Group pays for delay on senior complex

By Cassie Tomlin

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008 | midnight

Volunteers of America National Services will pay the city $75,000 to reserve land for a senior housing complex at Adams Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Drive.

That money won't be applied to the group's first month of rent on the 30 acres once it opens, City Manager Vicki Mayes told the City Council Nov. 25.

The council voted unanimously to approve the extension, giving VOANS until May 2010 to begin building.

The first phase of the VOANS complex would include about 40 homes, 34 apartments, and 24 extended-care units. Transportation and health care would be available there for the public.

The group asked the city for a year and a half extension to begin construction, its second delay for economic reasons, Vice President Wayne Olson said.

It paid $55,000 for the first extension, but the council had voted to apply that amount to the first rent payment.

Olsen said though it is harder to get loans, the extension price should not affect the project.

"We believe that we can absorb that amount in the overall planning of the project long term," he said.

VOANS also agreed to rent space for an information center by this time next year to gather data about the demand for the project and to share information about the plans.

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].