The Culver Town Council opened their public meeting last night to members of the community to discuss opinions on the proposed workforce housing development project on Jefferson Street. The building would include 24 apartments with one, two or three bedrooms. A two-bedroom apartment rent pricing example was estimated at $850 a month. If the town wins the Stellar Communities designation, there would be funding available for Phase 2 which includes a second apartment building for income-based housing.
The project would be funded by the town’s contribution of $400,000 with $200,000 from the Culver Redevelopment Commission and a Regional Cities grant worth $270,000. The rest of the $200,000 approximate $1 million total project cost would be supplemented with possible grant funding.
The majority of the citizens who spoke out about the project were opposed, saying there are better options than the town has presented as a solution for the lack of housing. A few even stated that it’s not “affordable housing” with rent being $850 a month for the working citizens of Culver.
Representatives of Culver Military Academy, Culver Community Schools and Elkay Products, three of the largest employers in Culver, spoke in favor of the project. With this housing options, their employees can find a place to live closer to their place of employment. The education systems would like to see increased student counts and available housing would bring in families with children that could attend the local schools.
Town council members Tammy Shafer, Sally Ricciardi, Ginny Bess Munroe and David Beggs all supported moving forward with the project. Council member Joel Samuelson had concerns about the changing concept of the project every time it’s presented.
At the end of the discussion, the town council members voted 4-1 to approve a resolution to authorize funding of the project. A separate resolution was approved with the same vote to enter into an agreement between the Town of Culver and Sand Hill Farms, Inc. for the development of the project.
The council approved financing $300,000 of the town’s share of the project with a local bank. The other $100,000 would come out of the General Fund. The town’s financing repayment would be around $5,661 a month for five years.
The Culver Redevelopment Commission will meet in a special session on Friday at 11:15 a.m ET at the Culver Town Hall where they are anticipated to discuss the housing development resolution and their portion of the funding.
