VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Housing in Vincennes is getting a big expansion in what local officials are calling a “major key for growth.”
A $35 million housing project has officially broken ground on Bierhaus Boulevard in Vincennes.
Mayor Joe Yochum said this is a step forward as they address their housing needs.
“We’ve known we’re short on housing, we had a study done a couple years ago”, Yochum said. “It’s not unique to Vincennes or Indiana, its nation-wide, but it’s exciting to see us land Reinbrecht to develop their project here in Vincennes.”
Yochum said the state was a huge help in getting the project financed.
“We went through the state with their infrastructure loans”, Yochum said. “The state put a program together to help with infrastructure and get housing built in Indiana and we were one of the first ones to get this loan. I think just over $2 million for the infrastructure here. Then we’ve got incentives through the city with tax abatement to help make sure this project can happen.”
Leading the creation of that infrastructure is Simplified Developments. President Phil Reinbrecht said the 240 new apartment units will cater to any future resident.
“Like some of our other properties, we have a range of all kinds of people living in them”, Reinbrecht said. “You’ll have new, single people, you’ll have retired couples, you’ll have people with kids. We have one-, two-, and three-bedroom options so I think it leaves us open to just about anybody that’s living in the area to potentially move in here.”
The complex will have a number of amenities for personal and community use.
“Right behind us is where the clubhouse building will be”, Reinbrecht said. “We’ll have five buildings, 240 total units. That clubhouse will have a fitness center and then we plan on putting a fire pit and fireplace area in the back of it for a community space.”
Reinbrecht said the current timeline is to begin pre-leasing units in the third quarter of this year and have the first budlings ready for move-in at the beginning of next year. They hope to have the entire complex complete in the third quarter of next year.
