Late Wednesday bids were received from five construction companies for the Garden Court permanent supportive housing project on West Jefferson Street. Garden Court is a local non-profit providing housing for low income seniors and the disabled in Marshall, Kosciusko, and Starke Counties. Jim Causey is the President, and the Bradley Company manages the properties.
Architect, Brent Martin from SRKM Architecture said the budget estimate was $2.9 million for the construction project. The low bid was from R. Yoder Construction out of Nappanee. Their bid for the residential project was $2.797 million.
Martin said, “I was very nervous the steep rise in building material prices was going to push us over budget, but apparently not.”
The Plymouth Permanent Supportive Housing facility will consist of 4 one-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom and 4 three-bedroom units at 1804 West Jefferson Street in Plymouth, just west of Centier Bank.
Garden Court, Inc. was awarded $1 million in the form of a grant through the Home Investment Partnership Program. They also received $787,500 in the form of a grant through the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF). The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis awarded the project a $500,000 grant and the project received $300,000 from the City of Plymouth.
In addition to funding through the HOME and NHTF programs, the IHCDA Board of Directors’ approved 18 project-based vouchers to Garden Court, Inc. for Plymouth Permanent Supportive Housing. Unlike traditional housing choice vouchers that are tied to an individual, these project-based vouchers will attach funding equivalent to the fair market rent in Marshall County for each unit for the next 15 years.
This project has been underway for four years. Martin said, “Finding a site finally, going through a zoning meeting which had lots of opposition but did receive unanimous support from the Plymouth BZA and initial bids that were over budget lengthened the time-line. Thanks to Mayor Senter and the City Administration, who have been steadfast supporters.”
Martin closed his comments saying, “In about a year, homeless families will have a safe and decent place to live with the supportive services they so desperately need.”
