Senior housing plans 2016 opening

SCHUYLER COUNTY--More than 50 people attended a presentation on the senior housing being developed at the former Watkins Glen middle school Wednesday afternoon, July 8. Anthony Fiala, executive director of Serving the Elderly through Project Planning (SEPP), gave an update on the project at the Human Services Complex in Montour Falls, Wednesday, July 8. He outlined what is currently being done with the building. Fiala said the 55 and older development will house some 51 units and estimated opening by January of 2016.
Fiala mentioned this is the fourth school renovation project SEPP is conducting, adding SEPP will continue to own and operate the complex upon completion. Costing upwards of $17 million, the project is utilizing historic tax credits, which Fiala said requires them to save certain amenities in the building. He mentioned they also have to use period specific lighting fixtures and windows in the building, adding they will also be paying taxes for 15 years on the property. One of the school gyms will be preserved along with the auditorium for community use, while another one of the school's gyms is being converted into apartments.
"It was important for me to keep the auditorium," Fiala said. "We felt an auditorium space for performing arts would be a great way to give back to the community."
Fiala also mentioned there would be soundproofing between the floors and walls in order to block out the noise coming from the public spaces and other apartments. While they will not be operational, Fiala mentioned they were keeping some sections of the lockers in the hallways of the building, while adding one apartment will also have a non-working fireplace preserved. On average, the rooms will range from 850 to 1,000 square feet, with six to seven units containing two bedrooms.
The building will be "100 percent smoke free," with Fiala adding those who do smoke will have to go outside. He mentioned it tends to cost extra to renovate a room when a smoker moves out rather than when a non-smoker leaves.
Each bathroom will contain a roll-in shower, with no bathtubs in any of the apartments. Fiala mentioned he decided to upgrade the carpets to a more durable make in order to handle walker and wheelchair traffic. While there will be no air conditioning provided in the building, Fiala said he plans to fight certain historic regulations that would not allow residents to have window units in their apartments.
There will be two community rooms for residents to use in the building, while Fiala added all the doorways will have the same wooden frame that was used in the school, just different doors. SEPP plans to remove some of the concrete outside to add more green space for residents, while also leaving the chimney in place due to the cost it would take to remove it. He said there is a new roof on the building as well.
Fiala said there have been no tours so far because they work from the top of the building downward, adding they are still doing asbestos abatement on the first floor and the basement. When they are ready to conduct tours, Fiala stated he plans to finish one room to show interested seniors what they can fit into an apartment, as well as featuring a building tour. He added community members tend to be more interested in school renovations than if it were a new development, as some community members have attended the school at some point, with some people even expressing a desire to live in the same room they once attended kindergarten. Rents will be determined based on 30, 40 or 60 percent of a resident's adjusted income.
"I could have 51 different rents," Fiala said. "Everyone is different."
Fiala said they will not be able to start accepting applications until September or October, but added those who are interested in receiving an application can be put on a list, which already includes some 30 people. He said they will then interview the applicants, with those who qualify being selected through a lottery system. Those who are selected first will then have their first pick of the rooms, going down the list until all rooms are filled.