Plans moving ahead for senior living in old school

The next step in the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority’s plan for the old Euharlee Elementary School will be taken during the upcoming Rockmart City Council meeting in July.

Rockmart council members approved a measure to move forward with a public hearing to be held during the July 11 meeting to approve a conditional use request by the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority to build senior housing within the old school.

The school is at 100 Morgan Valley Road.

Executive Director Sandra Hudson said the property is set for 14 units within the old school, with additional 26 units to be added on with new construction for 60 total.

For now, the project is still in the initial stages and costs to do the work remains a goal for the near future for the Housing Authority, Hudson said.

They have also not sought approval for the 4 percent tax credit that is part of the funding for the project.

The authority agreed last year to a memorandum of understanding with two private developers — Landbridge Development and the Resource Housing Group — to partner on the project.

The partnership will apply for low-income housing tax credits through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs during the 2017 round of funding.

NWGHA Attorney Stewart Duggan said they also may apply for historic tax credits, since the school was built in 1941.

A combination of low-income housing tax credits and historic tax credits was used to restore the Greystone apartment building on Second Avenue in Rome.

Hudson said the MOU gives Landbridge and the RHG authority to start financial and administrative planning for the project. The number of units is still undetermined.

“We said we wanted to use our architect and we’ll pay for that,” Hudson said.

Cevian Design Lab of Rome will serve as general architect.

NWGHA bought the old school building for $75,000 about four years ago.

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