MOUNT VERNON — Local officials have indicated early support for North of Vernon, a proposed housing development in Clinton Township.
Township trustees, the City of Mount Vernon, and Knox County Commissioners sent letters of support for a 115-unit, multi-generational development at 800 N. Sandusky St.
The developer is Pivotal Housing Partners.
According to Pete Schwiegeraht, senior vice president of development for PHP’s Midwest region, the multi-generational development will consist of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.
“It’s designed in a way that it can cater to seniors and families,” he said. “The one- and two-bedroom units will fit seniors, and the two- and three-bedroom units will fit families.”
The project depends on Pivotal receiving a grant from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Housing Tax Credit Program. PHP applied on Friday.
PHP will also apply for an OHFA Housing Development Loan.
Schwiegeraht said Pivotal’s total investment is around $31 million.
“If we receive the funding like we hope in October, construction will start the spring-summer of 2026 and be completed the summer-fall of 2027,” Schwiegeraht said.
Company’s goal is affordable workforce housing
PHP’s goal is workforce housing. Schwiegeraht said the target rent price for North of Vernon is 80 percent of AMI (area median income) and under for the county.
AMI is the midpoint of household incomes in a designated area.
For Knox County, the AMI is $75,680.
“We will be targeting individuals making $17 per hour to $33 per hour,” Schwiegeraht said. “Seniors meet these definitions very easily because they are retired and working off a fixed income.
“Rents will range from $750 to $1,300 depending on unit size.”
Schwiegeraht said the pricing is subject to change since the units will not be available until 2027.
PHP aims to meet growing demand with North of Vernon
Schwiegeraht said the project does not involve HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) or a housing authority.
PHP will not determine whether the 4-acre parcel will stay in the township or be annexed into the city until the financing is arranged.
Either way, he said, city water and sewer will service the project.
“We’re really excited to have the support of the local community and excited to provide housing and deliver a high-quality rental product to the market,” Schwiegeraht said.
PHP will build the four-story building to the National Green Building Standard. It will have an elevator, and all units will comply with ADA requirements for accessibility.
“A marketing study identifies the need for 200 to 250 similar units in the market area,” Schwiegeraht said. “Right now, there are no units available to the market in Clinton Township or Mount Vernon.”
Schwiegeraht said that 1,600 Knox County households meet the 80 percent AMI threshold.
“So there is a tremendous need and no units,” he said. “We are filling up our developments. About 30 percent of our renters are seniors, meaning they are selling their home and moving into something they can manage.”
North of Vernon’s design will be the same as PHP’s completed unit in downtown Delaware: Riverside Landing at Delaware Place.
Pivotal just started construction on a similar building at the Route 36/37 exit on I-71, adjacent to and east of Farrow North Harley-Davidson on Rider Road.