NEWS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: February 10, 2003
CONTACT:
Barbara
Poppe, Community Shelter Board, 221-9195
Patrick
Higgins, National Church Residences, 273-3514
Paul
H. Coleman, Maryhaven, 445-8131
COLUMBUS,
OHIO— National Church Residences (NCR) and Maryhaven are announcing plans for a
joint venture to develop a new affordable housing community on the southeast
side of Columbus. The partnership would combine Maryhaven’s expertise in
supportive services with National Church Residences’ extensive property
management experience. The venture would be part of the Rebuilding Lives plan to
provide housing for long-term homeless adults coordinated by the Community
Shelter Board. The proposed location is outside the I-270 freeway on the
southeast side of Columbus at Chantry Drive, near the intersection of Brice
Road.
National
Church Residences and Maryhaven are conducting community outreach to advise the
surrounding property owners and neighbors about Chantry Place, and seek input
into development design. An Open House discussion will be held for the community
to learn more about the proposed development on Thursday, February 27, 2003 from
5:30-7:30 p.m. at Eastgate Assemblies of God, 6519 Tussing Road.
The
two agencies plan to create an attractive, high-quality apartment community
combining housing and supportive services for low-income and formerly homeless
residents. A total of 80 apartment units would be built, with 40 units in
multiple buildings and 40 units in a single building for formerly homeless men
and women.
"National
Church Residences is pleased to offer its considerable expertise toward the
development of Chantry Place,” said Thomas W. Slemmer, President and CEO of
National Church Residences. “Our 40 years expertise in the development and
management of affordable senior and family housing should complement this very
worthy project. The coupling of housing and supportive services has met with
great success at many of our 225 nationwide communities. The need for quality,
affordable housing on a national level is great, and NCR is excited about the
opportunity to, yet again, extend its outreach to our Central Ohio home base."
Supportive
services at the proposed development would be provided by Maryhaven, with over
35 years of successful experience as the largest and most comprehensive provider
of recovery services for central Ohio residents. A number of support services
would be available for residents of the building serving formerly homeless men
and women, including case management and employment services.
“Maryhaven is pleased at this opportunity to support our mission of helping people restore their lives by providing a safe and secure environment where men and women who have previously received services at the Engagement Center can live,” said Paul H. Coleman, President and CEO of Maryhaven. “The Engagement Center consistently refers men and women who come to us for help into treatment. A major barrier that these patients encounter upon discharge is finding a safe and secure place to live, and Chantry Place will help fill that need.”
The partners hope to submit funding applications in March for the real estate purchase and construction. If funding is approved, the building could be open by July of 2005. Applications to the Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative and other sources would then be made for the supportive services component.
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