With roughly 9,000 daily commuters to Kokomo, and multiple blighted areas, city officials have made permanent housing a priority of the current administration.
From the Lofts at Union Street to the Apperson Way Apartments, developers have worked to satisfy all of Kokomo’s needs, from low-income housing to upscale downtown living arrangements.
Here are updates on four of Kokomo’s current and future apartment complexes:
Lofts at Union Street
With 14 of the 35 available units already occupied, the progression of the Lofts at Union Street – located atop the Union Street parking garage – has more than satisfied Scott Baldwin of Envoy Inc.
“We had originally forecasted as 18-month lease-up, and we are well ahead of that,” said Baldwin, whose construction management firm developed the apartment complex. “We are significantly ahead of that forecast. Construction was completed a couple months ago, and we had a certificate of occupancy in July.”
Following the completion of the complex’s siding and roof trim last month, Envoy Inc. has only a few finishing touches to put on the complex’s exterior before the project is fully concluded.
“The inside is mainly done. There are a few minor things, touch-up items, but as far as construction the interior is done,” said Envoy’s Shaun Paul.
The Lofts at Union Street is currently accepting tenants. To learn more about available units, call 317-654-4444.
JCF Residences at Wildcat Creek
Following the April announcement that 88 apartment units would be coming to 1500 W. Markland Ave., the former site of Kokomo River Estates, JCF Real Estate has leveled the area’s remaining trailers and moved closer to a construction start date.
In fact, JCF and city officials had a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 21, with a goal of rent availability beginning in November, according to Executive Vice President Paul Robertson.
Although the company had originally announced a completion date of late July or early August, apartments are expected to be available by the end of 2015.
“We are doing the homes in phases, and we hope the first 30 will be available by December,” he said. “We are doing work right now, mainly clearing the site and readying the area for underground utilities.”
The complex will consist of 44 separate structures, each with two side-by-side units.
“Each unit will have its own porch, and the neighbor’s porch will be on the other side of the building,” said JCF President John Fitzmaurice. “In fact, we are working on a patent for the design because it is so unique.”
The plan, said Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight, will help to redevelop another of the city’s struggling areas.
“This is a great example of a private investor redeveloping an older neighborhood,” Goodnight said. “This housing development by JCF is a strong indicator that our focus on quality of life improvements is paying off. We are excited to continue to grow Kokomo by encouraging new affordable housing developments for people of all income levels.”
Northern Indiana Supply Company
While plans to develop the former Northern Indiana Supply Company into an upscale apartment complex were made public last year, no updates have been made available.
As was revealed on Dec. 10, Indianapolis-based property development firm Flaherty & Collins has developed plans to build the complex in the NISCO structure at 304 S. Main St., which will place it near the city’s new $9 million municipal baseball stadium.
The city is expected to contribute $6.9 million in tax abatements, grants and other incentives, while the developers will pay the estimated remaining $23 million of the project’s cost.
Plans revealed during an Indiana Economic Development Corp. meeting called for amenities such as granite countertops, hardwood floors, a swimming pool, fire pit and high ceilings. If completed, the apartments are expected to attract affluent tenants with a rental price of $1.15 a square foot.
According to city development specialist David Tharp, there are no updates concerning the project.
Calls to Flaherty and Collins developer Austin Carmony, the NISCO project manager, were not returned.
Apperson Way Apartments
The Apperson Way apartment complex, a $9.5 million, 69-unit project, is set to provide low- to moderate-income Kokomo families with a new housing option by the fall of 2016, according to the project’s developer, The Whitsett Group and Company.
Following the development plan approval on Sept. 8 by the Kokomo Plan Commission of the project’s townhomes and apartments, Whitsett developers have set a projected construction start date of Oct. 19.
The completed project will include the Apperson Way Townhomes, a 5-unit structure on the northeast corner of Apperson Way and Jefferson Street, and the Apperson Way Apartments, a three-story, 64-unit structure on the southeast corner of the intersection.
To increase residential quality of life, the complex will include extensive green space, a playground, community gardens and a picnic area, according to city officials.
“Apperson Way Apartments is possible due to the city of Kokomo’s administration and their vision for the city,” said Joe Whitsett, president of the Whitsett Group. “We are extremely excited about our investment in Kokomo.”
The city has also started work on the Apperson Way demolition project, which includes the demolition of all structures and improvements at 502 E. Jefferson St., 512 N. Apperson Way, and 424 N. Apperson Way.