Affordable housing complex enhances safety, aesthetics in Topeka
3:57 p.m. Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Topeka resident Sarah Oliver never thought she would be able to afford renting a newly constructed home.
"I can't believe it," Oliver said.
She's a tenant in Pioneer Adams at 22nd and Adams streets, a moderate-income housing complex that has transformed the neighborhood in Central Highland Park.
It's a far cry from what was there before: A lot full of abandoned trailer homes.
"It was causing problems for the community, causing problems for the neighbors, causing problems for the police department," Pioneer Adams Vice President Rick Kready said.
Now, it's the city's newest moderate income housing complex. A three-bedroom townhome rents for just $625. A two-bedroom apartment rents for $445, and a one-bedroom rents for $350.
A similar home elsewhere would have set Oliver back $800 or more, she said.
There are a total of 47 units that include apartments and townhomes, and a waiting list of more than 300 people.
To address the rising need, the Pioneer group promises to build 49 more units across the street.
One of Kready's favorite features is the playground. Kready says it's the careful screening process that will keep the complex safe and attractive for years to come.
"If they got criminal records and things, we just say 'sorry, you need to locate elsewhere,'" Kready said.
Kready says the new development is already starting to influence the neighborhood.
"If you take a look at some of the houses that surround this, you'll see there's some fresh coats of paint on some of those and people are sprucing up their own properties," Kready said.
Oliver says she feels safe here and enjoys the family environment in the complex.
"The park is great. All the kids, they play along. It's a great neighborhood here," Oliver said.
Tenants must meet strict guidelines and undergo a background check to qualify for Pioneer Adams.
Download a PDF version of the application to live in one of the new homes is available here.
Learn more about the Pioneer Group on their Web site, www.pioneergroupinc.com.
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