$1.5 million for 20 apartments for the elderly

The grant was awarded to Visions Five Community Development Corp., a nonprofit organization that serves the Upper Cumberland region.

The complex will be located on Cora Road in northwest Cookeville off Crescent Drive and will include 20 apartments for elderly residents.

"This is a unique project designed to accommodate our senior population," Gordon said. "While encouraging self-sufficiency, services will be provided to support the needs of the residents."

Resident services will include low- or no-cost meal availability and delivery, transportation, ready access to outside health care, assistance in accessing and dealing with various social service agencies and access to leisure activities and legal counsel.

"The units are designed for low-income elderly who may need some help but are not ready for assisted living or a nursing home," said Carl Wright, Visions five chief executive. "They just need help to remain independent."

Wright said the facility will be designed to be "unusually" energy efficient. He said he hopes to make the building an Energy Star, which, under US Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, would make it 30 percent more efficient in energy use than a traditional facility.

Wright said he is looking at using solar energy for water heating and geothermal heating.

"This is our first venture," he said. "We hope to do more throughout the Upper Cumberland through this program and others. This is the first of its kind. We're really lacking in affordable housing in the Upper Cumberland."

The HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly funding award is an assistance program that provides capital advance financing and rental assistance to nonprofit sponsors for the development and operation of supportive housing for the elderly.

"I'm pleased to see Visions Five and the local community working together to improve the quality of life for Cookeville's elderly," Gordon said.

Published November 10, 2001 7:08 PM CST
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