MOUNT VERNON — After nearly a year’s work, the nearly $2 million rehabilitation of Hillside Apartments is now complete.
Prior to Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission’s 2006 purchase of the 4.5-acre complex on McGibney Road, the 45 apartments had fallen into a state of complete disrepair. The driving force behind the acquisition, according to Donna Denning, human resource director for Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland, was the need for affordable and safe housing in Mount Vernon.
“Our mission is to provide affordable decent housing for individuals,” Denning said. “This [complex] had slipped into total dilapidation. It was still affordable but it certainly was not decent or safe for individuals or families to live here.”
In December 2007, the project of rehabilitating the apartment buildings began. Carpet was stripped, kitchens were gutted, and lighting and bathroom fixtures were hauled out. In some cases, damaged drywall was removed, leaving workers to remodel from the studs up. Windows and doors were also replaced.
Work to the exterior of the buildings was also done and included new siding, gutters and roofing.
As apartment upgrades were completed, current residents took occupancy of the new living quarters. The remaining units became available as the whole project neared completion.
The need for upgraded, low-income housing was evident to Denning, other administrators at Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland and Susan Moore, community manager at Hillside, when applicants began flooding the office when word got out detailing the improvements. A waiting list began to grow way back in March, Moore said.
At one point, there were nearly 50 applicants wanting to live in the apartments. Ten of those units were occupied by current tenants, leaving 35 units available to new families.
“I just rented 23 apartments in November and 12 this month,” said Moore.
The popularity of the re-energized community continues to grow, as Moore has about 14 families currently on a waiting list.
Hillside Apartments is part of the Section 8 housing program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This allows for government subsidies to help low-income families obtain housing within their means.
“We have families in different stages,” said Denning. “Some of them are employed, some of them are underemployed, some unemployed and we have some that are disabled or unable to work.”
One of the safety upgrades to the community is an 11-camera security system that monitors the exterior of the property. Moore can monitor the information filtered through the cameras from her office and her home. This system, she said, potentially makes Hillside one of the most secure neighborhoods in the city.
“We certainly hope so, because it hasn’t been before,” Denning said.
With the upgrades to the apartments, it is important to Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland administrators that residents respect the property and those who share the community. One of Moore’s roles in the community will be to serve as a watchdog to make sure rules are followed and property and neighbors are respected.
“This is something that seemed to be lacking under the previous owner,” Denning said.
A community building is also part of the rehab process. The building includes a new laundry facility that is accessible only to residents. In addition, a manager’s office is housed there, as well as a community room with a complete kitchen, handicapped accessible restrooms and a computer room that will be equipped with six computer stations.
“The computers aren’t here yet, but they will be,” Denning said. “There will be Internet access and we plan to offer classes to help with resumes and such.”
Pine trees along the main entrance have been trimmed, a privacy fence was added along the southern portion of the property and new light fixtures were installed throughout the complex.
New playground equipment was also installed.
“All said and done, the entire price with purchase and rehab is $3,961,000,” Denning said.
Regardless of the nearly $4 million price tag, Moore said, you can’t place a price on the smile of a tenant’s face when they explain how secure they feel in having a home of which to be proud.
For more information on the housing community or waiting list, call Moore at 397-6410.
