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PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Commission approved a resolution Thursday to reallocate federal money for a low-income housing development project in south Parkersburg.
Drew Thomas, with the City of Parkersburg, appeared before the Wood County Commission on Thursday to get approval of the resolution.
The same resolution was passed by Parkersburg City Council this week. It needed approval from both the council and the commission.
The budget revision nearly doubles the federal funding allocated to a proposed elderly and family affordable housing development in south Parkersburg called Patriot Point.
The project is a 36-unit elderly (55+) and family housing development located in unincorporated Wood County, near Parkersburg, according to the resolution. The project will feature 20 one-bedroom/one-bathroom units (for people 55+), nine two-bedroom/one-bathroom units (for people 55+), and seven three-bedroom/two-bathroom units (general occupancy/family). Nine units (25%) will be targeted to persons aged 62+, creating a diverse and intergenerational community, the resolution said.
A combined $250,000 was appropriated from previous years HOME Consortium budgets for the planned Patriot Point project just south of Kohl's outside the city limits. The city administers the consortium on behalf of the entire county and its municipalities.
With rising interest rates and building material costs, the price of the project has risen from about $8 million to $10 million and the developer is seeking additional funding from both the city and the state.
The Parkersburg/Wood County HOME Consortium recommended reallocating $135,738.43 to Patriot Point Affordable Housing Development, the resolution said.
The money comes from $100,000 allocated funds that were set aside to do the Camden Lofts Senior housing project and other funds. That project was unsuccessful in securing Low Income Housing Tax Credits and the project did not go forward.
"We are moving some funding around so we can fund the Patriot Point," Thomas said, adding the project has been in development for five years.
The commission passed the resolution unanimously.
Commissioners commented on the lack of good walking paths in the area.
Commission President Blair Couch said the southside Walmart store is close by for pharmacy and food needs, but people will need a way to get there. Couch said there is a path that comes down as far as MedExpress but further on is a problem area for people on foot.
He has seen pedestrians in that area have to navigate some hard terrain.
"I encourage someone to do a walking path down there," Couch said.
In other business, the commission unanimously approved awarding a bid to clean up the dilapidated property at 267 Larkmead Road, Parkersburg, to Bosley Construction for $6,995. County Administrator Marty Seufer said Bosley met all the criteria to do the job and was the lowest bidder of the three bids submitted.
The commission also approved a resolution authorizing Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce to accept and administer a $43,936 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) grant. The Wood County Sheriff's Department will receive $16,304 from the grant.
Officials said the money will be used to purchase ballistic vests, belts and shirts for its Special Response Unit.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com