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July 27, 2011 For more information, contact: Rehab project nears completion for Leasburg LEASBURG—The residents of Leasburg Village Apartments in Leasburg, Mo. are awaiting the completion of a rehabilitation project that has increased energy efficiency and modernized the complex. The 32 one-bedroom units, originally built in the 1970s and 1980s, have been upgraded through a $319,342 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The improvements will benefit the complex upkeep for the next 15 years, in turn saving reserve funds of the Leasburg Village Apartments Board of Directors. Renovations began in spring 2011 and are expected to be completed by fall. The rehabilitation work includes bathroom remodeling with walk-in showers, new floor coverings, HVAC upgrades, expansion of the tenant parking lot, concrete patching in the parking area, interior painting, a new pavilion roof, drainage improvements and new closet doors. The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) is providing construction management and inspections for the project. Contractors for the project include: Aubertin Construction of Fredericktown, Mo., GC Gildehaus Construction of St. Clair, Mo., Matt’s Home Services of Cuba, Mo., McCalls Flooring of Rolla, Mo., P.J. Myers Hauling & Excavating, L.L.C. of Cuba, Mo., Rainbow Siding and Seamless Guttering of Salem, Mo. and The Plumber of Ironton, Mo. This USDA loan allows the non-profit to do additional work not accomplished with a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. In 2007, Leasburg Village Apartments used the $374,247 grant to replace roofs, windows, doors, sidewalks and outside lighting, replace cabinetry, add insulation, install ground fault outlets and smoke detectors, install soffit and fascia and some vinyl siding and remodel one unit to be handicapped accessible. The current project makes the apartments more comfortable and attractive to tenants. Brenda Edgar, USDA Rural Development area specialist, commended the pro-active approach of the Leasburg Village Apartments Board of Directors. “In 1978, a group of concerned citizens in Leasburg came together with a vision that became a reality through the assistance of USDA Rural Development's Multi-Family Housing Program. More than 30 years later, the board of directors continues their efforts to preserve the housing for elderly and disabled citizens. “The installation of central heat and air, along with the other upgrades, improves the quality of life of the residents, lowers energy costs, and makes the apartments more attractive to prospective residents,” Edgar said. |