Construction on senior apartments to begin this summer

0

Construction of a four-story, 64-unit, affordable apartment complex in Seymour for residents 55 and older will get underway in mid-July.

Crossroads Village received approval from the Seymour Plan Commission this month on a development plan for the 500 block of South Poplar Street.

The apartments will be located on the northeast corner of the property with 24 one-bedroom units and 40 two-bedroom units. Designs include an outdoor gathering area for residents and 80 parking spots along with a stormwater basin.

“We’re excited to commence construction,” said Tim Morgan, representing Crossroads Village. “We’ll have a 12- to 13-month build period and would be looking to welcome residents in late summer next year.”

The 2-acre property, which is south of Schneck Medical Center, once served as the location of the Seymour Woolen Mill and later was purchased by Harrison Corp. and became the site of Seymour Electronics.

Due to contamination, the property has sat vacant for years while it has undergone environmental cleanup.

Initially, the main contaminant was petroleum, and then chlorinated solvents were found. The contamination was determined to not pose any imminent or long-term danger to neighbors.

In 2015, environmental consultants Mundell and Associates Inc. in Indianapolis installed 1-inch wells on and around the property to treat and monitor the groundwater and resulting contamination plume extending north to West Tipton Street (U.S. 50).

The treatment consisted of injecting an emulsified soybean oil into the groundwater, which breaks down the chemicals over time.

Since 2015, there has been a more than 90% reduction of contaminants in the groundwater at the site, according to Mundell and Associates.

Because of the need for ongoing environmental testing and monitoring, the Seymour Board of Public Works and Safety on Thursday adopted an ordinance to restrict future ground wells in the area.

There are no drinking water wells currently within the plume area.

“Cleanup progresses at the site,” said Brent Dayharsh with Mundell and Associates. “We’re continuing to monitor groundwater for at least another three years to show the trend that it is continuing to clean up.”

Before the restriction can be lifted, groundwater has to meet drinking standards as established by Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

All residents and business owners impacted by the restriction will receive letters providing additional information, Dayharsh said. He estimated about 30 properties are affected.

Dayharsh said the first environmental investigation of the property began in 2006 when contaminants were discovered in the soil. Mundell and Associates was responsible for the successful cleanup of the soil through excavation and thermal remediation.

Crossroads Village is being developed by Thrive Alliance and Jonesboro Investments for $12.5 million. The project has been under city review for about a year and a half.

In late November, the state awarded Thrive Alliance $1.2 million in low-income housing tax credits to build the apartments.

The apartments will be income-based, so there is an income range that a tenant would have to be within to qualify. Rent costs are expected to be between $525 and $700 per unit. Units will be 800 square feet for one bedroom/one bath and 900 square feet for two bedrooms/one and a half baths.

No posts to display