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Lions Cottage will be built thanks to grant By JONEL ALECCIA Some $400,000 in state grants will help build a two-story, Victorian-style four-plex in downtown Medford next fall, easing a crisis of affordable housing for senior and disabled residents in Jackson County. The Lions Cottage, a joint project of the Southern Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Center and ACCESS Inc., will be constructed in a now-vacant lot at 205 N. Holly St. The venture, funded through Oregon Housing and Community Services, will feature four one- and two-bedroom apartments available at reduced rates. "There's a very large need," said Sherrie Messer, executive director of the Lions Center. "Seniors and disabled folks, that's the population that's underserved." Some 665 units of affordable housing are needed right now in Jackson County, said Merry Hart, housing development coordinator at ACCESS Inc. Construction of the Lions Cottage will help, at least a little. "It's a small project, but there's no way we could fund enough affordable housing to meet the need," she said. ACCESS and the Lions Center were among 22 applicants for state HOME funds, of which 15 were selected, Hart said. The money includes a $308,000 grant and $100,000 in trust funds. The state Housing Council approved the award at a recent meeting. The city of Medford also has contributed $35,000 from a Community Development Block Grant to the project, Messer said. Meanwhile, the Medford Urban Renewal District is considering supplying funding for outside services, Hart said. The apartments, which will be included in Medford's historic district, will be constructed to resemble nearby Victorian-era buildings. The units, however, will feature modern conveniences, including new appliances, washers/dryers, and easy-access showers, balconies and patios. The apartments will be conveniently located close to the Lions Center, where residents can receive low-cost meals, and close to bus lines. Construction is expected to begin by summer's end, with completion anticipated by late winter 2002. When completed, a one-bedroom apartment will rent for $240 a month; a two-bedroom unit will rent for $365, Messer said. Applications will be accepted after construction is complete. For more information, contact her at 779-3653. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.