HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A section-8 housing complex has been approved for tax credits from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. The application from Investment Resources Corporation is for the complete rebuilding and renovation of Commerce Gardens on East 11th Avenue near the Hutchinson Mall.
The plan is to remove most of the current structures and replace them with 70-apartment units which would operate under a housing assistance contract. The redeveloped site will include multiple two story buildings with full lower level and upper level units, allowing the lower units to be accessible. The current configuration does not meet accessibility requirements with stairs to the entrance of the unit, as well as stairs within the units to the bedrooms and bathrooms.
They also plan to construct a new community building and amenities such as bar-b-cue grill areas, playground, bike racks, etc.
Developers will use a variety of funding sources including the housing tax credits to fund the project including a HUD insured loan, and other grant funds. They say the use of these funds will insure that the project will remain available to low and moderate income tenants and provide affordable housing for the existing and new residents of the community.
This is the second major proposal to be approved in Hutchinson in the past year. Last year, the Housing Resources Corporation approved similar credits for the Wiley Building as part of their $17,000,000 dollar renovation.