The Bluegrass Regional Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board Inc. is one step closer to bringing an 12-unit apartment complex for the chronically mentally ill to Winchester.
The Lexington-based company serves the mentally ill in 17 counties, including approximately 288 Clark County residents, according to CEO Tammy Nalle. She presented information on the company, its services and a preliminary development plan for the housing unit at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Winchester-Clark County Planning Commission.
“The movement in the field for the last 20 years has been to deinstitutionalize,” Nalle said.
Commissioners unanimously approved the development plan, which calls for two six-unit structures on about three acres located at 250 Maryland Ave. Ten of the units will be for mental illness sufferers with another two reserved for a resident manager and common area.
Director of Planning and Development Rhonda Cromer recommended approval of the project based on the 2012 Comprehensive Plan. According to the plan, “A variety of residential densities should be encouraged in the city to promote different housing types to serve various economic and social levels.”
The property is owned by the Clark Regional Foundation for the Promotion of Health, and Nalle said her organization has plans to purchase it.
Funding for the project will come from HUD, Federal Home Loan Bank and Kentucky Housing Corporation. Bluegrass Mental Health will serve as a sponsor for the property, Bluegrass Steeplechase Estates, but day-to-day operations will be handled by a board of directors and the resident manager. Nalle said Bluegrass Mental Health has sponsored similar housing units in Richmond and Frankfort.
“It is not our intention to congregate the mentally ill in one place. We want these small and community-based,” Nalle said.
Contact Rachel Gilliam at rparsons@winchestersun.com.
