Residents Move Into Historic Elkhart Building
ELKHART — A historic Elkhart building is back in use as residents move into the city’s newest senior apartments.
Residents will move into the former Conn-Selmer factory this week.
The former clarinet factory was refurbished by Commonwealth Management this year and transformed into a 55 bedroom apartment complex.
“The Conn-Selmer building was a former Clarinet factory for Conn-Selmer and I just read recently before that, it was a car dealership,” said Lavon Johnson, president and CEO of the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce. “So, it’s a building that’s really sat empty for quite some time.”
That all changes this week as residents begin to move into the building now called the Gardenview Senior Apartments.
“It’s being literally brought back to life and will have residents in it as early as this week,” said Johnson.
The timing of this project couldn’t be better.
“Housing is a big issue and a challenge here,” said Johnson. “That opens up another opportunity for housing for a group of people who need it.”
People like those being displaced out of what’s known as the tallest building in Elkhart.
The building at 500 S Main St. provided affordable housing since the 1920’s, but will soon be a renovated into a hotel.
Because of the renovations, its residents must move out.
At least 10 seniors who lived in that building have a place to go thanks to the new senior apartments at the Conn-Selmer building.
“It’s taking a need, or fulfilling a need, that we have that is generated by some economic development that is happening downtown,” said Johnson. “It came along at the right time.”
These Gardenview Senior Apartments will provide affordable housing to many and in turn, the residents will give a new purpose to an old building.
“Tearing it down, as structurally sound as it was, didn’t make a lot of sense,” explained Johnson. “So hopefully it continues to spur on more investment in some of the older buildings that still have the good structure and just need some love and some care and people back in them to bring them to life.”
There are five apartments still available for any senior whose household income is at or below 60 percent of the median income.
To find out more or to apply, call Gardenview Senior Apartments at 574-361-0647.
Source: WNDU