CHRISTINE ROBINSON Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Saturday, October 6, 2007 12:00 am
More low-income options for Casper residents are quickly being remodeled downtown.
Five floors in the old Wyoming National Bank building may be ready for occupancy by the end of next month.
Owner Stephen Grimshaw and his crews are working nonstop to finish the Wyoming National Apartments from the top down - the sixth floor gets carpet on Monday.
When the building at Second and Wolcott streets is finished, there will be 45 new living spaces for low-income Casper residents, a grocery store and space for three additional retail shops.
Marble removed from the walls of the former Wyoming National Bank building is being placed once again in the hallways, preserving some of the building's past.
Work began on the building in April 2006 and, save for a fire that burned part of the building's roof just two months later, has proceeded relatively as planned, Grimshaw said.
He said their office has a list of pre-applicants who were mailed applications. They're always looking for more.
"Maybe the applicants don't fit the requirements or maybe they found somewhere else to live," Grimshaw said.
Prospective tenants will need to meet income requirements as well as pass background checks including legal status, criminal background and a credit check.
"We look at everything," Grimshaw said.
In order to qualify an applicant must earn less than 60 percent of Casper's median income, which for a family of four is $60,100.
A single person can earn no more than $25,260, a family of two can earn $28,860 and a family of three can earn $32,460.
Robin Mundell, housing and community development manager for the city, said this is the kind of housing Casper needs.
"A lot of people out there are working in high paying jobs, but there are a lot of people in the service industries that don't make very much," Mundell said. "Those are the people who are waiting on us in the banks and stores and this will provide them with an option."
An attractive option, with handicap access, and a stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher.
Each of the rooms have two-toned paint and two-or three-panel doors preserving the architectural feel of the old bank building.
There are two new stairways, an elevator and a trash chute that takes the garbage from each floor to a ground level receptor.
"The building is a cornerstone here," Grimshaw said about the building that's largely been left vacant for the past 25 years. "This project is really going to benefit downtown."
Casper fire inspector Sam Chopping said each apartment and the building is examined every step of the way.
After weekly and sometimes daily inspections, Chopping said, "It's all correct."
Reach Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@casperstartribune.net