Manito Garden Apartments get needed repairs, upgrades

One of the earliest apartment projects for low-income elderly people in Spokane has been getting a facelift over the past two years to ensure that it continues to provide affordable housing for its 60 residents.

The Manito Garden Apartments, 300 E. 30th Ave., have received about $150,000 in improvements in the past two years and another $150,000 in improvements in years prior to that.

The apartments opened in 1983 as a project of Manito Presbyterian Church, which used property next to the church to secure federal funding and loan guarantees, said Gary Gunther, president of the nonprofit board that oversees the facility.

“At the time, there was no low-income housing on the South Hill,” he said. “The elders of the church knew there was a need.”

The Rev. Scott Starbuck said the facility has proven a worthwhile extension of the church’s ministry in the community by fulfilling a huge need for low-income housing.

Under federal guidelines, residents who have extremely low income are eligible for monthly rents of $110 to $150 for apartments that have a current market value of $687 a month.

Kiemle & Hagood Co. manages the facility, which operates under U.S. Housing and Urban Development guidelines.

Bernie Nelson, a member of the apartment board, said Manito Garden is a good example of the success of nonprofit facilities, even though church members in the early 1980s were reluctant to enter a financial arrangement with the federal government.

Now, Starbuck said, “The congregation has completely embraced this.”

He said the four-story apartment building is consistent with other community outreach ministries such as participation in the Meals on Wheels and food bank programs.

Currently, the facility has a waiting list of 20 seniors and 210 people with physical or intellectual disabilities. The facility houses both types of residents in a fully independent setting.

Those overseeing the facility said it offers a great location close to parks, shopping, public transit and neighborhoods for walking.

The heart of the facility is an upgraded day room with a kitchen that draws residents throughout the day. The work was done by Renewed Interiors of Spokane.

Just out the door is a newly installed garden designed by landscape architect Joey Addington and built by Environment West, of Spokane. It backs up against adjacent commercial buildings. New earth-tone paint was applied to the adjoining concrete block wall along with lattice work to hold climbing plants. A water feature, plantings and native stone combine for an intriguing design. A tall lilac was retained.

Upgrades are found throughout the facility with new appliances, LED lighting, smoke detectors, flooring, carpet, countertops, improved entryways and paint both inside and out.

The lighting alone is saving 60 percent on electrical bills, said manager Donnell McQuistion.

The upgrades reflect a big turnaround for the facility, which was facing serious financial problems 14 years ago. The number of vacancies had increased, and interest rates on the original HUD-guaranteed loan had become a hardship.

The apartment board worked with HUD officials to refinance the facility’s debt and to set up an ongoing maintenance fund that was equivalent to the reduced debt payment, Starbuck said. That money is going into the remodeling work.

In addition, the facility expanded its eligible population to include persons with physical and intellectual disabilities. The youngest resident currently is 37.

“We were literally scrambling for two years. It was real scary,” Starbuck said of the period around 2003.

An open house to show off the improvements is planned for May 17 starting about 12:30 p.m. following services at the adjacent church. The public is invited to drop by.