Community Housing Initiatives prepares to break ground on a $6.5 million renovation project in Spencer

  |     |   In Development, Northwest Iowa News

Community Housing Initiatives, a Spencer-based nonprofit developer of affordable housing, will soon break ground on renovations at Spencer Manor Apartments. Spencer Manor offers rental assistance serving people ages 62+ as well as qualified people with disabilities in Spencer, Iowa. 

CHI will invest more than $6.5 million to update the 52-unit property. The property includes 14 buildings that will receive a full upgrade to include:

  • Enhanced handicapped accessibility including walk in showers
  • Upgraded kitchens and baths
  • New windows
  • New appliances
  • New energy efficient HVAC and water heating
  • Flooring, paint and light fixtures
  • In-unit washer and dryer
  • Renovated community building

The project is set to begin this month and will take roughly one year to complete. Residents will be temporarily displaced into vacant units on the property during renovations.

“CHI is committed to the preservation of affordable housing in Iowa. The Spencer Manor renovation project is an important step in assuring that these apartments remain available to the citizens of Clay County well into the future,” said Sam Erickson, Vice President, Community Housing Initiatives. “We are extremely proud to work alongside our funding partners with the City of Spencer, Iowa Finance Authority, and Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.”

In May 2015, CHI acquired Spencer Manor. Located only blocks from our corporate office in Spencer, the property fits well into CHI’s Northwest Region. In addition to the apartments, the property features a community building with kitchen and activity space.

“We are grateful to be able to provide these much needed upgrades for the community, and especially our residents!” Kris Illg, Construction and Rehabilitation Director, Community Housing Initiatives. Illg has a special connection to this project as her father is the original builder.
 
Founded in 1994 in nearby Graettinger, Community Housing Initiatives now serves more than 30 communities statewide.  When Spencer Manor renovations are complete, CHI will offer 231 apartments in Spencer including 143 exclusively for seniors.

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