Harmony House looks to build affordable apartments

Harmony House is partnering with Springfield developer The Vecino Group to build a 46-unit affordable-housing complex at the corner of South Scenic Avenue and West Delmar Street for those leaving the nonprofit’s domestic violence shelter.

Last night, Springfield City Council held a public hearing over whether to rezone the existing planned development at 1042 S. Scenic Ave. and allow the housing plans to move forward.

Lisa Farmer, executive director of Harmony House, said at the public hearing many women who leave the organization’s 519 E. Cherry St. shelter need assistance with housing.

“Harmony House is designed to be a 90- to 120-day temporary shelter. We take the women and children in. We handle the immediate crisis situation. We stabilize them. We help them begin the healing process. But at the end of 90 to 120 days, they need to find independent living,” Farmer said. “That is one of the greatest obstacles we face – finding affordable, safe, secure housing for these families.”

She said over the past several years, the number of women and children being turned away at the shelter has increased dramatically to over 2,300 last year from nearly 500 in 2010.

Dubbed the Angelou apartment complex, the proposed property would have 10 one-bedroom apartments and 36 two- and three-bedroom units, as well as several security features, including privacy gates, access codes, and a secure parking lot and entrances.

“We are the only domestic-violence shelter in Springfield/Greene County, and we routinely run at capacity, which is 110 women and children in shelter every day and night,” Farmer said. “(The project) won’t give us any more room at the shelter, but what it will do is give us a full continuum of care, so that we will be able to hopefully move people through the shelter more quickly and free up more beds.”

Springfield Planning Director Mary Lilly Smith said, if approved, the planned development would restrict use on the 1.78-acre lot to housing for targeted populations, including domestic-violence victims, seniors and veterans.

“This project was awarded additional dwelling units over what we’d typically allow on this site because it’s using green-building construction and because it is an affordable housing project,” she said. “It also would have a number of amenities – a fitness room, playground and a garden.”

Council is slated to hear the second reading and vote on the proposal Aug. 10. The Planning & Zoning Commission and city staff both recommend approval.