Fulton council throws support behind Carver development proposal

Historic school would be restored, converted to senior citizen apartments

Ryan Boland/FULTON SUNDan Sanders — a representative from MACO Development Co., LLC — makes a presentation about a proposal to restore Carver School and convert it into apartments for senior citizens during the Fulton City Council's meeting Tuesday night.
Ryan Boland/FULTON SUNDan Sanders — a representative from MACO Development Co., LLC — makes a presentation about a proposal to restore Carver School and convert it into apartments for senior citizens during the Fulton City Council's meeting Tuesday night.

Plans are in place not only to revitalize the historic Carver School, but to also make it a home.

The Fulton City Council voted 7-0 to authorize a resolution in support of a proposal to restore Carver School and convert it into apartments for senior citizens during its meeting Tuesday night at Fulton City Hall.

Ward 3 councilman Alan Combs was not in attendance.

The council approved the resolution after listening to a presentation from Dan Sanders - a representative from MACO Development Co. LLC - on the proposed preservation and development project.

"I think this is wonderful and fantastic," Mayor Lowe Cannell said. "Obviously, you've got the support of the council."

The development team that came up with the proposal includes Carmen Brandt, president of the George Washington Carver Cultural Center in Fulton.

Sanders explained MACO would first restore Carver School, then convert it into 33 one- and two-bedroom apartments for senior citizens - ages 55 and older. Nine apartments would be located inside the school, while the other 24 would be part of new construction behind the existing building.

Sanders noted rent for most of the apartments would fall between $600 and $650, monthly, with five apartments set aside for residents with special needs between $320 and $370, monthly. He added rent would include water, sewer and trash costs.

MACO previously restored and converted historic schools into apartments for senior citizens in Sedalia and Park Hills.

"These will be high-quality apartments for seniors to live in," Sanders told council members. "We build them for the long haul."

MACO would also own and manage the restored school and apartments, but still has to acquire funding for the project. Sanders emphasized that competition is strong for scarce funds, which include federal and Missouri Historic Tax Credits, federal and Missouri Affordable Housing Tax Credits and other federal financing options.

As part of the resolution, the council also agreed to donate city-owned property at 322 West Ninth St. - appraised at $13,320 - to the ownership of the George Washington Carver Cultural Center for the proposed development. The donation would be contingent upon the approval of funding.

The Carver School was built in 1937 and closed in 1982. The school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

"I know the community has been wanting to do this (restoration) for a long time," Ward 1 councilman Mike West said. "I think this is great."

Council members also received an update Tuesday night from Parks and Recreation Director Clay Caswell on the City of Fulton Legends Rec Plex, which opened May 17.

Caswell reported close to 400 people visited the Legends Rec Plex on the first day it opened and there were around 70 cars at the facility when he left earlier Tuesday.

"It's been very busy - it gets real busy about 2 o'clock," Caswell said. "Overall, it's been pretty good. We still have some operational things we're working through."

Caswell pointed out there have been some behavior issues with younger visitors, so only adults were being allowed right now in the cardio and weight rooms.

He added work was still being done to get the Legends Rec Plex's security cameras up and running.

When asked by Ward 3 councilman John Braun if he had enough help at the facility, Caswell said, "I think that we do. It's a matter of getting the part-time staff trained and acclimated. The staff is younger, so they have to get comfortable with addressing some of those (behavior) issues."

The Legends Rec Plex is not charging rates for the first two weeks and is open daily from noon-8 p.m., but will be closed next Monday to observe Memorial Day.

Beginning Tuesday, the facility will shift to its regular hours of operation and will start charging daily and membership rates.

"I think next week when we go to a different structure, some of those (issues) will go away," Caswell said. "I encourage the public to keep visiting."