Low-income housing unit groundbreaking in Lapaz
Lapaz—after working toward this moment since 2019, town council president Roger Ecker, Marshall County Crossroads, representatives from the office of Jackie Walorski, as well as several local community leaders were pleased to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lapaz Commons, a low-income housing facility that will be avail
able to those whose income is at or below 60% of the Marshall County median income. There will also be allowances made for those whose income is below 40% of the median income.
The Town of Lapaz is excited to watch construction begin. “This is the first housing development at right at 20 years in Lapaz,” said Ecker. “We’re really looking forward to this, just bringing some housing and a new look to Lapaz.”
Lapaz Commons will have a total of eight units, all of which will have garages. Five of them will have three bedrooms and the rest will be two-bedroom units. On either end, there will be a unit that is ADA accessible, with the entire unit being on the ground level. Between them will be six townhomes, all of which will be accented by fieldstone. Lapaz Commons will also have a community room, laundry facilities, and an office for the property manager. The units will be double walled and will have fire walls between units. “It’s all set up to be as quiet and as safe as we can make it,” explained developer Kevin Berger.
Marshall County Crossroads is putting in a total of 48 housing units in three communities across the county. “It was a little of a hard sell getting people on-board. It’s one of those things that happened organically from the projects in Culver that then became the projects in Plymouth and Lapaz. I think we’re definitely moving down the right road with that,” said Berger. “That’s one of the things about this program: they strive to not make it look like low-income housing.”
Ecker has been working toward this for many years. “He sees the great schools, the great location, and through tireless work, he’s helping the rest of us see it too. He’s making things happen that no rural town of 475 people in Indiana could expect. He sees a great future for Lapaz,” endorsed Marty Oosterbaan, the chair of the Communications and Marketing Committee of Marshall County Crossroads.
This portion of the Marshall County Crossroads project will cost approximately $1.5 million and is being funded through Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority as well as First Farmers Bank & Trust and CREA. “I’m very excited. Hopefully this is just the start of things to come and to continue to grow,” said Ecker. “This is the shot in the arm that Lapaz needed. Housing is just so limited, it seems like any house that comes up for sale, it sells within 10 days. It’s definitely something needed. It’ll be a nice improvement as you go along Michigan St. to see the housing and to see the change in the property. I hope it continues to grow.” Easterday Construction will be pouring concrete for the foundation before the end of summer and construction is estimated to be concluded by the end of 2023.
Lapaz has been working toward other town improvements, such as putting in municipal water and updating areas of the town, including downtown revitalization and park improvements.