Developers seek support for senior apartments

The Cape Girardeau City Council will hear from two developers tonight seeking its backing for separate proposals for low-rent senior housing projects.

Both developers are asking only for the city's support of the development of affordable senior apartments. The developments would be eligible to compete for federal and state low-income housing tax credits made available by the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

One development, called River Heritage Apartments, would be built on North Clark Street, behind the Cape Girardeau Public Library. It would house a community building and 44 units, available to people older than 55.

The property is nestled between commercial and residential properties, and is zoned as commercial, according to city planner Ryan Shrimplin. He said senior housing is among the list of permitted uses for the property so no special-use permit would be required for development. A buffer, however, would be required.

"On the west side of the property is zoned, single-family homes, so a buffer would be required there," Shrimplin said. "To the north, no buffer would be required. There are some commercial offices to the south of it so no buffer would be required there either."

He also said that a line of trees and "natural vegetation" already stands between the property and many of the residential properties, and the city possibly would allow developers to "apply as credit" toward the buffer.

"If there are gaps in the buffer area, of course, we might ask them to have them filled," he said.

In addition to the trees and natural vegetation, a creek also runs near the property.

"It is not on or directly near the creek, but some of the property is in the flood plain, so the developer is going to have to figure out how to address that," Shrimplin said.

Chad Hartle is president of RCH Development Inc., the developer pitching the project. He previously presented the council plans for the apartments and a letter that outlines its features. The letter did not mention any reactions from the residential community surrounding the property or if he already owns the property.

Hartle couldn't be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

His letter to the council said he owns senior housing developments in many cities in Southeast Missouri, including Jackson, Dexter, Farmington, Perryville and Cape Girardeau.

Hartle will be speaking again before the council at tonight's study session, before the council votes on whether to approve the development in its regular session.

The other development requesting council support is proposed by MACO Development Co. LLC for the Silver Springs Apartments senior housing, which would feature 40 units in the vicinity of Silver Springs Road and Spruce Street.

Calls to MACO offices Friday afternoon were not returned.

Early last year, MACO's application for state tax credits for a 48-unit housing complex at the same location targeting low-income families was not approved by the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

MACO revised the proposal to 40 units geared toward seniors.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

North Clark St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Silver Springs Road and Spruce Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.