Rogers to move proposed senior housing project
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The housing unit had originally been set to be constructed on a 2-acre lot which was part of a 4.35-acre tract formerly owned by the state Board of Regents. The land was returned to the county earlier this year.
Rogers said some city aldermen were concerned about rezoning the area from industrial to commercial to facilitate the senior housing development. Some city officials felt, considering the funds recently obtained through the efforts of state Sen. Jerry Cooper and Rep. Charles Curtiss for a $3.24 million expansion of the Motlow campus, that rezoning the land might limit future growth, even though the 4.35-acre tract is not currently slated to be used in the initial Motlow expansion.
“After talking to the city, we have decided there is other land in the park that would work,” Rogers said.
Rogers added there was no real disagreement between the county and city on the project itself. “They’re for the project. They don’t want to hinder the project, except for the location.”
Recent comments from McMinnville Vice Mayor Patti Nunley seem to bear that out. Though Nunley says she is reluctant to rezone industrial land, because the city has so little left, she is not against building affordable senior housing.
“I’m not opposed to the project,” said Nunley. “I’m just not convinced that’s the best place to put it.”
Rogers says he understands the city’s concerns and has no problem with relocating the senior housing facility.
“We don’t want to hinder the growth of Motlow and the Technology Center,” Rogers said. “By doing this we can have the land there if they need it in the future.”
Rogers said he has been working with city alderman Donald Hillis to determine an alternate building site in the park. Once a tract is chosen the county will go back to HUD for approval.
According to Rogers, the county had deeded the land to the Board of Regents some time ago with the understanding if they did not use it, the property would revert to the county. The board had actually returned the land in question a year early, at Rogers’ request, to facilitate the senior housing project.
As part of that project, the county’s Land Committee voted to give Motlow the remaining two acres of the 4.35-acre tract with no strings attached as part of the deal, but as things stand now, the Land Committee will have to decide how the tract will be handled. Rogers made it clear the property would be designated for the educational facilities.
“If they need it, it’s there for them,” Rogers said. “We’re going to put it back for them.”
Rogers pointed out if the $1.2 senior housing project goes through along with the $3.24 million Motlow expansion, the county will have two major construction projects in the works over the next few years which should provide a significant boost to the local economy.
Once constructed, the senior housing project will be run by the Upper Cumberland Development District which runs several similar facilities in the area, according to Rogers.
Though HUD has an option on the 2 acres in question, Rogers feels once HUD officials have been informed of the situation it will still fund the project at a different location.
City officials were to vote on rezoning the property during their regular meeting this Tuesday. However, Alderman Donald Hillis said he has been talking to Rogers and the city is going to postpone the vote until its next meeting.