From left, Steve Lee, project engineer/foreman; neighborhood cat; City Code Official Mike Morgan; MVCAA Director of Fund Development Michael Bachop; Michelle Ridge; Margaret Cott; Sherry Goodin; Wesley Kessler, board member; Abby Kessler; Larry Billingsley; Mayor Connie Latimer; MVCAA Executive Director Ann Grath; State Rep. Joe Aull; Rowan Van Horn; MVCAA Governing Board of Directors chair David Van Horn; Chad Jackson, Inline Construction; MVCAA Housing Manager Ronda Wickham; and Susan Hunter. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

The Missouri Valley Community Action Agency broke ground for the $1.2 million Sunshine Estates on Friday, July 20.

MVCAA received confirmation on Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, that it had been approved by Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) for a $2.7 million housing grant.

MVCAA and MHDC are partnering on the project that is intended to bring more affordable housing to working families in Marshall.

"This will be a major plus for Marshall," Mayor Connie Latimer said. "I want to commend MVCAA because they have stepped forward and helped."

Sunshine Estates will be constructed in Marshall using $1.2 million of the funds available.

Sunshine Estates includes four new rental homes to be constructed at Benton and Summit streets. Each single family home will include three bedrooms and two baths.

"I think this is going to be a good start," Latimer said. "It adds housing and cleans up the area."

The estates will include two duplex homes built at Ravenal and Miranda streets.

The original plan did not include Ravenal and Miranda streets but called for the duplexes to be built on Atchison Avenue.

MVCAA was told they could not use this tract of land due to an endangered species that inhabits the area, Bruce Greer, director of housing, said.

MVCAA closed on the properties on Friday, July 13. The properties being used to build the estates are currently empty lots.

Inline Construction of Sedalia will be the contractor for the building projects.

"We are going to build a top-quality project," Chad Jackson of Inline Construction said.

"There is a very big lack of affordable housing for working class families," Ronda Wickham, housing manager, said. "We are trying to bridge the gap between really low-income housing and very high-income housing."

MVCAA will use the remaining $1.5 million to renovate Santa Fe Estates, which will be renamed Mallory Place. MVCAA is working with Fulson Housing Group and will act as general managing partner for those apartments.

Founded in 1965, Missouri Valley Community Action Agency is one of 19 community action agencies in Missouri. Its purpose is to combat poverty and promote self-sufficiency among the 32,000 low- and moderate- income residents in its service area, which includes Ray, Carroll, Chariton, Lafayette, Saline, Johnson and Pettis counties.

The two projects in Marshall are among 39 projects to be funded by MHDC. Statewide there were 114 applicants for the funding. The proposals are expected to provide 1,335 affordable housing units for Missouri residents.

Contact Rachel Harper at

marshallcity@socket.net