Salt Lake County has donated its old fleet shop property at 135 E. 800 South to the Utah Non-profit Housing Corp., a Christmas gift that will benefit 80 low-income elderly residents.
The surprise contribution was approved without fanfare last week, clearing the way for development of a three-story, 80-unit housing complex for the elderly by this time next year."We're very appreciative," said Carl Inoway, director of the housing corporation. "There is a crying need for low-income housing across the entire spectrum, but especially for the elderly."
Although the county property has an estimated value of $460,000, County Commission Chairman Jim Bradley said officials decided to give it away because of the need for affordable housing for seniors.
"We're glad to do it," Bradley said. "It's a good example of cooperation between governments and private agencies working in the best interests of the public."
County real estate manager Roger Hillam said the 800 South property once housed Streator Chevrolet's repair shops and later served the same function for the county's fleet. It became surplus property after the county moved the fleet operations to new facilities in Midvale, Hillam said.
Inoway said the county's 1.28 acres will be combined with a smaller parcel contributed by Salt Lake City to form an L-shaped site for the development.
The Utah Non-profit Housing Corp. is the owner-operator of about 550 units of low-income housing, including the downtown Multi-Ethnic Senior Citizens Highrise near the Salt Palace. Inoway said the corporation has obtained the money it needs to develop the additional 80 units at 800 South from a combination of tax credits and Federal Home Loan Bank financing.
The county shops will be demolished early next year and construction of the housing complex will begin April 1, Inoway said. The units will be ready for occupancy about nine months after that, he added.
Noting that the housing corporation has a one-year waiting list for its other units, Inoway said there will be no trouble filling the new facility.
"If we can provide more housing for the elderly, that will free up housing for families and others," Inoway said. "The city and county deserve a lot of credit for making this possible."