COLUMN: Doors open at senior complexes

Senior citizens are our most precious resource. In the long run, we will not be judged by how many toys we've managed to gather but how we've treated the most fragile members of our society.

That's why it was so refreshing to attend the grand openings of two apartment buildings that have been built not only for seniors, but for those seniors who are trying to live on Social Security payments.

I met a few of those people recently -- mostly women, mostly frail and mostly grateful to be able to live in their own apartments in such a beautiful surrounding.

Tropical Pines Senior Apartments opened April 27 on Jeffreys Street, near Eastern and Tropicana avenues; Buena Vista Springs III Senior Apartments opened May 11 on Morton Avenue, near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Carey Avenue.

The development costs were financed through a variety of public and private partners. To all of them, we say thank you. Clark County awarded Federal HOME Grants, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco awarded AHP Grants, Wells Fargo Bank provided construction financing, and California Federal Bank awarded permanent financing.

At Tropical Pines, the state of Nevada awarded $100,000 in Low Income Housing Trust Funds and Lennar Affordable Communities invested $3 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits; at Buena Vista Springs III, Franklin Capital invested $3.75 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Of the 60 two-bedroom apartments at Tropical Pines, 55 units are for residents earning less than 40 percent of area median income and five units are for residents earning less than 30 percent of area median income.

Of the 56 one- and two-bedroom apartments at Buena Vista Springs III, 29 units are for residents earning less than 40 percent of area median income and 27 units are for residents earning less than 30 percent of area median income. The area median income according to Las Vegas Perspective 2001 is $41,657.

Some of the apartments are wheelchair compatible, offering amenities such as roll-in showers, low hangers in closets and open areas under kitchen and bathroom sinks. The buildings have central elevators and, of course, stairs for fire escapes.

The usual dignitaries were at the grand openings, getting face time in front of people who vote -- seniors.

However, the real credit goes to Mike Mullin and the collection of wonderful people who run Nevada Hand. This company has been developing housing and neighborhoods for low-income and moderate-income Las Vegans since 1993.

It takes dedication and creativity to plow through the bureaucratic channels required to garner tax credits, federal grants, construction financing and permanent financing. And it takes a genius to keep the money coming in and going out at the right time.

At the Tropical Springs grand opening, Mullin said the Catholic Church will be building a companion senior citizen housing structure across the street. This joining of senior apartments will allow residents to enjoy mutual social services.

Buena Vista Springs III is across Martin Luther King Boulevard from the Clark County Community Resource Center, which will provide a plethora of social services for the seniors, as well as fun things such as bingo parties.

These residents are being trained on computers to open the world of the Internet and provide access to their children and grandchildren via e-mail.

Senior citizens have so much to offer the community. The least we can do is help make their lives pleasant.

Carmel Hopkins, Real Estate Product Manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

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