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New Apartments For Project Aware Affordable Housing Options for the Homeless PRESCOTT, AZ-- For years, local officials have grappled with a seemingly impossible mission: how to provide more affordable housing for struggling members of the community. On Monday, the Project Aware homeless shelter for men will score one small victory on the affordable housing front when it opens a four-unit apartment complex for men striving to turn their lives around. Admittedly, the complex will do nothing to solve the affordable housing shortage for working families. The Project Aware shelter serves only homeless men; it never has been able to serve women and children. Even so, officials at Project Aware and the City of Prescott see the new apartment complex as a breakthrough of sorts for affordable housing. "It's a start for the city," Fred Thatcher, president of Project Aware, said of the four-plex. "It's restricted to men and vets, but it's filling a niche that's been needed."  NOTE: Dedication ceremony photo (Sept. 25th). From left: Mayor Rowle Simmons, Project Aware's Alfred Falk, AZ Governor Janet Napolitano, AZ Dept. of Housing Director Sheila Harris, architect Jeffrey L. Zucker in foreground Linda Hartmann, grants administrator for the City of Prescott, agreed. "It's a good project, and it's something that is needed in the community," she said. Prescott initially endorsed the project in 2004, when the City Council agreed to devote a portion of its federal Community Development Block Grant money to Project Aware. As construction costs for the apartments increased, however, the $250,000 grant no longer covered the cost of the project even after the city shifted more of its block grant total to Project Aware. That led the organization to successfully seek a $46,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Housing, said shelter administrator Alfred Falk. Once design and construction got started, Hartmann said cooperation has been key to overcoming the project's various challenges. "Everybody's just worked really well together," she said of the architect, contractor and utility companies. Architect Jeffery Zucker focused on both affordability and comfort in coming up with the design for the four one-bedroom apartments, according to a press release from his company, Catalyst Architecture. "They needed to be simple but pleasing, so that they feel like home," Zucker said of the units. Contractor Kalista Homes also has worked with Project Aware to keep the costs within budget, Hartmann said. Because of space constraints on the site, the project also needed allowances from the city. Just this week, the Prescott Board of Adjustment considered a zero setback allowance on the south side for a future 12-unit addition. While two nearby residents voiced objections to the action, the board approved the variance at its Thursday morning meeting. The community also has pitched in with the project. In a recent donation, the Jewish Community Foundation gave $2,500 to the project to cover the cost of furnishing one of the four apartments. That led Thatcher to make a call to the community for more gifts to help with the furnishing of the other three apartments. "With opening ceremonies set (for Monday), and winter on the horizon, we need additional sponsors right away," Thatcher said. The gift from the foundation enabled the shelter to outfit the first apartment with all new furnishings a component that Falk said is important in order to foster "a healthy sense of pride and a real lift to the spirits for tenants who were so recently homeless." In addition to money, Project Aware will accept in-kind donations of new furnishings, Falk said. To help with the furnishings for the apartments, contact Project Aware at 778-7744. Ultimately, Project Aware plans to have a total of 20 apartment units on its West Leroux property. "This is just phase one," Falk said of the first four units. "If everything goes right, we expect funding from the Arizona Department of Housing for 16 more." To Contact the reporter, eMail Cindy Barks at cbarks@prescottaz.com Click here to view the original article |
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