Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008

Ribbon cut to open Meriden Heights housing complex

Photo by Clarke Davis

Cutting the ribbon to signal the opening of Meriden Heights housing complex were Jory Manske and Jack Manske, developers; Fred Bentley, Kansas Housing Resources Corp.; Deb Ellis, NEK-CAP Inc.; Brad Reiff, Kansas Housing Resources Corp.; Susan Wheatley, Community Action Inc. board member; Fran Lee, Community Action Inc. chairwoman; Andy Surritt, mayor of Meriden; Joe Hoytal, Community Action volunteer and chairman of the Housing Committee; and Melissa Miller-Atwood, Midwest Housing Equity Group.

by Davis Publications staff

A short ceremony and ribbon cutting was held Sept. 4 signaling the completion of the first housing unit constructed by Meriden Heights in a housing complex west of the Jefferson West High School.

Meriden Heights is owned and managed by Community Action Inc., Topeka.

While Community Action has rehabilitated housing in other communities, this is the first new construction project it has undertaken.

When finished Meriden Heights will be a 12-unit duplex development, measuring 1,043 square feet each.

The units will have central air and heat, appliances, single-car garage, maintenance, lawn care, and snow removal. They promise to be energy efficient.

The units will rent to moderate and low-income families based on gross income for $495 a month.

Managing the units is Jeannette Hermann, Meriden, who can be reached at 484-2109.

All the units are expected to be completed within a couple of months.

The development is the latest project of Community Action Inc., a Topeka-based non-profit organization that provides housing, community, family and educational services in counties in northeast and central Kansas.

The project is a limited liability partnership funded through $1.13 million in Federal Housing Tax Credits and $300,000 in HOME Funds. Midwest Housing Equity Group of Topeka purchased the tax credits and is the investing member in Meriden Heights. Community Action is managing partner. When the tax credits are paid off in 20 years, Community Action will take sole ownership of the property.

Strawn Homes Inc. of Hutchinson is the project’s general contractor.