Housing options begin to materialize in Dubois County

From factories to apartments

Cincinnati-based developer Miller-Valentine has funding in place for Jasper Lofts I, a $13.1 million plan to construct 60 to 70 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in the former Jofco furniture manufacturing plant at 402 E. 13th St.

Jasper Lofts Phase I has been awarded $1,199,705 in state tax credits through the Internal Revenue Service’s Rental Housing Tax Credit program, which the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority administers. The project also has a $450,000 contribution from the City of Jasper, which includes an abatement package worth approximately $230,000, another $50,000 in off-site improvements such as landscaping and streetscaping, and about $170,000 from the city’s economic development income tax fund.

Pete Schwiegeraht, senior developer for Miller-Valentine, said construction for Jasper Lofts I should start sometime this month.

The company is working on securing state tax credits for two more housing projects in the Vine Street area.

Jasper Lofts II is an estimated $8 million project that would add another 44 apartments to the former Jofco building. The city has agreed to contribute $350,000 in incentives to help with the development and $50,000 in off-site incentives, which would help with infrastructure upgrades to the area, such as landscaping and street improvements.

Vine Street Lofts is an estimated $12 million project that would create 62 apartments for seniors age 55 and older in the former Jasper Wood Products building, 1316 Vine St. The actual designs for these projects have not yet been completed. The city plans to contribute $400,000 in development incentives and $50,000 in off-site incentives. The form in which the incentives and support for Jasper Lofts II and Vine Street Lofts will be made has not yet been determined.

The applications for the tax credits were submitted in November. Miller-Valentine will find out later this month if the projects receive any credits, Schwiegeraht said.

Expansion on the north side

In Huntingburg, two new housing projects are already underway from Miller-Valentine and Indianapolis-based developer Jane Hendrickson of Boxer Girl LLC.

For Hendrickson, things have moved quickly at Hunters Crossing, the proposed 144 new single-family home development on Chestnut Street between 12th Street and 17th Street. The project is part of the city’s Stellar Communities portfolio.

The Huntingburg Planning Commission granted approval for Phase 1 of Hunters Crossing in December, and meetings have been held in the past month with Hendrickson to finalize plans for the construction of Stellar Way, which will connect Chestnut Street to the planned park in the subdivision.

Tax increment financing district funds of $500,000 have been designated toward the workforce housing project. Boxer Girl’s engineering firm, Neikirk Engineering of Evansville, will deliver to the city plans for the street. The city will then use those documents to advertise for bids on the project, which will be a joint venture between the city and Boxer Girl.

Any amount more than $500,000 will be the responsibility of Boxer Girl, which is also taking on the cost for site development prior to street construction. All future construction of roads and other infrastructure in the subdivision will be at the developer’s cost.

Construction on The Lofts at St. Joseph’s, 1900 Medical Arts Blvd., is in progress and Miller-Valentine is taking applications for leasing. The 45-unit senior housing project is expected to be ready for residents by June.

Prices will range from $561 to $671 per month for one- and two-bedroom units designed specifically with adults 55 and older in mind. All homes will have modern amenities including gourmet kitchens with energy-efficient appliances, pantry and breakfast bar/island; oversized bathroom with step-in shower; laundry room that includes a full-size washer and dryer; walk-in closets; central air conditioning; and extra storage space.

Brian McGeady, partner and president of Miller-Valentine Affordable Housing Development, said his company is excited to help Dubois County meet the need for housing.

“The Lofts at St. Joseph’s allows Miller-Valentine Group to provide outstanding, brand-new homes to an area that needs them,” he said.

Tri-Cap Housing Service Director Neil Elkins said The Lofts at St. Joseph’s will help meet the demand for senior housing, especially in Huntingburg, where he gets two to three requests per day. Interested applicants can either call (855) 784-8165, or email them at loftsatstjosephs@propemail.com.

Opportunity to learn

Dubois Strong President Ed Cole said he and Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner are excited that the The Lofts at St. Joseph’s is accepting housing applications and that the project is closing in on completion. Cole noted the St. Joseph’s project will open housing in Huntingburg as elderly citizens will leave their homes, placing those properties back on the market. Cole said similar openings could happen with Jasper Lofts, as some locals who might not want to deal with the maintenance of ownership could switch to renting a loft.

Dubois Strong spearheaded a county housing study released last year that found the county was in need of more new, attractive housing options. At that time, Cole said both the Huntingburg and Jasper projects — which were already underway — could possibly teach the county a thing or two about how it should proceed with building housing or re-purposing buildings for housing. He mentioned that Dubois Strong hasn’t learned anything new yet from the developments, but noted that could change once folks begin to move in.

“We hope that as these places fill up we can begin to (gather) some information on what the mix is at the apartment, what attracted them to the apartment and what types of housing we need to attract people,” Cole said.