WITH LEGAL BATTLE OVER, BUILDING CHANGES HANDS

After a decade of litigation, the Southeast Missouri Council on Aging hopes officially to own Lindenwood Apartments by Sept. 1.

The council president, Grace Hoover, said court proceedings between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the agency that funded the housing project for elderly and handicapped people, and companies responsible for building Lindenwood Apartments prevented the council from taking ownership of the six-story building.

"They've really always owned the building," said Joy Miller of HUD. "We just call this that is coming up a final endorsement."

Miller said that when the final endorsement comes, the council will begin paying on the $2,645,300 HUD loan used to finance construction. She said the non-profit council has 40 years to pay off the loan on the building at 1105 Linden.

Miller said HUD sued an architectural firm and other companies responsible for building the original, leaky structure. She said the contractor's company went out of business soon after Lindenwood was completed in 1984, and a settlement wasn't reached with it.

"HUD settled for $280,000 with the others," Miller said. "We used that money and other HUD money to renovate, or make necessary repairs to the structure."

The suit was against Dryvit Systems; Negwer Materials Inc.; Borchers and Heimsoth Construction; Braun Plastering Co. Inc.; Capitol Products Inc.; and the architects, Booker & Associates Inc. All of the defendants paid a portion of the final settlement.

With the out-of-court settlement and other money, HUD spent almost $1 million in repairs to the building in the last couple of years. Hoover and the residents were pleased with HUD's work.

"They've put in an additional elevator and new window units throughout the building," Hoover said. "They've also encased the building -- sealed it from the rain. This is really a nice, comfortable building."

Golden Camden has been a resident of Lindenwood Apartments since it opened in December 1984. Many improvements have taken place since work began about two years ago, he said.

"It's a heck of a lot better," Camden said. "There were problems with the windows and some other things that had to be taken care of."

Camden said water leaked into the building and through the walls, especially on the south side. That's been fixed, and Camden is pleased with the environment.

Hoover said in addition to resealing the building and installing new windows throughout, HUD also financed the updating of equipment that monitors fire alarms and other equipment in the building.

The apartment manager, Thyra Messmer of Sansone Co. said 63 of the 67 units are occupied. She said 64 residents live in the building.

As for a noticeable change in day-to-day operations of the building, Hoover said the council would maintain Sansone as the management company. She said the only difference might be the plan to ensure community areas in the building -- the activities room and laundry rooms -- are smoke-free.

Lindenwood Apartments was built for handicapped people and people over 60. Rent is based on the tenants' income.