By SARA GREENE
Leader Staff Writer
Rep. Vic Snyder was among the speakers at a groundbreaking yesterday for construction of a three-story, 44-unit apartment complex for low-income seniors adjacent to the Jacksonville Towers.
The apartment complex will be named Worley’s Place in honor of Kenneth L. Worley, president of the Elderly Housing Development and Operations Corporation.
The National Council of Senior Citizens established EHDOC in 1978. It manages 42 communities in 14 states across the country, including the nine-story, 100-unit Jacksonville Towers apartment complex.
The $2.57 million complex was applied for through the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by the EHDOC, the United Auto Workers Retiree Association and the Jacksonville Elderly Activities Program.
“One of the real challenges for all seniors is housing,” Snyder said.
“It’s particularly true in a state like ours that has a lot of low-income seniors. This is very helpful for a community like Jacksonville to help its seniors,” he added.
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, another speaker at the groundbreaking, said there was already a waiting list of about 20 seniors for the new apartment building.
“A lot of times, seniors need a place where they’ll have the companionship of other seniors,” Swaim said.
“Worley’s Place is a great opportunity for senior citizens to improve their quality of life.”
Other speakers at the groundbreaking included Kenneth L. Worley and Steve Protulis, executives with EHDOC; Nikeba Davis, director of the Jacksonville Senior Center, and Steve Coop, spokes-man from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
