Maumee delays action on senior-housing plan

7/5/2002

Maumee City Council has agreed to hold off making a decision about the proposed 70-unit senior-housing project along River Road until questions and concerns raised by residents and business owners can be addressed.

The council scheduled two public sessions for discussing the project's preliminary plan and proposed tax-incentive package. The proposed tax abatement, recommended by the city's community reinvestment area negotiating team, will be discussed during the council's finance committee meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 5.

A public hearing on the Lutheran Homes Society's preliminary plan for the development at 2501 River Road will be held during the council's meeting the same night.

Councilman Rich Carr said he will ask the developer to address allegations that the city would be entering into unfair competition by offering financial incentives to the Lutheran Homes Society and complaints from residents who say they wouldn't be eligible to live in the apartments planned as “affordable housing.”

Charles Reynolds of the Reynolds Construction Company on South Detroit Avenue in Toledo alleged the unfair competition.

“By getting into the housing market with such a generous subsidy to the Lutheran Homes Society, the city of Maumee is entering into direct competition with other rental properties,” Mr. Reynolds said in a letter.

Council is being asked to approve a 100 percent tax abatement for 10 years on property improvement estimated at $3 million, provided that payments in lieu of taxes are paid to Maumee City Schools and Penta Career Center.