Rock School apartments to get green rehab

By CAITLIN SULLIVAN/Staff

Shawn Morrison and her mother have been residents at the Riverside Place Apartments in Damascus longer than about anyone.
“We’ve been here so long they’ll probably take us out in a casket,” she said.
Morrison and her mother, Mary “Susie”, moved into a newly renovated Section 8 apartment 20 years ago and stayed. Until now. This time, though, they’ll be getting more than new cabinets and countertops. They’ll be getting a new energy-efficient dwelling, the first of its kind in the region.
“No one has ever done anything like this in affordable housing in the area,” said Mike Rush, director of housing programs for People Inc., the nonprofit taking on the project.
The old Rock School, built from river rock in 1921, will become a pioneer for partnering green building and affordable housing. This will be the first time People Inc. has installed geo-thermal heat pumps and energy-producing solar panels. It’ll be the first time in Southwest Virginia that those things will be used in affordable housing, also.
The nearly $2 million dollar construction project, which includes $575,000 in federal funds for the heat pumps and solar panels, will keep the old river rock on the exterior but replace all hot water heaters with solar or heat pump-based hot water heaters, install new Energy Star appliances, cabinets and windows, insulate the building and replace the carpet with hardwood and tile flooring.
The building will be converted from 28 apartments to 22 larger apartments – six three-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units and four one-bedroom units. Two of the apartments will be handicapped-accessible.
Rush said funding for the project through People Inc. is not subsidized by the taxpayer but instead through tax credits sold to investors.
Over the past few months, People Inc. has pared down occupancy of the building through attrition. Currently Rush said about half of the building is filled. He said throughout the project tenants will stay on site. They will be moved to one half of the building while the construction is under way on the other side and then switch.
After the commotion, Rush said tenants should see a substantial decrease in electricity bills.
“Affordability hinges on your ability to operate the house or apartment and that means paying your energy bill,” he said.
Morrison said although she’s not looking forward to the hassle of moving, she likes the idea of going “green” and getting the new appliances.
“The new windows will help me with the energy bill,” she said. “In the winter you feel the cold air when you get up close to them.”
Morrison and her mother pay $285 a month on rent, a figure that will increase after the renovations. She said they’ll be able to cover the extra.
According to Rush, a new one-bedroom unit will cost $325, a two-bedroom unit will cost $385 and a three-bedroom unit will cost $395.
Unlike the Morrisons, not all residents are embracing the “green” future so willingly.
“I am absolutely against it,” said Virginia Kimberling. “I’m utterly opposed to it. This is a good place to live. I’m just happy with the way we are right now.”
Kimberling has lived in her apartment for about three years and said even though she has to fiddle with the stove to get it to the correct temperature, she likes things the way they are.
Outside the building, Harrie Jones said most of his apartment is packed in boxes and he’s awaiting the move. He said the transition has been hard and frustrating. He said People Inc. hasn’t given him a place of residency document so he can switch over his water and electricity to the temporary apartment he’ll be living in while his gets renovated.
“I can’t transfer the bill without something telling me where I’m going to be,” Jones said.
Jones pays $114 for electricity a month. After the improvements, he figures that amount will go down enough to offset the increased rent.
“With the electricity going down it will compensate for the higher rent,” he said. “I think it will be a good thing once it’s done.”
Rush said often when affordable housing units are renovated they are sold and converted to market rates. But that won’t happen to Riverside Place Apartments, he assured. He said People Inc. will keep these apartments in service for at least 15 years and then probably extend the contract another 15.
People Inc. CEO Rob Goldsmith put it this way, “We help people reach their goals to improve their lives. In this case, an affordable healthy place to live is a big step in that direction.”
The apartments, however, won’t be exclusively low-income. They’ll be income-restricted, meaning tenants won’t be allowed to make more than 60 percent of the median income in Southwest Virginia. The current median family income in Washington County for a family of four is about $49,000, so the acceptable income for post-renovation residency couldn’t be more than $30,000.
To contact Caitlin Sullivan call (276) 628-7101 or call csullivan@wythenews.com.