Housing project’s tax credits rescinded
Staff writer
The status of a housing development planned for north Marion was unknown Tuesday after $750,000 in tax credits awarded two weeks ago to support the project was taken back.
Kansas Housing Resources Corp. gave the allocation to MRE Capital of Overland Park. It planned to use proceeds from the sale of credits to build 28 houses north of Marion’s ballpark.
The three-bedroom homes were estimated to rent for less than $750 a month.
The award was taken back after a mistake on MRE’s application was discovered.
KHRC’s list of awards described a plot northeast of the intersection of Roosevelt and Kellison Sts. as where the development would be.
That location, a reserved section of the city industrial park that at one time also was rejected as home for a new dollar store, is not where MRE and Marion Advancement Campaign, which owns the land north of the ballpark, had in mind for houses to be built.
Contacted a week ago about the discrepancy, which was noticed by MAC members and reporters for the Record, MRE co-founder Daniel Sailler said the location had been corrected with KHRC but not corrected on the award document.
However, Emily Sharp, communications director for KHRC, said the agency had never been contacted about the discrepancy.
She said Tuesday that the allocation of tax credits had been rescinded.
She said the company would be welcome to apply for tax credits next year.
The houses were planned on a 300-by-900-yard lot that would have a cul-de-sac off Eisenhower Dr.
Under the terms of the award, MRE would have been required to maintain ownership of the 28 houses for 15 years.
Mike Powers, board president of MAC, had expected construction to begin within a year.
No city officials would comment Tuesday on what would happen next.