• Lexington
  • Rockbridge
  • Buena Vista
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Regional
  • In-Depth Reporting
  • About Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Rockbridge Report
Rockbridge Report
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • Lexington
  • Rockbridge
  • Buena Vista
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Regional
  • In-Depth Reporting
  • About Us
Friday, September 22
Rockbridge Report
Home»Glasgow»Glasgow low-income complex could see first renovation in 23 years

Glasgow low-income complex could see first renovation in 23 years

March 29, 20184 Mins Read

By Hannah Denham

You can smell cigarette smoke as soon as you enter the Skyline Manor Apartment complex, just past the “no smoking signs” posted outside of the building. Hallways have stained carpeting, and some apartment units have unsealed windows that let in the cold air.

Christina Nicely, the complex’s property manager, said tenants use water heaters, appliances and cabinets that haven’t been updated in 23 years.

“It’s all outdated,” Nicely said. “We do the best with what we get.”

The Glasgow City Council approved the first ever remodeling of the low-income apartment complex for seniors and disabled people on March 13.

Landmark Property Management Company of Winston-Salem, N.C., owns the complex. Landmark Vice President Sam Sari said the company would need help financing the $3.8 million project in order for the renovation to move forward.

Sari said Landmark will hear back from the Virginia Housing Development Authority about its application for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit on May 30. He said 70 percent of the remodeling would be covered by the tax credit. He said the town of Glasgow would renew two existing loans for the remainder of the cost.

Sari said the renovation includes work on roofing, flooring, windows, carpeting and the parking lot. Handicapped units would be updated, and old appliances would be replaced with new ones that are up to par with current energy standards, which would lower utility costs for residents.

“We are choosing to complete this rehab because we believe it is our duty to provide the highest quality affordable housing for our residents and the surrounding community, and because we recognize the age of the property,” Sari said in an email.

Landmark is a third-generation family-owned company. Sari said his grandfather first bought the historic school building 23 years ago and transformed it into an apartment complex.

“He really always liked the Glasgow community,” he said.

Sari said the company would also use two historic tax credits for supplementary funding, which would help preserve the historic appearance of the building.

Landmark is currently looking into where tenants could live if the renovation moves forward.  Sari said Landmark would likely have to move tenants to rentals or hotels in Lexington since there isn’t much available rental housing near Skyline.

“We’re going to try to not disturb people as much as possible,” Sari said. “This is their home. It’s not like they’re going on vacation. We want to make sure they’re comfortable.”

Boyce Austin, 79, who is originally from Arnold Valley in Rockbridge County, has been a tenant for four years at Skyline Manor.

“It’s kind of cold,” he said. “I hope they fix the heating system.”

Richard Langford, 56, moved to the county from Houston five years ago. A former truck driver now in a wheelchair and on disability, he said he wishes the apartments and appliances were more wheelchair accessible but otherwise likes the affordability.

“It’s cheaper than anything that is outside this building,” he said.

Langford said he pays about $170 a month to live there, and the cost has increased by $20 over the past five years.

Nicely, the property manager, said the income bracket for one person to qualify to live at Skyline Manor is $20,950 and increases every year. The complex has 32 units, all of which are filled. She said open spots fill up quickly – last week, one unit opened on Friday and someone is moving into it this Thursday. Two people are on the waiting list.

“It’s so cheap you can’t beat the price,” Nicely said. “I wish we had more apartments.”

Glasgow Town Manager Bill Rolfe said there’s a need for more affordable housing in Rockbridge County.

“A lot of the housing, particularly in the town of Glasgow, is pre-World War II housing,” Rolfe said. “I think that we have a lot of people that have bought property for investment purposes and don’t take as good care of it as they should.”

Rolfe said he met with Sari twice in February to show him private properties in Glasgow that could potentially be made into more low-income housing.

Sari said Landmark would be interested in developing more affordable housing units in Glasgow and the broader Rockbridge area so long as there is demand for it.

“We’re not going to go in and build something that a town doesn’t want,” he said. “I think Glasgow is a great community. We’d absolutely look at adding more units.”

Related

Apr. 6, 2023 Newscast
Apr. 4, 2023 News Update

rockbridgereport

The commonwealth’s attorney for Rockbridge Count The commonwealth’s attorney for Rockbridge County and Lexington said he wants victims of sexual assault at Washington and Lee University to seek help from police and prosecutors who can investigate and file criminal charges. 

In the past month, two former W&L students have faced sexual assault charges.

Read Ned Newton’s full story on our website, rockbridgereport.wlu.edu.
Lexington’s City Council has given the go-ahead Lexington’s City Council has given the go-ahead for a developer to begin drafting plans to build apartments off Spotswood Drive. 

The new permit approval comes after months of controversy about the design. 

Read Andrew Arnold’s full story on our website, rockbridgereport.wlu.edu.
A new, 24-hour EMS crew will help in providing bac A new, 24-hour EMS crew will help in providing backup services to Glasgow and other nearby cities and towns.

For more details on the new EMS crew, visit: https://youtu.be/k03HNBKB978.
Buddy, the horse, and Police Chief Angela Greene l Buddy, the horse, and Police Chief Angela Greene led the Lexington Christmas Parade. Buddy is one of the future Mounted Police Unit horses working with the Lexington police. 

Watch Buddy and the latest broadcast of the Rockbridge Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDZ4A6xuk-4
A developer sought final city approval this week t A developer sought final city approval this week to build 62 apartment units on Lexington’s Spotswood Drive.

Echelon Resources went before the city’s planning commission Thursday to request a permit allowing the developer company to construct multi-family housing at the Spotswood site. The planning commission will offer a recommendation for approval or denial to the Lexington City Council. The city council will likely have a final vote on the permit in early January.

The proposal received some pushback from Lexington residents who fear the development will significantly increase traffic, impede the local hospital, or strain the city’s water and sewer systems. 

For more details on the Spotswood proposal visit: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/spotswood-drive-apartment-complex-moves-forward/
Lexington’s city manager is searching for a full Lexington’s city manager is searching for a full-time city attorney. The previous city attorney, Jared Jenkins, no longer serves in the position following his split from Mann Legal Group.

Learn more by visiting the Rockbridge Report website: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/lexington-replaces-city-attorney/
Two students at Virginia Military Institute and Wa Two students at Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University posted bomb threats on anonymous social media platforms last week.

After investigations, both posts proved to be false alarms. Disciplinary measures for the students are unclear. 

Read the full story here: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/two-university-bomb-threats-posted-on-anonymous-social-media-proved-false/
Local nonprofits, like the Rockbridge Area Relief Local nonprofits, like the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) and Washington and Lee’s Campus Kitchen, will provide extra support for families facing food insecurity during the holidays.

Read more about this on the Rockbridge Report website: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/community-groups-to-offer-food-to-students-and-their-families-during-holiday-break/
“Normal people can’t afford that." Lexington “Normal people can’t afford that."

Lexington is Stacey Dickerson-Suggs’ hometown, but the single mother can’t afford to live here. Virginia house prices are going up about 10% each year. In Lexington, the median price of a home has increased 27% in the past year.

Read more about this on the Rockbridge Report website: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/lexington-renters-buyers-cant-find-affordable-housing/
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Twitter
My Tweets
Reporters
Producers
Supervisors

Kevin Finch

Toni Locy

Alecia Swasy

Michael Todd

Rockbridge Report
© 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Go to mobile version