MARTINSVILLE, Va. (rbs news now) — Work on the Aaron Mills Apartments is nearly complete, and the first group of senior residents has already begun moving into their new homes, Martinsville city announced on its website.

City officials, including Vice Mayor Kathy Lawson, Council Member Julian Mei, Interim City Manager Rob Fincher and several staff members, toured the building last week and met with representatives from Landmark Development.

The project, located at 201 Aaron Street, will offer 52 apartments for residents ages 55 and older.

The complex includes 34 one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units.

Monthly rent will range from $542 to $650 for a one-bedroom apartment and from $675 to $800 for a two-bedroom unit, according to the city.

Officials said the development focuses on accessibility and long-term affordability for seniors.

The building was constructed with energy-efficient materials and systems designed to help reduce utility costs for residents.

The apartments sit on the former American Furniture site, which burned down in 2014.

In 2018, the city and Landmark Development began discussing potential uses for the property, ultimately settling on senior housing.

Because the site qualified as a brownfield, the city applied for assistance through the Virginia Brownfields Assistance Fund, a competitive grant offered by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

The city said the award provided roughly $500,000 to remediate the property and prepare it for redevelopment.

Construction faced delays tied to COVID-related cost increases, but the city said it continued to push the project forward with its development partners.

The first residents began moving into Aaron Mills in early November, and all units have already been leased.

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