One of four apartment complexes near Lake Murray gets state OK

One of four small apartment complexes proposed on the north side of Lake Murray received the go-ahead from state housing officials Monday to use federal tax credits to proceed.

The complex approved is a 32-unit development for those 55 and older on fixed incomes at the site of a former tennis club in Irmo.

It was given a tax credit of $485,000, sought by developers to help reduce rents.

Town officials didn’t oppose the project, one of 20 across the state qualified for the credits.

The project will fill a housing gap in the community of nearly 12,000 residents, Mayor Hardy King said.

The apartments will offer affordable residences for older residents who “don’t have the ability any more” to cope with home upkeep, he said.

Meanwhile, proposed larger complexes — of up to 56 units — for lower-income families in Chapin and Ballentine were not among the 20 projects that received tax credits.

All three projects ran into strong local opposition from nearby residents, who said they were a poor fit that could bring in crime and lower property values.

There are no apartment complexes in Chapin and no low-income complexes in Ballentine.

Neither Chapin town officials nor leaders of the Ballentine-Dutch Fork Civic Association could be reached for comment.