LaPaz Commons is the LaPaz component of the Riverside Commons IHCDA LIHTC project we are currently constructing. The eight units in LaPaz were always slated to be the last to come under construction. In the last week, site work has begun in preparation for building construction this Fall.
LaPaz has a effluent sewer system, where each residence or business has a septic tank associated with their sewer line. Only the liquid effluent from the septic tank enters the municipal lines and is ferried on for treatment. Most of the LaPaz system is gravity collection, but then the final leg pumps it to the Bremen sewer plan for treatment.
As part of this project, the Town of LaPaz will be improving Troyer Street. We wanted to get the sewer taps in place prior to the street improvements, so as not to disturb the new street construction. If you look closely, you can see the green sewer pipes stubbed up showing where the connections are ready to hook-up to the new townhouses. The taps are complete, the septic tanks are set and we’re ready to roll!
Thomas Excavating has done this work and you can see where they also have the building pad prepared. Hundt Concrete will begin excavation on footings and frostwalls here as soon as they complete the last two buildings in Plymouth. We’re pushing on this to get everything out of the ground before winter. We hope to get paving placed as well. That would make the site much more navigable this winter. We’re hoping the Farmer’s Almanac is wrong, but best to prepare for the worst!
This is a bit of a misnomer since we literally broke ground last Monday, October 19th, but this Thursday, October 29th at 2:00 PM will be the Official Ground Breaking. We will break out the gold shovels and make sure everyone gets their picture taken. Reverend Liechty, President of Garden Court, Inc., will make a short speech. Often local government officials will attend. Congressman Donnelly has been invited as well since this project is funded by a Federal Grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The site is at 110 Cale Street. It is behind the Community Church of God which fronts on Hwy 31, just south of downtown LaPaz.
We are pushing hard on this one as we would like to see it under roof before the weather turns. That may be difficult with the late start, but the schedule calls for footings to be installed by the first of next week.
We are still working towards a Garden Court in Culver next year and there is talk of another in Plymouth as well. We look forward to these additional opportunities to assist Garden Court, Inc. in the community service they provide.