Franklin tries again for elderly housing project

Franklin city officials are hoping a reduction in the price of land for a planned age-restricted housing development off Deardoff Road will entice some bids and proposals from developers for the 6.4-acre site.

Four developers took out bid packets earlier this fall but did not submit their proposals to the city by the Oct. 21 deadline, said Law Director Donnette Fisher.

“We may have had the land price too high, and two of the four bidders said they did not realize they had to buy the land,” she said.

Fisher said the minimum price of the land was set at $40,000 an acre for the initial round of requests for proposals. She said after meeting with City Council’s economic development committee, the minimum price was lowered to $20,000 an acre.

“We want to keep prices affordable for elderly people,” Fisher said. “We’re interested in getting these residential units built.”

She said the single story patio-style homes would be bought in a condominium-type arrangement and (residents) would not own the property. Fisher said “unlike a homeowner’s association, a condominium association cannot be dissolved.”

City Manager Sonny Lewis has said that this has been an ongoing issue with aging residents feeling there is no place for them in Franklin if they want to continue to live here but need to downsize their current home.

‘It’s something the community needs — something smaller for elderly to stay in Franklin,” he said. “I think this will be an asset to the city now and 25 years from now.”

Lewis estimates 30 to 32 patio-style homes could be built on that property. In addition, there may be an opportunity for a developer to purchase another four acres adjacent to the city’s property that is currently owned by Henkle Schueler, he said.

City Council rezoned the property to move forward with the project.

Fisher said the city would select the highest and best bids based on the house designs, exteriors, floor plans, materials and price. She said the infrastructure would have to be in place within one year of the sale, and homes can be built in phases. The developer will have three years to complete the project.

Once proposals are received, the city is planning to have a selection committee review the submitted proposals and hear oral presentations from invited respondents. The committee would select one or two proposals for council to review and select the winning proposal.

The developer would then go to the city Planning Commission to request a conditional-use permit at the same time council would consider approving the sale and agreement. Construction would begin shortly later.

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