The Rockcress Commons apartments in Great Falls are now officially complete. Chelsey Hutmacher of NeighborWorks Great Falls said in a news release that the entire complex is 100% leased and now a place for 124 individuals and families to call home. The complex is divided into seven buildings, with one additional community building.
Hutmacher said, "To see it complete and 100 percent lease goes to show there truly is a need for affordable apartments here in Great Falls. We're happy to provide that to 124 neighbors here in our community.”
Crews broke ground on the complex in September of 2018. The apartments, which range from one-bedroom to three-bedrooms with monthly rent of $554 - $954, are located at 2216 23rd Street South (map), near Benefis Health System, the University of Providence, and Great Falls College-MSU.
The income guidelines are in place for at least the next 46 years; Hutmacher says this will guarantee that apartments remain affordable for years to come.
“We see a great need in the community to continue developing and supporting workforce housing, and Rockcress Commons has been our greatest effort to date in making that happen,” said Sherrie Arey, director of NeighborWorks Great Falls. “We believe our local, hard-working families and individual deserve a safe, affordable, quality place to live, and Rockcress Commons provides just that.”
Rockcress Commons was made possible through Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) awarded in 2016. The LIHTC program is the primary way affordable housing is created across the country. Private funds are used to invest in creating safe, healthy, and affordable homes for years to come. NeighborWorks Great Falls will offer residents NWGF services, focusing on building financial capability such as credit repair, debt reduction, and savings plans. “Much like with our homeownership programs, our ultimate goal with these apartments is to be a stepping stone. We provide the support needed now so that families can build wealth and move forward while creating space for the next family, and so on – hopefully creating a cycle for families to be financially stable and healthy,” said Arey.
A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Rockcress Commons development is tentatively planned for late spring of 2021, due to weather and social distancing guidelines. Click here to visit the website.
