Elyria committees decline to object as plan advances to convert Wilkes Villa to RAD-funded apartments

Joint Community Development and Finance committees on July 14 voted not to object to a proposal by the Wilkes Villa project team and the local housing authority to pursue Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) funding and low-income housing tax credits for a Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion.

The vote followed a lengthy presentation and questions about resident relocation, construction phasing, workforce requirements and financing. Colleen D'Tilio, chief financial and development officer for Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority (rebranded Raise Up), and developers from TFG Housing Resources described the project timeline, resident protections and funding sources.

D'Tilio told the committees that the project team submitted its financing plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on the day of the meeting. She said the team expects to close financing in November 2025 and to begin construction thereafter, with an estimated construction period of about 18 months into 2027.…