The Pleasant Valley Village of seniors housing on 11th Street and Avalon Avenue is expanding next spring.
They are building another independent seniors housing complex in May 2015, an estimated $700,000 project, said Arnold Amonson, President of the Houston Retirement Housing Society.
Twenty people have expressed interest in the units, and the new building will provide six new homes, four two-bedroom and two one-bedroom, Amonson said.
It will have the same design as the other two buildings in Pleasant Valley Village and they hope to install geothermal heating again.
With the $700,000 project coming up and $15,000 saved so far, Amonson says their goal is to raise $100,000 by next spring.
They are planning to hire a lead carpenter again but are looking for a lot of financial and voluntary help for the work next spring, both labour and equipment, he said.
The Retirement Housing Society is a charitable organization, and Bill Stad, past treasurer, says anyone with taxable income can get a 43 percent refund from the government for donations to the housing projects.
Many seniors are enjoying benefits from living in the homes in Pleasant Valley Village.
Stad is a resident in the homes, and says he enjoys savings in living costs, a beautiful view of Mount Harry Davis, and restful and quiet surroundings.
“I’m very happy living here,” he said.
Amonson adds that residents there also enjoy easy access to downtown and more active social lives, with friends nearby and activities like cards every Monday and Thursday.
Amonson says the Retirement Housing Society has long term hopes to continue expanding the village, and possibly building two or three more complexes in the future.
That would be in the distant future though, as the society can’t assume that much risk and mortgage at one time, Amonson said.
The process of building the Pleasant Valley Village seniors homes started in 1996 as a way to keep seniors in Houston, said Bill Stad.
The other two buildings, built in 2007 and 2010, cost the Retirement Housing Society an estimated $1 million, with $830,000 in mortgage, he said.
Rental costs from residents cover mortgage payments and maintenance, but Stad says the society has been able make monthly additional $500 payments to the mortgage.
“The reason we are able to pay that back is all the community support through fund raising and donations,” he said.
The Retirement Housing Society thanks the community for all the support as they look forward to the big project ahead.