The Village of Middleburgh may soon be home to a pilot project to help house senior citizens.
Gary Riggi, the deacon for the Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, spoke to village board members last week about the construction of three 400-square foot homes on lots on Griebel Lane. The work would be paid for through the Joshua Project and seniors in the community would be allowed to stay in the homes without cost. They can make donations which would be returned in goods.
The one story homes would have handicap bathrooms, "green" septic systems and possibly solar electrical systems. The plans are to make as little impact on the environment as possible and make the homes compatible with the surrounding homes, Mr. Riggi told board members last Monday.
The hope is that the Middleburgh homes would be "a stepping stone" and would spread to other communities where seniors are struggling, he added.
"We're excited to finally get it off the ground...We need to find a way to make affordable living for these people."
Volunteers already have $20,000 from a Seattle Foundation to begin the work.
Mr. Riggi would like the community to be involved in the project. He wants a committee to be set up to help with the selection of tenants and other decisions.
"We're giving birth to something. We don't know what it's going to look like," he told board members.
"Unless we do it right, it won't be a blueprint for other communities."
The current lots are vacant but any new homes would have to be elevated because the area is in the floodplain.
The current two lots measure about 1.9 acres. Three legal lots can be formed on the parcel, according to the village codes officer. Each lot has to be at least a quarter-acre.
The issue will have to come up before the planning board for approval.
There was some concern from board members because the properties would be taken off the tax rolls.
Trustee Lillian Bruno noted that the residents will not be paying taxes but will still require services such as plowing and ambulances.
With homes, the taxes on the properties would be about $300 per month.
Mr. Riggi said it could be arranged that the village does get something for the properties.
In addition to the homes for seniors, Mr. Riggi told board members that a down payment has been put on the former ARC home on River Street and plans are to convert it into a resource center for the community through the Joshua Project, a non-profit organization.