Site work has started, and construction is expected to begin within a month on a 45-unit, three-story apartment building on East 21st Street for older residents who met income requirements.
A mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments are planned at Kirkman Terrace, said Tammy Stansbury, vice president for development at Woda Cooper Companies Inc.
The developer estimates construction will be finished next July.
“We’re hoping within a month or so to set the foundation,” Stansbury said in a phone interview.
Stansbury said Kirkman Terrace, named for the nearby Kirkman Square, will appeal to baby boomers who don’t want to deal with property maintenance and lawn care as they age.
With financing assistance through the Kentucky Housing Corp., the apartments will be limited to residents based on age and income.
A renter must be at least 55 years old and may not earn more than $23,460 for a one-bedroom apartment or $26,820 for a two-bedroom apartment. Those income numbers are based on current eligibility and could increase by the time the project is ready to sign lease agreements, said Stansbury.
The rental rates will be at least $495 for a one-bedroom with 693 square feet and $595 for a two-bedroom with 888 square feet. Those rates could also change based on the opening date.
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Median gross rent (which includes utilities) in Hopkinsville is $659 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Each apartment at Kirkman Terrace will have kitchen appliances, and washer-dryer hook-ups for residents who want to provide their own laundry appliances.
The building will feature a community room, laundry facility, computer lab and fitness center.
A manager and maintenance employee will be on the site.
Woda Cooper builds and manages affordable housing in 15 states. It has more than a dozen properties in Kentucky.
The local project qualified for a $87,000 incentive through Inner-City REZ for new construction.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
