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The Webb City Council on Monday unanimously passed a resolution supporting a change of ownership and “much needed improvements” of Cardinal Towers.
Ryan Deutsch, with DW Real Estate, of Dodge City, Kan., asked the council members to support his firm’s application for tax credits from the Missouri Housing Development Corporation to purchase and renovate the 60-unit affordable housing complex.
If that application is approved, Deutsch said each unit will be renovated at $65,000 each, for a total cost nearing $4 million. The total project cost, he said, will be $7 million to $7.5 million.
“This is not just a light renovation,” Deutsch said. It is possible with tax credits, which are expected to be 90% of investments.
The rent payment for each unit will increase – but not for the renters. Deutsch said they will still only be required to pay 30% of their monthly income.
Application approval and closing on the purchase are expected in December, with construction to start the second half of 2024.
Deutsch and two associates attended the meeting by invitation, mainly to tell how they plan to improve operation and maintenance of the facility.
“We know there are issues that exist with the property and need to be taken care of,” Deutsch said.
In a letter to council members, he had said the current management firm would continue. However, he said it has been decided that a different firm, Sansone Group, of St. Louis, “will take over on day one.”
Deutsch said he has 100% confidence in Sansone, which he said manages 9,000 units, with the closest in Springfield.
City Administrator Carl Francis clarified that the complex is still owned by Cardinal Apartments 21. Utilities are paid by the owner – not the renters – and he said the city has had multiple issues with receiving utility payments.
That also means Cardinal Apartments 21 is responsible for getting the second elevator back on duty.
“Did the elevator get fixed?” Francis asked a longtime resident in attendance, Connie Flaxbeard.
“NO!” she answered.
“I’ll check on that tomorrow,” Francis said.
Other problems cited were mold and pest infestation.
Police Chief Don Melton and Fire Chief Andrew Roughton reported their departments typically are called to Cardinal Towers 350 times per year. Already this year, they have received 347 calls.
Deutsch said his firm is also pushing on the current management firm to make improvements during the rest of the year.
Once DW takes over, Deutsch said there will be a full-time manager and maintenance person. In addition, the Independent Living Center will supply someone to be on hand two days a week.
The Independent Living Center will also be relied upon to find temporary housing for renters during construction.
Jim Dawson (4th Ward) asked how the attitude of the people who live there can be changed.
Deutsch answered it will take, good management, a better tenant base, adherence to rules and a “working” security system.
DW Real Estate was formed in 2011 with a single-family housing complex and has grown year after year.
Brad Baker (3rd Ward) asked what attracted DW to Cardinal Towers.
Deutsch said the 60-unit size fits the company’s niche now. Currently, he said DW is undertaking a similar project in St. Joseph.
Jerry Fisher (3rd Ward), who was leading the meeting in place of Mayor Lynn Ragsdale, summarized the situation.
“We all know we have a problem down there and have someone competent to correct it.
The council approved another $449,177 in street paving to be done this fall by Blevins Asphalt Construction. It’s affordable because of American Rescue Plan Act funds the city has received.
The final cost of streets paved in July came in at $550,000. About $150,000 of that was held over from 2022 when budgeted paving was delayed due to high asphalt (oil) prices.
Streets on the list to be paved (if actual costs match estimated costs) are:
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In other action:
• The police department was allowed to accept a $63,896 grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation to fund DWI and other hazardous driving saturation patrols. It will also fund the purchase of four in-car camera systems and four dual-antenna radar systems.
• The fire department was allowed to replace worn out fire hose and related equipment at a low-bid cost of $9,060.
• Francis informed the council that Sleep Inn and Suites has been judged second out of 460 Sleep Inns according to overall rating reviews.
Also along the East Street corridor, he noted how construction of Tee Time on East Daugherty Street is more obvious now that the walls have been erected.
And he said the Flat Creek owners are happy with how the restaurant has been embraced by customers.
The Webb City Planning and Zoning Commission will hold public hearings on three rezoning requests at its regular meeting at 5:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at City Hall.
Chad Brooks, 630 E. Fountain Road, requests commercial-2 rezoning for 1817, 1825 and 1919 S. Hall St. (approximately 24 acres). The land is currently zoned as agricultural and single-family residential.
Matthew Hodson, 508 Coach Way, Joplin, requests that 3.81 acres on the east side of Oronogo Street at 14th Street be rezoned from single-family residential to multi-family residential.
Luke Gibson, of Specialty Foods Distribution, 2650 E. 32nd St. Suite 221, Joplin, requests that 13 acres at 2105 S. Hall St. be rezoned from agricultural to industrial-3.
Signs are posted at all three locations.
The Webb City Sentinel isn’t a newspaper – but it used to be, serving Webb City, Missouri, in print from 1879-2020. This “newspaper” seeks to carry on that tradition as a nonprofit corporation.
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