Affordable housing on the way

A few lucky senior citizens with moderate incomes in Williston will soon no longer have to worry about finding affordable housing.

On Thursday, the second phase of the Williston Senior Apartment Homes located at 2610 24th Street West broke ground.

Scheduled to open officially in August 2014, the Senior Apartment Homes built by G.A. Haan Development will add 21 new units to the complex in the second phase. The first phase was completed in 2011 and contained 40 units.

One unique aspect of the second phase is its affiliation with the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which have been supplied to the project by the North Dakota Housing Finance Authority. With the credits, property owners will receive an annual tax credit from the federal government for up to 10 years in exchange for keeping the housing units affordable for low-income households.

The tax credits NDHFA allocated to the second phase of the project will bring $3.39 million in equity to a project that will remain affordable for 45 years, according to a press release.

Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley attended the groundbreaking ceremony and said he was proud of G.A. Haan and North Dakota Housing Authority for their work on the project.

“We have to make sure to look out for the seniors,” Wrigley said. “They are the generation that helped build Williston and helped make North Dakota the way it is today.”

Wrigley said the apartments are another example of a private business partnering with the state government to meet the growing needs of the community.

“Projects like Williston Senior Apartments are important for affordable housing needs to be met in western North Dakota communities,” Wrigley said. “Public-private partnerships will continue to encourage affordable housing development as a result of rapid growth, helping ensure that longtime residents and those on fixed incomes can remain in the communities they call home.”

The second phase of the development will consist of nine one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units.

Depending on income and family size, the apartments will rent from $274 to $762 per month.

“The individuals that live at Williston Senior are an active and vital part of this growing community,” said Gerald Haan of G.A. Haan Development. “By expanding the development, we will be able to provide more housing options that enable local seniors to continue to affordably live in a community they’ve long called home.”

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