The preliminary ideas for a two-building, 31-unit, low-income housing development in Valparaiso are expected to be discussed Tuesday at the Plan Commission meeting.
The proposed 3.67-acre, $11 million project at 2504-2514 Valparaiso St. would make use of a landlocked city parking lot that Valparaiso officials have been trying to sell and have rented to Purdue University Northwest and Ivy Tech in the past.
The city’s contribution of the land southeast of the main post office and north of Wall Street — and back on the tax rolls — depends on whether the project gets funding.
“It will only be donated if they get the grant,” City Administrator Bill Oeding said.
Representatives from Housing Opportunities and Porter Starke Services — partners for the project — presented concepts for the buildings at the Sept. 7 Site Review Committee meeting, as well as plans to fix up the four 15-unit buildings south of the post office.
The land is zoned as a business park but will need rezoning to urban residential, City Planner Tyler Kent said.
The land is surrounded by businesses and medical offices.
Housing Enterprises and Porter Starke will apply to Indiana Housing and Community Development for a Low Income Housing Tax Credit Application on Nov. 2, 2016, according officials and to a joint email statement.
They stated if the project to be known as Aurora View Apartment Homes receives notification of funding by March 1, the two organizations will apply for other grants and eventually look for loans and community support.
According to a news release, the renovation of the existing buildings and the two new complexes are part of a project that includes removing an abandoned house at 1504 Vale Park Road — across the street from the Calumet Avenue Strack and Van Til store and car wash — and building townhouses.
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Spring Valley homeless shelter will also provide support services, Housing Opportunities CEO Caroline Shook said.
The buildings will also be LEED certified at a gold level, meaning that they’ll be built “green” with an eye on making platinum status, architect Jeff Lewis said.
James D. Wolf Jr. is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.