FORT FAIRFIELD – At the Dec. 8 meeting of the Fort Fairfield Rotary Club, Wayne Troicke, executive director of the Housing Authority of Fort Fairfield, presented an update on the Fort Fairfield Residential Development Corp.’s efforts to develop a 25-unit, elderly housing tax credit project.
WAYNE TROICKE, executive director of the Housing Authority of Fort Fairfield, was the guest of Stephanie Beaulieu, president of the Fort Fairfield Rotary Club, at the club’s Dec. 8 meeting. Troicke presented an update on the Fort Fairfield Residential Development Corp.’s efforts to develop a 25-unit, elderly housing tax credit project.
The housing project, which will be situated off Presque Isle Street in Fort Fairfield, includes a two-story building consisting of five two-bedroom, and 20 one-bedroom units. Plans are to heat the building with a well-based geothermal heating system and the domestic hot water system utilizing a solar-preheat system to reduce its carbon footprint. The units will serve low-income elderly/disabled residents in the Fort Fairfield area that have a gross income not exceeding 60 percent of area median income.
Seven apartments will receive Section 8 Project Based Voucher assistance (two 2-bedroom units and five 1-bedroom units). These seven units are supported by a HAP Contract, which obligates funds toward Housing Assistance Payments for tenants approved to occupy these units. These vouchers are considered Project Based Vouchers and do not transfer with the tenants if they chose to leave the property. Tenant’s eligibility will be determined by the Section 8-Admin Plan. The rest of the tenants will be at 50-60 percent of median income and will be determined based on tax credit management rules and eligibility.
The application for the project did not go forward for scoring in the fall round, as it was disqualified due to an error in one of the Performa formulas and a missing Maine Housing form. The consultant on the project has refunded the application fee and they are correcting the application and expect to reapply during the next Tax Credit round expected next spring.
In the next five years, the elderly population the town is targeting for the project is expected to grow by 11 percent as more baby-boomers retire. This project has the potential of being 100 percent ADA compliant, as 14 units are planned to be ADA compliant and the remaining 11 units to be ADA Adaptable by changing out the stove, two cabinets, and adding a transfer seat to the tub.
The Fort Fairfield Residential Development Corp. is dedicated to improving housing opportunities to low income families in Fort Fairfield. Developing, maintaining, and managing affordable housing for these individuals is their primary goal. With the assistance of the Housing Authority of Fort Fairfield, this goal is being pursued one step further. The Housing Authority of Fort Fairfield board of commissioners has approved a cash donation to the Fort Fairfield Residential Development Corp. in the amount of $70,000 for the purchase of the land for the project. These funds will come from the Housing Authority Local Program account and do not represent any HUD funding or taxpayer dollars. They have also dedicated seven project-based vouchers to the project should it move forward during a recent competitive application process. Officials look forward with optimism and hope that this project will move forward to serve the community.
