TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Church to celebrate new senior housing

ADVERTISEMENT

By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 3, 2009

BRANDON - Politicians, government officials, church members and low-income senior citizens will celebrate the completion of a project that's been seven years in the making.

Apostles Lutheran Church will have a grand opening ceremony for Apostles Village at 3 p.m. Sunday at Kingsway Road and Morgan Street.

The nonprofit apartment complex was built to fill a dire need for affordable housing for residents age 62 years and older in the Brandon area, said Ron Beisecker, church administrator. The $7.5 million project was paid for by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Hillsborough County Community Development Block Grant program and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership, a state program that encourages local governments to provide affordable housing.

"We're very excited," Beisecker said. "This has been a long time coming and there's a desperate need in the community for low-income housing for senior citizens."

Among those invited to attend the grand opening is state Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, who, as a Hillsborough County commissioner, spoke in favor of rezoning the property next to Apostles Lutheran Church to be used for the senior apartment complex.

Like church officials, Storms said she felt it was ideal for senior apartments because of its centralized location, close proximity to the Brandon Senior Center on Parsons Avenue and the Brandon Recreation Center on Sadie Street, which offers classes for seniors. In addition, the site is easily accessible to bus routes and within walking distance of stores.

Also invited to be on hand for the celebration are the Rev. C. Handlee Vige, pastor of Apostles Lutheran, and the Rev. Edward Benoway, bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

There are 19 HUD-funded senior apartment complexes in Hillsborough County but Apostles Village will be the first HUD senior apartment complex in Brandon, according to the Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse.

To qualify to live in Apostles Village, residents must be at least 62 years old, meet certain income requirements and be able to live independently. Beisecker said the complex's managing company, LifeLink Corp., a nonprofit charitable health and human service organization based in Bensenville, Ill., has received more than 170 applications to reside at Apostles Village and has approved 42 so far.

The complex has 55 520-square-foot efficiency units with one bedroom, kitchenette, bathroom and living room, suitable for one or two people, Beisecker said.

The complex also has a community room for social gatherings and a computer room for the residents' use.

Residents will begin moving in July 1.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT