Lease Up Day To Be Held for New Senior Housing Complex

Family Eldercare, an Austin-based nonprofit organization that serves the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities will host "Lease Up Day" on January 28, 2004. The goal of "Lease Up Day" is to encourage senior citizens to apply for affordable and independent living at the new Lyons Gardens Retirement Apartments. "Lease Up Day" will begin at 10 a.m. at the Conley-Guerrero Senior Center (808 Nile Street).

Currently under construction, Lyons Gardens is a fully accessible, affordable and independent living environment for older adults to "age in place." The property includes 53 one-bedroom apartments, one resident manager's apartment, a multi-purpose room and laundry facilities. Lyons Gardens also includes the following features: Green building design and materials which protect and preserve the environment; Integrated housing with its social and natural surroundings by incorporating community gardens, spiritual-meditation landscaping and outdoor areas; Nearby public and private services; and is S.M.A.R.T. Housing^TM certified.

Lyons Gardens is reserved for seniors aged 62 or older with incomes at or below 50 percent of the Median Family Income (about $24,900 for one person). The cost of rent and utilities are based on no more than 30 percent of an individual's income. Dorothy Shay Parsons, a Family Eldercare benefactor, donated the 2.63 acres of land for the development. Funding was possible through $3.2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), $800,000 from the City of Austin, and a $500,000 Federal Home Loan Grant. The Morton & Angela Topfer Family Foundation, the Meadows, the Mabee Foundations and the Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation provided additional funding for the project.

The property is located at the corner of Webberville Road and North Pleasant Valley Road and will be complete and ready for occupants in the summer of 2004. Applications will be available after January 28 by calling (512) 236-1781.

For questions or for more information, please contact the Lyons Gardens management company, National Church Residences, at (512) 236-1781. You may also contact Karen Langley of Family Elder care at (512) 483-3551.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call 974-3100 (voice) or 974-3102 (TDD) for assistance. This project is made possible by funding from HUD through the City of Austin.

CONTACT: Brenda Ham, 974-3175 (voice), 802-7105 (pager)