Stacyville senior citizen complex studied

The town of Stacyville has been approved for funding for a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant), from the Maine Office of Community Development. The funding amount of $10,000 along with a 25 percent match of $2,500 from the town of Stacyville will be used to conduct a feasibility study for a senior citizens apartment complex.
    The Upper Valley Economic Corporation (UVEC) pursued this project on the behalf of the town and its citizens. UVEC will be handling and coordinating other relevant activities that are needed above and beyond the scope of the study, such as contacting and meeting with other agencies and developing applications for additional funding.
The grant application was submitted in 2008. After the approval, the Maine Office of Community Development invited the town into the project development phase.
UVEC and Vonalee Sides, Stacyville’s town agent then completed the second phase of which one requirement was to have the town appoint a community development advisory committee to oversee the feasibility study. The members of committee are: Jeanette Hafford, Elgah Merry, Marilyn Somers, Kenneth Delano, Carey Splan and Vonalee Sides.
The main focus of the town and the advisory committee is to develop a feasibility study toward the realization of a 10-12 unit, low-income elderly housing facility in the community. The Northern Maine Development Commission will conduct the feasibility study under the direction of Joella Theriault.
The study generated, would concern itself with, but not limited to, the following main goals: identifying the most suitable location for the proposed housing complex, detailing its advantages and detractions in relations to other potential sites; developing conceptual building designs and related cost estimates including cost projections on water, sewer infrastructure, unit layout and amenities; identification of various issues such as environmental concerns, proximity to other residents and transportation accessibility; development of a projected funding strategy and recommended methodology, including an assessment of the project’s impact on the local economy and taxation, identification of private investors interested in constructing the complex and conceptual alternatives to provide the most benefit to the residents of Stacyville.
These and other components to the feasibility study would be packaged in the form of a document; complete with conceptual drawings and maps for presentation to the public and for use by the town and the committee to apply to various agencies for assistance.
The advisory committee and Theriault of NMDC met on March 3. The purpose of the meeting was for the committee to give Theriault direction and input on what is needed and required for the senior citizens apartment complex for the Stacyville residents, so the project can move into the next phase.
Concerns shared at this meeting included; comments from former residents that have had to move to other communities to find affordable housing. These elderly citizens didn’t want to leave their familiar surroundings, their family and friends, but at this point had no other choice.
If the project is deemed worthwhile and can acquire the appropriate funding it may be constructed on an acre or more of land known as the ‘schoolhouse lot’. It already has a well and septic.
Theriault will be conducting further studies into the project and plans to meet with the advisory committee again in early April.
For more information contact Theriault at 834-5298.