Cheap Housing May Fall To Road Project Extension Of Neider Avenue Could Mean Loss Of Duplexes

If a final series of land deals goes as planned, the city will someday extend Neider Avenue from Government Way to Fourth Street.

Despite modest efforts, however, the new road could lead to the demolition of eight low-income housing units.

Skyrocketing land prices and dwindling housing subsidies will likely force the city to take down the four duplexes it is buying at Town House Apartments, 3300 Government Way.

“It’s a terrible loss,” said Chris Freese of the non-profit North Idaho Community Services Corp. “It’s a place with extremely low rent. You can’t find that in this town.”

The Town House Apartments currently rent for $250 for a onebedroom and $300 for a twobedroom - about 60 percent of market rates.

Residents there long ago recognized their home rested on land destined to become a street.

“This should be a business strip,” said resident Harriet Smith. “It’s too busy to be a residential neighborhood, with all the cars clanking outside.”

Most also have plans for new living arrangements once the extension occurs - probably not for more than a year.

It’s the buildings that should be saved, said Phil Colozzi, director of the community agency. He estimated 36 people could live in them, if the duplexes could be moved to another site.

“We did what we could,” said Coeur d’Alene Mayor Al Hassell.

By all accounts, the city did try. Officials agreed to buy the duplexes and three other properties to extend the commercial strip through to Fourth Street, said City Administrator Ken Thompson.

The city then offered to give the duplexes to Colozzi’s agency.

That’s not uncommon, Hassell said. St. Vincent de Paul’s now operates a homeless shelter at Eighth and Lakeside - a house the city bought during last year’s construction there.

“We try to do that when we can,” he said.

The community agency planned to fix them up, move them and maintain the low rates.

Colozzi and the city sought grants to cover the estimated $342,600 cost to buy the land and relocate the apartments.

But, a state community development block grant request was denied earlier this winter. The cost per benefitted person - $9,517 - was too high.

Despite pleas to the governor and attempts to scour for other money, no money is available.

Representatives from the Panhandle Area Council agreed that no other grant sources are available. Federal and state Housing and Urban Development money is being funneled into sewer and water projects.

“That means the duplexes will probably be destroyed,” Freese said.

The city is still negotiating for one piece of land. Money for its purchase probably won’t be available until next year, administrator Thompson said.

The road project would begin after that.