By Elizabeth Bush
June 3, 2009

Responding to a growing need in the local community, the Humanities Foundation has added another item to its wish list – an affordable housing complex just for seniors on Daniel Island . The non-profit organization, dedicated to ending homelessness in the Southeast, plans to submit an application for the project this month to the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority. Dubbed " Seven Farms Village ," the 42-unit complex would be located on land adjacent to the existing Seven Farms Apartments, also an affordable housing initiative.

"We saw a need for additional housing for seniors, and we’ve seen that all over Charleston " said Tracy Doran , president of the Humanities Foundation. "…So we had some vacant land on that site and decided that a small senior development there would be a great addition.

The Humanities Foundation has plans in the works to build a 42-unit affordable senior housing complex on land adjacent to the existing affordable housing initiative on Daniel Island , Seven Farms Apartments.

There are a lot of people whose parents can’t afford to live on Daniel Island …In our other developments, a lot of people who are retired…don’t have a lot of extra money and are on fixed incomes."

According to a letter emailed to members of the Daniel Island Property Owners Association last week, the majority of the one bedroom units would be for persons with incomes at 60 percent of the area median income. Planned amenities include a fully equipped kitchen, ceiling fans in living rooms and bedrooms, central air, wall-to-wall carpeting, a fitness room with equipment, laundry room, elevator and gazebo.

"This is the highest and best use for that property," said Doran. "And I think it would fit in nicely with the other units."

The Seven Farms Apartments complex, located at the intersection of Daniel Island Drive and Seven Farms Drive , was completed in December of 2006, with the first residents moving in the following month. Initially, some island residents were concerned about the affect a low-income development would have on the community and property values, as well as whether or not the buildings would meet Daniel Island ’s architectural standards. Nearly three years later, police report there have been no significant problems associated with the complex. In addition, the apartments remain fully occupied with a waiting list, said Doran.

Lack of communication was blamed for much of the negativity surrounding the Seven Farms Apartments initiative, according to many who voiced opposition to the project. The plan drew the staunchest criticism from the Daniel Island Neighborhood Association (DINA), which charged that residents had not been adequately informed about the project before it was announced. The fact that the Humanities Foundation is keeping residents abreast of their plans for the senior housing development is a good sign, said DINA President Stacey Lindbergh.

"(We) look forward to an open and constructive dialogue with the Humanities Foundation as well as providing them a forum to present Daniel Island residents with accurate information about the progress of the application and the senior development plans," added Lindbergh.

"First and foremost, I’m glad that the Humanities Foundation has come to the community early on, even before they’ve gotten funding, to bring it forward and say ‘here’s what we’re looking at doing’," added Charleston City Councilman Gary White, a Daniel Island resident. "…I think communication is going to be critical in this process. As long as the Daniel Island community is kept informed and can participate, I think it will be a much better outcome."

The Seven Farms Apartments development was Daniel Island ’s first multi-unit affordable housing initiative. Based on a 2001 Affordable Housing Plan, the community is required to have five percent of its residential units targeted specifically to low-income buyers or renters. The plan developed out of agreements that date back to the early 1990s, shortly after Daniel Island was annexed into the City of Charleston .

"Providing affordable housing solutions is an important part of building community," said Matt Sloan, president of The Daniel Island Company. "We’ve enjoyed significant success with this on Daniel Island and it would be wonderful if the Humanities Foundation were able to provide the proposed opportunities for seniors."

"All of our complexes around Charleston stay full," added Doran, of the 800-plus units developed by the Humanities Foundation in the tri-county area. "Right now, affordable housing is more important than ever."

The additional senior complex on Daniel Island would overlook a pond behind the property. The Humanities Foundation will be applying for tax credits to fund the development, but there are no guarantees the project will be approved this year.

"Markets aren’t that great right now, so it just depends on how the financing comes in," said Doran. "This is a very competitive process and there is probably a fifty-fifty chance that we’ll get our funding in this tax credit round."

Tax credit awards from the State Housing Finance and Development Authority will be issued in August 2009. If Seven Farms Village does not receive an award this year, the Humanities Foundation plans to re-submit an application in 2010.