By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Russell celebrated the near completion of the Flintwood Senior Housing project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.
Russell Mayor Jim Cross began the ceremony with introductions before attendees toured two of the housing units. He said the project was made possible through a partnership between the city, the county and Housing Opportunities Inc.
"It seemed like it was taking forever. Still not totally done because the weather was a culprit for us, but this project is just the beginning," Cross said.
The senior housing development includes 24 duplex units for residents 55 and older, along with a shared community space available for rent. Callie Miller, executive director of Housing Opportunities, said Flintwood is intended to provide safe and affordable housing for future residents.
"All of our units are wheelchair accessible, so they have wider doorways and hallways," Miller said.
The units are at 326 S. Main St., facing each other with parking spaces between them.
Housing Opportunities is a nonprofit organization that primarily serves seniors. Miller said at the time of the ceremony, nine units remained available.
While a regular unit features a standard duplex layout with a storm shelter in the garage, the Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant units include lower-pile carpet, lowered countertops and cabinets, and lower light switches.
The bathroom also includes an ADA-compliant shower, with the entire space functioning as a storm shelter.
"Housing Opportunites Inc will be the property manager for this. We will handle all the applications, tenants and maintenance," Miller said.
Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and Reid Petty, representing Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, also attended the event.
"Flintwood represents something deeply important, the ability for seniors to remain in the community," Bowers said. "I strongly believe that in rural Kansas, housing stability projects like this one protect not only our lives, but our livelihoods, and it must remain a priority."
Waymaster said the project was also made possible by $1.5 million in infrastructure funding from unused American Rescue Plan Act dollars that were reallocated.
"Housing has been one of the overwhelming concerns when we're talking about economic development, especially in rural parts of the state," Waymaster said.
Reid said Moran extended his congratulations to Russell on the achievement.
The development marks Housing Opportunities' 20th project across seven counties. Cross said he hopes to see more housing developments for all Russell residents, from younger adults to seniors.
You can learn more about Housing Opportunities on its website.