 Rendering of planned Hope Estates development
At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Commission took steps to move forward two specialty housing projects being developed by Emberhope and Mennonite Housing.
The Commission approved the final plat for the first phase of Emberhope’s planned expansion on the west side of their Newton campus. Hope Estates will be a 38-unit affordable housing development designed to serve teens aging out of foster care, foster families, and seniors. It will include one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in townhouses, duplexes, and a small apartment building.
Emberhope, which provides services for children and families in child welfare, sees a need for youth aging out of foster care who don’t have housing resources in place and may wind up homeless or incarcerated. Through Hope Estates, the organization will provide housing as well as optional supportive services through case management.
The Commission also approved a resolution of intent to issue Housing Revenue Bonds for Phase 2 of Mennonite Housing’s senior housing development, Harvest Pointe, on West First Street.
In April, the Commission approved Mennonite Housing’s request to waive $40,000 in permit fees for the project. Both actions are in support of the organization’s application for Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to help finance Phase 2 construction.
Phase 2 is expected to include 28 units for residents age 55+. The first phase of the development opened in 2023 and has a waiting list of over 100 names.
Issuing Housing Revenue Bonds would provide a sales tax exemption for building materials for the development and does not present a liability for the City.
- Recognized graduates of the YMCA’s Job Prep program, a free course for teens to learn about applying for jobs, interviewing, managing money, and building skills. The City was a sponsor for the course, which was offered for the first time this year in Newton.
- Made the following appointments to volunteer boards and commissions:
- Johanna Castillo and Mikaela Stevenson to the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel.
- Burke Lewis, Gila Lavielle, Robert Llamas, Don Rogers, Garrett Geringer and Libby Albers to the Tree Board.
- Glenda Ledesma to the Newton Land Bank Board.
- Nick Navrat to the Newton Recreation Commission.
- Melissa Vajnar to the Public Building Commission.
- Brigitte Loescher to the Community Development Commission.
- Proclaimed May 18-24 as Public Works Week.
- Proclaimed May 18-24 as EMS Week.
- Received the first quarter financial report.
- Authorized eminent domain proceedings to acquire right-of-way to accommodate street improvements along South Hillside in the event that ongoing negotiations with the property owner are not successful.
- Approved participation in the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Federal Fund Exchange program for street maintenance funding.
- Approved the 2026 Newton Land Bank budget.
For more information, please contact Communications Director Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.
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