday.

Fellow senior Phyllis LaPora agrees: “Very difficult,” she said.

So imagine the delight when there’s word new apartments are coming — housing just for low-income seniors.

Senior Center board member Bonnie Weber can’t wait to pass along the good news.

“We get calls constantly from seniors and their children, looking for affordable housing for their parents,” Weber said. “I think it’s desperately needed.”

Central Oregon’s Housing Works agency was awarded grants and loans totaling just over $11 million for two projects geared toward seniors.

Part of that funding comes from the state. On Tuesday, Gov. Kate Brown announced the State Housing Council was awarding money for 13 affordable housing developments across Oregon, including the Redmond project.

A total of 48 low-income apartments will be built near Lowe’s by Veterans Way on 1.3 acres. Qualifying seniors will be able to rent a one-bedroom apartment at Cook Crossing for $428 a month.

City officials expect they’ll go fast.

“Over 60 percent of our seniors fall under 60 percent of area median income levels,” Community Development Director Heather Richards said.

“We hear anecdotal stories about how they’re in the private marketplace, they know that their lease is coming up and their landlord is going to raise the rent — and they don’t have anywhere to go, and they can’t afford the increases,” she said.

They hope to start building the apartments this year and open them before 2017.

“We think it’s in a great location,” Richards said. “We really think it’s going to serve the community well and we’re excited.”

An additional project is underway to renovate the nearby, eight-unit, 1977-vintage Brentwood Manor, which will provide homes to seniors and the disabled.

Both projects will serve individuals and families who earn less than 50 percent of the area’s median income.

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Here’s Housing Works’ formal release on the project, issued Thursday:

Housing Works is excited to announce the funding of Cook Crossing, an affordable apartment community serving seniors that will be located in Redmond on Veterans Way. The project includes the new construction of Cook Crossing, a 4-story, 48-unit apartment community with commercial space on the ground floor. The building site is located on a 1.3 acre parcel immediately to the west of the Lowes home improvement store. Also, Brentwood Manor, an 8-unit existing housing community located a block away from the new development, will undergo substantial rehabilitation.

With vacancy rates below 1% and rents rising, the need for affordable housing by seniors is greater than ever. “We have seniors in our community calling every day asking for help in finding a place to live,” said Tom Kemper, Housing Works’ Executive Director. “Housing Works recognizes the need for affordable housing for older adults with fixed incomes, and Cook Crossing will bring relief to 48 senior households in Redmond,” Kemper added.

Cook Crossing will provide a community where seniors with lower incomes can thrive in a location that is close to many amenities in Redmond. The design for Cook Crossing will offer one- and two-bedroom unit configurations. Each unit will have a deck with views to the east or west. Cook Crossing will offer residents a variety of services and activities through a number of partner agencies.

Brentwood Manor, an 8-unit, project-based Section 8 senior housing community, will undergo preservation work to modernize the 38-year-old units. Residents will benefit from many of the services and activities offered at Cook Crossing located a block away. As affordable properties, income restrictions will apply and rents will be well below market rates.

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has allocated over $9 million in state funding for the project. Additionally, on May 5th the City Council of Redmond approved $105,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds. Construction of Cook Crossing is expected to begin by the end of the year, bringing over $10 million dollars into our community and numerous job opportunities. Build time is expected to be 12 months. Preleasing for Cook Crossing will begin in about a year.

The name Cook Crossing honors Cyndy Cook, who served as Executive Director for Housing Works for 30 years until her retirement in 2013. “Her success was reflected in her commitment and passion for fostering dignity through housing. Housing Works experienced extraordinary growth during her tenure,” shared Kemper, who took her place in 2013. “Beginning with a mere 48 units of affordable rental housing, Housing Works grew to become the largest affordable housing provider in Central Oregon.”

Housing Works is the largest affordable housing provider in Central Oregon. It provides people with quality, safe and affordable homes; and through a number of collaborations, it provides the resources to help people stabilize their lives. Housing Works obtains public funding from federal, state and local governments and leverages these funds with private capital from local financial institutions and foundations to provide quality housing that meets communities’ needs.

Housing Works developments in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras and Sisters have won awards for innovation, economic impact, design, beautification, and historic preservation and enhancement. For more information, visit http://www.housing.works.org.