Greenville Senior Citizens Soon to Enjoy Bethel Place Apartments

(l to r) Larry Knightner, Mayor Knox White, Reverend Vardrey Fleming, Dorothy Griffin (Bethel Place resident) and Councilmember Lillian Brock-Flemming

On April 9, 2012, the City of Greenville, S.C. commemorated National Community Development week with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Bethel Place Apartments in the city's West Greenville Neighborhood. Bethel Place Apartments was developed by Homes of Hope (http://homesofhope.org/#/home), one of the city's Community Housing Development Organizations. HUD South Carolina Field Office Director Larry Knightner joined Mayor Knox White and several community leaders in recognizing the achievement and its positive impact to the community as a result of the partnership and leadership of local and community leaders.

Community leaders such as the Rev. Vardrey Fleming, President of the West Greenville Neighborhood, have been instrumental in revitalization efforts to help improve the quality of life for citizens of West Greenville. Rev. Fleming sees the construction of the apartments as an integral part of making the neighborhood the most "senior friendly neighborhood in the City."

The public toured the apartments along with Mr. Knightner and John C. Suber, Action Community Planning and Development Division Director.

Bethel Place Apartments consists of 6 units (3 duplexes) and is designated as housing for senior citizens. The development of Bethel Place Apartments was made possible through a partnership between HUD, the city of Greenville, Homes of Hope, the South Carolina Housing Finance Development Authority (SCHFDA) and Greenville First Bank. The property was provided by the city of Greenville and funding consisted of the following:

$350,000 - S.C. SHFDA HOME Funding
  $38,000 - S.C. Housing Trust Fund
$115,000 - Loan from Greenville First Bank
  $65,000 - City HOME funds
$568,000 - Total Development Cost

Each apartment is 936 square feet with two bedrooms and one bath. The monthly rent is $395.

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