By Kathy Detloff
On the corner of Cedar and Jackson Streets and extending eight city lots, Village View Apartments has been home to 155 low income elderly or social security disabled people over the years since it was built in 1979.
The facility contains twenty-four apartments that currently rent by the month. Residents must be 62 years of age or have a social security disability to qualify. HUD uses a formula to determine the amount of subsidy low income residents will need. Manager Harry Grammond stated that the facility is the perfect size for Grey Eagle since it has nearly always been full but without a long waiting list. Currently one unit is available.
The apartments have amenities that include an elevator to the second floor which was added soon after the building’s construction and a new community room with big screen TV, fireplace, and adjoining kitchen. The Great River Regional Library keeps a supply of books and videos in this the room and switches them every two weeks. In addition the facility has a laundry room on each floor, a copy machine for the residents and public restrooms on the first floor, fourteen garages, and raised garden spots in the yard. Other improvements are the automatic door openers and the timed locks for night safety. Many residents enjoy daily coffee together as they wait for mail delivery. Fridays are a special treat when Grammond delivers the rolls donated by Coborn’s in Melrose from their day-old supply.
The dream for this addition to Grey Eagle began in 1974 when a committee that included Harry Grammond, Donald Kuhn, Robert Pallansch, Fred Bisel, Alfred Luebke, Hugo Kuehne, and Arthur Hinman started the process. Local banker Marion Menge and his wife Elaine donated the first four lots to locate the apartments in this neighborhood which is one of the oldest residential spots in Grey Eagle. The process began with training at the Region V site in Staples. Initially the committee worked with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency but after three years they were sent to work with the Farmers Home Administration (FHA). The project was incorporated in 1978.
FHA wanted city water for this project, so that became the push to add this utility throughout the city of Grey Eagle. To show public support for building a low income housing project, the committee was required to raise 2% of the $600,000 price tag. 120 local people donated $100 each to become voting members to make this happen. The original 50 year loan of $513,800 subsidized at 6% interest for three years was paid off in September 2003 and Village View Apartments was debt free. Financially sound, the Grey Eagle Housing Association is able to make repairs and updates on a cash basis. Each a $100,000 project, 14 garages and the new community room were added without borrowing. In addition, the Peterson property was purchased to provide extra parking for the residents and for a picnic area.
The current organization for the corporation includes a 7 member board of directors and an annual meeting. At each of these meetings two or three board members are elected from the membership which includes the original 120 or their heirs. New members may join by making a $25 donation.
The facility enjoys wonderful support from Todd County Public Health and Social Services with additional help from Stearns County for those residents with that tie. A small hair salon is set up in one of the public bathrooms and services are provided by local hair dressers.
Entertainment has been provided to the residents by the Becker family, Father Ron Dockendorff, the Ron Walker band, and the Pfaff family. A knitting group meets on Tuesdays and a Homemakers club meets monthly. A new opportunity offered by Brenda Sprenger and others is card making workshops. While this latter session is also open to the public, the general rule for using the community room for activities is that those activities must be open to and have appeal for the Village View residents.
Village View Apartments has been an important and attractive addition to the community. The dream of a place where, subsidized according to Section 8, low income elderly or disabled people can live care free in a safe and comfortable environment has been realized.
This is the second in a series of stories that feature Grey Eagle/Burtrum Area businesses. The project is sponsored by The Community Builders Organization of Grey Eagle and Burtrum.
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