Commission green-lights senior housing

MBL Development's D. Kim Lingle confirmed Tuesday that his company has been approved for financing through the Missouri Housing Development Commission and will proceed this year with construction of 24 new senior-citizen apartments in Maryville.

The residential units will constitute phase two of an existing 38-unit senior housing complex in the southeast part of town known as Villas at the Summit.

Completed in 2007, Villas is located on the west side of Aurora Avenue, which runs north and south between South Hills Drive and Summit Drive. The proposed addition will adjoin the existing complex on 3.76 acres of vacant land purchased from the Community of Faith Church.

The commission is a quasi-governmental institution created by the Missouri Legislature that lends money to developers seeking to build affordable rental properties.

Lingle, whose company is based in Lee's Summit, earlier received approval for the $3.2 million project from the Maryville City Council. As with phase one, the 900-square-foot, two-bedroom apartments will be rented to tenants age 55 and older.

The Villas complex has proven to be a popular affordable housing option for local residents, Lingle said. He added that there has been a waiting list of potential tenants almost since the units opened in 2007. The new apartments will rent for $400 a month and come with appliances and carport parking.

In his presentation to the council, Lingle said the new units will be "green certified" and feature all-electric utilities, fully insulated construction and energy-efficient climate control systems.

Though green certification adds several thousand dollars to each unit, Lingle said similar projects in other cities have resulted in tenant utility bills totaling less than $70 a month.