Monday, June 17, 2013

Salvation Army breaks ground on 96-unit facility for seniors

On June 6, the Salvation Army broke ground on its $18.2 million, 96-unit Catherine Booth Residence for low-income senior citizens in College Hill.

Located adjacent to the 150-unit William Booth Residence at 6381 Center Hill Avenue, the new development will consist of two three-story buildings and will include a community room, laundry facility and a computer room, with future plans for a convenience store, game room, and library.

Supportive services will be located on site.

"I've been on this Advisory Board for nearly 30 years," said Dick Manteuffel, an Emeritus member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. "And in that 30 years I've seen the Army work quietly without fanfare, without trying to get credit, and changing lives."

The Catherine Booth Residence is being financed with $10.5 million in federal Multifamily Housing Bonds, $712,998 in Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 funding.

"The beauty of this program is that it lets us give back to our 'greatest generation' that served before us, lets them stay in the community, be close to amenities, access transportation, and continue to contribute to our society," said Jim Cunningham, Cincinnati field office director for HUD.

The City of Cincinnati provided $500,000 in HOME funding and an eight-year, $1.4 million Community Reinvestment Area tax exemption.

"It is certainly befitting of the Salvation Army's mission to provide housing for the senior population and it's consistent with the City of Cincinnati's mission to be supportive of that," said City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr.

The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2014.

The Catherine Booth Residence is named for the wife of Salvation Army founder William Booth. She was considered to be of such importance to the growth and development of the organization that she was often referred to as the "Mother of the Salvation Army"

Image courtesy of the Salvation Army Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

Previous reading on BC:
OHFA approves $10.5M in bonds for Catherine Booth expansion (3/27/13)
Salvation Army's 96-unit Booth expansion gets tax break, HOME funds (12/27/12)
Discussion of Booth expansion tabled for more neighbor input (5/27/10)