Published: March 13, 2008 11:42 pm         

Light House Mission breaks ground on new six-unit apartment complex

TERRE HAUTE — Residents in the block encompassed by 18th, 19th, Chestnut and Sycamore streets will have some new neighbors by summer’s end.

A joint project between Light House Mission Inc. and Terre Haute’s Department of Redevelopment broke ground Thursday, and officials said a six-unit apartment complex for low-income single women should be up by the end of July.

“Good, clean, safe, affordable housing,” said the Rev. Tim Fagg, CEO of the Light House Mission, describing the project.

Fagg said many of the women who go through the Mission’s programs have a difficult time finding safe and affordable housing in the area.

The 3,600-square-foot, single-story brick building will house six one-bedroom apartments and offer income-based rent and permanent housing.

Once completed, the group will move up the block and build a similar 10-unit family complex with three- and four-bedroom apartments, Fagg said.

“It’s one of a couple of projects we’re going to do here,” he said of the half city block where Sandison School once was.

The Light House Mission bought the property, whose ownership has been shuffled back and forth through a number of tax sales, and paid for the engineering services needed for the project.

The City of Terre Haute provided demolition services and will pay the $230,000 construction costs, according to Mike Kass, administrator for the Redevelopment Commission’s Housing Program.

Mark Tarrh Construction won the project from a pool of six bidders.

The family housing phase will be bid out separately, Kass said.

Cliff Lambert of the Redevelopment Commission said the project will be “an important addition to the neighborhood.”

“We’ve had a long-standing relationship between the Department of Redevelopment and Rev. Fagg and the Light House Mission,” he said, adding that this is “another example of government working hand in hand with local not-for-profits.”

Both Fagg and Lambert said this project should help “revitalize the urban neighborhoods.”

Brian Boyce can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.