Saxony Place Causes Concerns for Residents

Frank Marr Photography.

Kalea Hall – Hometown Journal

STRUTHERS – Kathy Vega stressed the need for security for the elderly if Saxony Place were built.

The Rev. Bernard Bonnot of St. Nicholas Church felt the empty space that could one day hold Saxony Place would be put to good use if the housing units were constructed.
Tom Gilmartin Jr. of the Mahoning Valley Housing and Finance Agency advised Struthers residents of the who, what, when, where and why of the Saxony Place project.
This along with other concerns about the plans for a new development for low-income individuals age 62 or over were discussed at the Second Ward meeting held June 13 at Struthers Middle School. The development could be built in Struthers next spring if funding from the federal government comes through.

“This is an exploratory meeting. All we are asking for is a resolution for our application to go with HUD [Housing and Urban Development], ” Gilmartin explained to residents at the meeting.

The project for Saxony Place began when the Mahoning Valley Housing and Finance Agency and the Buckeye Community Hope Foundation approached Henry Nemenz about purchasing his property located off of Youngstown-Poland Road for a new development.

“On that piece of property we can site 40 suitable units,” Gilmartin said at the meeting.

Each unit of the development would consist of 670 square feet of living space, cathedral ceilings, a garage, living room, dining room, kitchen and more.

The funding to build each unit, the developers hope, will come from the U.S. Department of HUD through the 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program and from the sale of 4 percent tax credits, which will buy the 10 to 12 homes of Struthers residents needed to build Saxony Place.

Before the funding is granted to the building initiative, the developers have to send in an application by June 21. Gilmartin wants to receive a passed resolution from Struthers City Council before the application is sent in.

“I want the resolution,” Gilmartin said. “We are competing for a nationwide pool of money.”

The development would only be for residents aged 62 years and older. The income restrictions for a one-person household are $18,800 and $21,500 for a two-person household.
Gilmartin made it known at the meeting that precautions also would be taken when the residents for each unit were chosen.

“We have developed an application and a waiting list for people who are 62 or are going to be [62],” Gilmartin said.

RLJ Management Company, Inc., the business that plans on being the property manager for Saxony Place, was also in attendance at the meeting. Noel Hasson, a manager for the company, commented on the background and security checks the company does before a tenant is allowed to move in.

Hasson noted that they do “very strict and intense” screenings for criminal background, credit and anything else that may pop out as a red flag. Although there is no security guard on duty at the development, she said this program is a “good thing” to consider.

“If we don’t take care of our elderly, then what’s going to happen to them,” Hasson asked Struthers residents at the meeting.
Gilmartin added that becoming a tenant is on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

“That means, Struthers comes first,” Gilmartin said.

With the large population of elderly in Struthers, this program is “significant” for the city, he said.

Vega agreed with Gilmartin that it is important to serve the elderly community, but had concerns about the screening process in terms of the criminal background check and security.

“We need something for the elderly and I think it is great that they will keep it in Struthers, but I really think that it should have security,” Vega said after the meeting ended.

Bonnot spoke during the meeting about why he supported the project.

“Today we live with the reality that young people get educated at Youngstown State University and leave the area, so we are left with elderly,” Bonnot said, commenting on what the project can help take care of. “It seems to me that this is a very positive option that we should explore.”

Other residents at the meeting made their concerns known about the water run off that occurs where Saxony Place will be located, as well as issues with property values depreciating if the development were built and the future management positions that will oversee the residents in each unit.

Gilmartin and members of RLJ Management Company, Inc., continued to assure Struthers residents that Saxony Place will be beneficial to the Struthers community.
“It’s a new neighborhood development that Struthers, Mahoning County and the state of Ohio can be proud of,” Gilmartin said.