(Atlantic) The Vision Atlantic series continues today with a focus on the construction aspect of the project. This $84 million transformative plan includes 142 new housing units, an expansion of the YMCA, and a new 300-capacity childcare development center.
Dave Sturm, of the engineering firm Snyder and Associates, is overseeing the housing development portion of the project. Sturm says construction has been set back due to the rainy weather. He added that they have been able to complete a lot of paving work.
Sturm says the dirt work is 95 percent complete. He says the seeding is delayed because of the wet weather. Otherwise, construction is progressing, and crews are expected to complete the pavement work within a few weeks, depending on the weather.
Sturm states that a detention pond is located on the north side of the site. He says the outlet is plugged to meet the runoff requirements of their discharge permit.
According to Vision Atlantic President Christina Bateman, Atlantic has one of the oldest housing stocks in the region. She says some current employers report that only a small portion of their workforce lives in Atlantic, mainly because of the limited number and condition of available homes.
Bateman says the new housing addition includes 1,200-square-foot main level homes with a finished basement, 1,800-square-foot homes, condominiums, tiny homes used as Airbnb rentals, and some townhomes.
Meanwhile, Vision Atlantic must raise 80 percent of the required funds to qualify for the $8.6 million grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation. This means the organization still needs commitments totaling at least $7 million to receive the grant. These funds, along with the grant, would be allocated toward the expansion of the Child Development Center and the YMCA.
