Gold-tinted shovels turned the ceremonial first spades of dirt Tuesday for Iola’s newest housing complex, The Eastgate Lofts, on the site of the old Allen County Hospital in downtown Iola.
“We’re celebrating a new neighborhood,” said Mary Kay Heard, chairman of Iola Industries, which in concert with city and county leaders and Thrive Allen County spearheaded the development.
Tom Carlson, a developer from Springfield, Mo., is the brawn behind the development, whose initial phase will consist of 12 apartments. Their dimensions are 915-square-feet and include two bedrooms and two baths. Rent is expected to be $650-$700 a month.
“Everyone will feel good about living here,” Carlson said. “It’s going to be first-class, modern and appealing.
“It’s going to make you feel good about your community.”
In his address before a crowd of about 50 on the construction site, Carlson commended the parties involved “for not taking the easy way out.
“It’s a lot easier to build on an empty lot on the outskirts of town, but that’s not always good for the community,” Carlson said.
Building on a town’s fringes only “creates a doughnut,” he said, causing a town’s interior to deteriorate.
Carlson lauded the cooperation between city and county leaders to see the site of the old hospital turned to a new cause.
“In any other community, that vacant hospital could have sat there another 50 years,” he said.
Carlson is familiar with local politics. He served as mayor of Springfield for a total of 14 years and on its city council from 1983 to 2008.
Carlson first came to Iola in 2009 when he built 59 federally subsidized homes in a subdivision in north Iola.
The Eastgate apartments receive no state or federal subsidies.
Iola’s four banks — Great Southern, Landmark, Emprise and Community National — will equally float the loan to build the $1.3 million complex. Iola Industries will put down $650,000 toward the balance from a recent sale of land.
Carlson said several people have voiced interest in living in the complex, adding, “I think they will be fully rented before Corey gives me the occupancy permit,” referring to Corey Schinstock, assistant city administrator.
Another complex is expected, if demand warrants, Carlson said. The second unit will likely consist of 16-20 apartments.
