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OFFICIALS — City and county officials joined developers to celebrate the start of construction on the 184-unit housing project. Photo by Libby Hubbard.
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By LIBBY HUBBARD Staff Writer A long-awaited step toward expanding Rochester’s housing options took place Thursday, Oct. 9, as city officials, developers and community members gathered for the groundbreaking of the new Maplecrest Residential Development on Apache Drive. The project, developed by Collins Equity Group of northern Indiana, will include a total of 184 new housing units, ranging from freestanding homes to apartments and senior living spaces. The groundbreaking marked a significant milestone in Rochester’s ongoing efforts to meet local housing demand and attract new residents. Mayor Trent Odell said the project is a direct response to findings from a countywide housing study completed in 2023, which showed the area needed at least 600 additional housing units within five years. “A couple of years ago, we did a housing study, the county did, and we showed we needed 600 units of housing over the next five years,” Odell said. “We, as you know, had a couple of the LIHTC awards that one started, one’s going to be starting — they’re behind Arbor Woods here anytime. That’s going to hit about 70 units of income-based housing that is desperately needed for our community.”
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Odell said that while those income-based developments are important, Rochester also needs affordable, market-rate housing to balance the local housing market. “This is another project that we were excited to land, working closely with Burke (Richeson) and Al Collins,” Odell said. “We visited one site they’ve done up in Plymouth and were very impressed. It’s going to be very aesthetically pleasing for our community, but it’s also going to meet a need. They build in a very economical price range, so I think it’s going to hit another huge need for our community.” The new Maplecrest development will sit just off Apache Drive, north of SR 14, behind Kroger’s grocery, in the area near the Youth Outlet Center. Plans call for 51 freestanding homes, traditional apartment buildings, patio flat apartments and a 20unit senior living building. Developer Burke Richeson of Collins Equity Group, representing Alan and Chris Collins and the Collins family, said the company is eager to begin construction. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor,” Richeson said as he addressed the crowd. “We’re very excited about this project here in Rochester. We’re very eager to build on 31. It’s a great location, very visible, and a great community to work in.” Richeson praised the city’s coop-
eration during the planning stages, saying the process was smooth and collaborative. “Working through the process here, there’s always a lot of moving parts,” Richeson continued, “the mayor and town boards have been very workable and easy to move things along. We’re excited to get started and move dirt here —hopefully today or tomorrow — as you can see some machines in the background.” Construction is expected to move quickly, with an estimated 18-month timeline from groundbreaking to completion. “We’re looking at a total of 184 units,” Richeson said. “Fifty-one of those will be freestanding homes. Twenty-eight of the 51 will be for sale within a condominium regime, so all of the lawns and the flowerbeds will be maintained. It’ll be irrigated, so it’ll stay nice and green. The whole property will be maintained and managed by our management company.” He said the Collins family takes pride in maintaining their developments for long-term quality. “What you’ve seen in some of the other developments — if you visit those — you’ll absolutely see here,” Richeson said. “We’ll have four different types of housing: traditional apartment buildings, patio flats that are all connected with two bedrooms, two baths, and one-car garages; a senior-style building with corridor
access that has 20 units; and the 51 freestanding homes. We’re very excited to get started.” The groundbreaking ceremony was hosted by the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce, which helped coordinate the event and invited the community to attend. Chamber Executive Director Tiffany Lukens welcomed guests and expressed enthusiasm for what the project means for the county’s future. “We’re coming out to this awesome groundbreaking for housing here in Fulton County,” Lukens said. “We’re excited and we’re glad to have everyone here.” City officials, Chamber members, and several county commissioners and city council members attended the event, standing together with representatives from Collins Equity Group for the ceremonial first shovel. Parking for the event was available at Beacon Credit Union and The Outlet Youth Center, as community members gathered to watch construction equipment begin early site work nearby. Mayor Odell said Maplecrest represents progress not just for Rochester, but for the entire county. “This is another step in making sure Rochester continues to grow,” Odell said. “Projects like Maplecrest help us meet housing needs, support local employers and build a stronger community for years to come.”
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