MOUNT VERNON — Some of the buildings may look rough and run down at the moment, but a major rehab project at the Hillside Apartment Community should change the look of the complex for the better and provide attractive rental housing to low- and moderate-income individuals and families in the county.
The $1,965,000 rehab project got under way in December, after state and federal funding was obtained, according to Donna Denning, human resource director for the agency. The buildings had long since fallen into disrepair.
On June 30, 2006, Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission, a nonprofit, social service agency that serves Knox, Licking, Coshocton and Ashland counties, purchased the affordable housing apartment complex that sits on 4 1/2 acres on McGibney Road.
Denning said the goal of Kno-Ho-Co leaders is to provide safe, decent and affordable housing, adding that the agency has other low- to moderate-income housing complexes in Centerburg, Coshocton and Loudonville.
J. Michael Stephens, chief executive officer of Kno-Ho-Co, said when the project is completed, all 45 apartments at Hillside will be completely rehabilitated, their interiors gutted and redone. New windows will be installed as well as new electrical wiring, new heating and cooling systems, and new plumbing. A new community building, office, laundry room, playground and parking lot will also be constructed. Stephens said this form of affordable housing is often helpful to people in a state of transition in their lives.
Denning said the hope of agency leaders is that providing a quality place to live will aspire residents to change other things in their life.
Residents of the Hillside Apartment Community must meet certain guidelines:
•The three bedroom units must be rented to families with incomes of $28,500 or less.
•The four bedrooms must be rented to families with incomes of $34,200 or less.
•There is a minimum of one person in the household per bedroom and a maximum of two persons per bedroom, plus one additional person per additional 70 square feet of living space not counting the bedroom, kitchens and bathrooms.
Denning said city and county officials have been very supportive of the project.
Stephens said the agency also has plans to build a similar, 25-family apartment complex at the end of Cleveland Avenue in Centerburg, near Centerburg Courts apartments, another affordable housing complex owned by the agency.
Denning said Kno-Ho-Co is already taking applications for new residents at Hillside. She said it should be made clear that just because the apartment is affordable, it does not mean that it is crime-ridden. Interested parties can call the office at Hillside Apartments at 397-6410 for more information or they can visit Kno-Ho-Co’s Web site — knohoco.org/housing.html.
