Every person deserves a decent place to live
There are more Dayton-area low-income seniors and working families in need of housing than ever before. But the staff at St. Mary Development Corporation is confident that God will provide the necessary resources.
Dick McBride, SMDC’s President, has faith that God will provide the resources to complete the many projects SMDC has in different stages of development. While one project is being built, many others are in the planning stages.
“We’ve always felt called by God to provide housing for the less fortunate,” McBride says. “And we rely on God to provide the donors, resources and connections to complete our housing projects. We’re good stewards. We plan and budget very carefully but, ultimately, we trust in God to guide our work.”
St. Mary Development Corporation’s mission has always been rooted in prayer. “As we add senior apartments, the need for funds to help serve residents becomes greater and greater,” says Sr. Rose Wildenhaus, C.PP.S., SMDC’s Senior Vice-president. “We have more than 600 senior residents and count on the generosity of donors to help serve their basic needs. We thank God for our donors every day.”
SMDC’s current projects in development will provide homes for an additional 240 people, bringing the total number of housing units SMDC has created to more than 2,600.
“What most people don’t realize is that the millions of dollars needed to build new apartments and houses don’t come from St. Mary Development,” says McBride. “We’ve been astute at getting government and other funds channeled into housing projects but it’s not our money. We’re not a large organization and have a very modest budget. Our staff is not highly paid. But they love those in need and are willing to sacrifice personal gain to serve others.”
Below are a few of the projects SMDC is currently working on to help low-income seniors and working families in the Dayton area.
Lyons Place at Hoover
Completion: April 2009
Location: West Dayton
A senior apartment building with 61 one-bedroom and 6 two-bedroom units. Lyons Place at Hoover will be situated on a 4.8-acre parcel on the Hoover campus, which also includes Hoover Place and Hoover Lofts, two other SMDC senior apartments.
Lyons Place
Completion: 2009
Location: West Dayton
A senior apartment building using a similar design to Lyons Place at Hoover. It will be built on the grounds of the Veterans Administration, near the VA Hospital.
Twin Towers Place Resyndication
Completion: June 2009
Location: East Dayton
A 15-year-old SMDC senior apartment that needs substantial renovation to continue to function as low-income housing. While the building is restricted for seniors age 55 years and older, the current average age of residents is 78. The renovation will include heating/cooling system replacement, roof replacement, unit updates, sprinkler system update/repair and electrical system upgrades, among other items. During the renovation, some residents will be relocated to other SMDC apartments.
Twin Towers Crossing
Completion: 2010
Location: East Dayton
Construction of 40+ lease-to-purchase single-family homes in the Twin Towers neighborhood, one of Dayton’s most disinvested communities. This project is a partnership with East End Community Services and the Oberer-Thompson Company. The project will include the rescue of many building sites victimized by foreclosures.
Shiloh Apartments III
Completion: October 2008
Location: Trotwood, OH
New construction of 70 units of senior housing located adjacent to SMDC’s Shiloh phases I and II. The seven buildings will consist of energy-efficient, ranch-style, two-bedroom units.
Stoney Ridge
Completion: October 2008
Location: West Dayton
A single-family lease/purchase program that involves new construction of 25 four-bedroom/two-bath homes. Homes are both one- and two-story.
Victorian Row/Renaissance Alliance
Completion: Ongoing through 2010
Location: Central Dayton
This project will bring 10 market-rate single-family homes to the Grafton Hill community – the first new single-family construction in this community in more than 75 years. The project is a partnership of SMDC, Grandview Hospital, Grafton Hill Historic District, City of Dayton, Dayton Art Institute, Dayton View Historic District and Preservation Dayton, Inc.
Victorian Row/Renaissance Alliance
Lyons Place
We work toward the day when
all residents of southwest Ohio -- especially the economically disadvantaged -- have a decent, affordable
place to live and become part of a thriving community.
