Southern Indiana Business Report
WASHINGTON — A two-phase $14.5 million housing project entered into the final stages of planning Feb. 7 and is now expected to bring 144 new apartment units to the east side of the city Washington, according to Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation. Details of the project, which has been a year in planning, were recommended by the Washington Redevelopment Commission and will now go to the city council for final consideration of key elements.
“This is a very positive development for Daviess County, as it will create capacity for our local workforce to grow and step into jobs that are both available and being created in the community,” said Niehoff. “The ROI Indiana Uplands housing study conducted two years ago noted that more market rate housing was needed to promote economic growth and job creation here, so this represents an important step forward.”
The $14.5 million project will build six apartment buildings offering apartments of 1,000-1,200 square feet in configurations of one to three bedrooms. “These will be excellent residences for professionals, young families, and individuals of all ages looking for a place to grow,” said Niehoff.
Simplified Developments LLC, a family-owned residential development company in Gibson County, has been working with Niehoff and Washington Mayor David Rhoads to plan the project.
“We’re very excited about the prospects for this two-phase project as it matches our core expertise and experience,” said Phil Reinbrecht, president of Simplified Development. “Mayor Rhoads and Bryant Niehoff’s team has been great to work with.”
“This project has a lot of moving parts, but it’s a major step forward for the city, which is exciting,” said Rhoads. “We look forward to getting this project across the finish line and working with Simplified Developments in the future.”
“An added plus for Washington is that we hope to work with several local subcontractors for framing and other construction as we build out these apartments, so that will support local job creation and the economy,” said Reinbrecht. He added that a separate family-owned company, Reinbrecht Homes, is making plans to develop a number of new residential homes for the Washington area.
Simplified Developments has completed and operates similar housing developments in Haubstadt (north of Evansville) and Princeton.
The project will now be considered for TIF-funded infrastructure support and a tax abatement by the Washington City Council.
“The forecasted revenue streams look good for the project on all levels,” said Rhoads. “We’ve got a great partnership in place, and we look forward to breaking ground.”