GREENVILLE N.C – New project offers elderly affordable housing

GREENVILLE CITY IN NORTH CALIFORNIA: New project offers elderly affordable housing.

A new housing project in the medical district of Greenville will offer elderly people an affordable housing option.

The Taft Development Group held a groundbreaking for Parkside Commons Tuesday. The project’s $10.6 million price tag is partially being funded by tax credits through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, which will help reduce rent prices.

The complex will feature 38 one-bedroom apartments and 60 two-bedroom apartments, with rent ranging from $330 to $580. To qualify, you must be 55 years or older and make less than 60 percent of the median income in Pitt County.

Dustin Mills, Director of Development for Taft Development Group, said this is their first tax credit project in Pitt County.

“We felt that this site lent itself to senior housing for 55 and older because of the proximity to the medical district as well as the ability to walk to shopping,” Mills said.

Greenville City Councilwoman Kandie Smith said taking care of the elderly and making sure they have affordable living options is something often overlooked. She hopes this project will help change that.

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“Anything that is going to allow them the affordability to live peacefully and comfortably and be able to afford the utilities, that’s excellent,” Smith said.

Rich Zeck, Director of the Pitt County Council on Aging, said living in a nursing facility can easily cost thousands of dollars every month. Having a cheaper, yet safe, option is good news for the hundreds of elderly people he estimated are on a wait list for affordable housing in the county.

“For low income older adults, all the options are extremely cost inefficient,” Zeck said.

Parkside Commons is expected to be complete within two years. It will be the 13th project in Greenville partially funded by tax credits.