Tax Credits Denied For Affordable Senior Housing
Date Posted: December 19, 2023
Posted In: News, Organizations, People,
From Webster-Kirkwood Times: Plans to convert property at 204 E. Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves to affordable senior housing have stalled. Peace United Church of Christ and the Housing Authority of St. Louis County learned last week they will not be receiving tax credits they had counted on to move the project forward.
Peace UCC Rev. Wendy Bruner said the news is devastating, but encouraged congregants to “make a way out of no way.”
“It breaks our hearts. What a crushing blow,” she told members of Peace UCC’s congregation during services on Sunday, Dec. 10. “Yet even in difficult times, we hold on to hope. Disappointment won’t stop us. A major setback won’t stop us. Weariness won’t stop us. We are not alone. We are surrounded by a community that supports us.”
The 2.24-acre church property had been home to Peace UCC since 1920. The congregation moved its place of worship to Eden Theological Seminary earlier this year to focus its resources on mission work rather than costly repairs of a century-old building.
Peace UCC leaders had hoped to breathe new life into the Lockwood property by bringing to fruition its goal of creating an affordable senior housing development.
To do so, they formed a for-profit partnership with the Housing Authority of St. Louis County known as Peace Partners. Peace Partners then announced plans to apply for state and federal low-income housing tax credits, with the hope of securing funding to convert Peace UCC’s previous church property to a 52-unit residential complex for seniors known as Peace Place. Peace Partners on Dec. 8 was informed that it was not awarded the tax credits.
Peace Partners will receive feedback from the Missouri Housing Development Commission about its application early next year. While no immediate decisions have been made, partnership members met this week to discuss options and determine next steps.
Rev. Bruner said Peace Partners remain committed to its mission and is grateful for the community’s support.