A developer has been given the green light to convert an abandoned nursing home in north Iola into an apartment complex.
Iola City Council members were unanimous Monday in approving Meo Development LLC’s request that the old Arkhaven Nursing Home building at 1336 N. Walnut St. be rezoned from single-family to a multi-family property.
Rocky Meo of De Soto, owner of Meo Development LLC, plans to turn the complex — which has been vacant since Iola Nursing Center closed in November 2015 — into 51 one- or two-bedroom apartments.
Rezoning is necessary for the conversion.
The Iola Planning Commission, which serves as an advisory group for the Council, had voted against Meo’s request at its Jan. 18 meeting. Nevertheless, Iola Code Enforcement Officer Gregg Hutton encouraged the Council to approve Meo’s request, noting it fit the criteria necessary to have the property reclassified as a multi-family unit.
Mayor Steve French joined the eight Council members in voting for the zoning change. Typically, the mayor does not vote in Council matters, but was permitted as per Kansas law regarding general ordinance regulations.
Also taking part in the vote was newly seated Councilwoman Joelle Shallah, appointed to the seat at the start of the meeting.
“Talk about initiation by fire,” Shallah said in one of the meeting’s lighter moments.
Their vote capped an impassioned debate running nearly two hours, with several speaking out in favor of the city adding to its stock of affordable housing options, and opposing neighbors, concerned about the negative impact of adding apartments so close to their properties.
THE COUNCIL heard from a number of proponents for the zoning change, including Tami Comstock, human resources manager for Gates Corporation, who said the hose manufacturer has struggled in recent years to keep up with demand.
Gates could add 60 to 80 employees today, Comstock said, adding that Iola’s new plant manager, Steve Jones, wound up finding a home in Wichita after moving to Kansas from South Carolina because of limited housing options in Iola.
Likewise, Zach Louk, a salesman for Green Cover Seed, noted a colleague of his had to wait nine months to move to Iola from Nebraska until he was able to secure a home.
Having additional apartments in Iola opens doors for those in their mid-20s to come to Iola to work without the pressure of securing financing to find a home, said Louk, 28.
Louk praised Meo’s willingness to spend as much as $1.5 million for the project.
“That’s a lot of money,” Louk said. “Most people in this county won’t put that much into multiple houses. That helps not only young people, but also the elderly and gives everybody the opportunity to move back into rural America.”
