Tonight, Vance County Schools will hold a public hearing regarding what to do with the old Eaton Johnson Middle School. The meeting will be at the Administrative Center on Graham Avenue at 6:30pm and is open to the public. We highly encourage you to attend and voice your opinion, as one of the things being considered is for a company The Landmark Group, which currently own the Maria Parham Apartments and the Vance Senior Housing Apartments as well as many other locations across several states are interested in the property to turn it into 53 various sized apartments for those with low income. The company uses various methods of funding projects, including applying for and taking advantage of numerous grants and tax credits. We know that many here are concerned with growing low income housing in the area, and if you are, you are encouraged to attend this meeting to voice your opinion. We also encourage you go to if you have other ideas for how the building could best be put to use.
You can read more about The Landmark Group here.
Welcome to the Thursday Open Line
Edit – added these details: You can read details of the plan via the school board agenda packet for October, which can be found here: http://homeinhenderson.com/2011/10/07/vance-county-board-of-education-meeting/ at around page 55
The project is estimated to cost 7.5 million dollars with 5.517 million of that from grants and government loans. The units would be for families that earn up to 60% of the area medium income. Rent would range from $335 to $608. The project if approved and funded would expect to open March 2014.
Is this building the one that sits almost on campus, the Henderson Institute? OR has EJ closed the older and more larger building that sits on the right hand side of the bridge when traveling Beckford Drive heading towards Garnett? Trying to figure out which building they are talking about. Thank you.
I’m not exactly sure here, but I really doubt its the old Henderson Institute, as that is currently a museum and I don’t think they have any plans to close the museum. The alumni of that school have a website at http://henderson-institute.org/
tear down the building and make the land a community farm.
Thanks Phil. Based on what I have seen the older and larger building (the one I had 7th and 8th grade classes in) is now dormant. Kudo’s to those who made a way for the bridge to become obsolete. The current campus is surrounded by a low income neighborhood. If something is going to change the appearance of that area then placing another larger low income appartment complex in right off Beckford Drive is not the answer. However I have not made my mind up just yet. The idea of adding more low income housing does not make me feel too great.
Thoughts?
Don’t forget: Promises must be made If I remember correctly, 10 % of units must be government subsidized in this type of deal. We do not need any mor low rent instant slums.
All you have to do is check out the parking area at Social Services building on Ruin Creek Rd.–the lot is overflowing every day–and not with junk cars either.
Stop this madness. It is killing Henderson.