Little Rock lots set to become wheelchair-accessible duplexes

When Bo Springer invited her son's swimming coach over for dinner, his struggle to fit his wheelchair throughout her house gave her the idea for a new business venture.

By the end of the year, Springer and her husband, Richard, will complete their first wheelchair-accessible duplex with plans for 29 more to follow.

The Springers are buying properties in Little Rock's land bank at a low cost. They've already purchased two lots -- 2512 S. Summit St. and 808 S. Brown St. -- for $500. They've picked out 28 more. The sales must go through the land bank, get zoning approval and be signed off on by the Little Rock Board of Directors.

"We didn't want to do a subdivision, like a wheelchair-accessible community," Springer said. "That seems negative, like a retirement home. So we decided to go into urban areas that haven't had painting or anything nailed together in years."

The duplexes will have wheelchair-accessible doors, ramps to the backyard, accessible kitchen counters, stove and sink, as well as master showers.

"What we're looking to do is make it where they can wheel throughout the whole house," Springer said.

Some of the units also will have harness rails on the ceilings where children or adults with mobility issues can be moved around the home in an easy fashion.

The Springers plan to rent two-bedroom units for $850 per month. Three-bedroom units also will be available. There will be no income requirement. The family isn't receiving government money. They are financing the project through a bank.

"We want disabled individuals to know as a property management company, we are going to be both proactive and reactive when dealing with issues that relate to their needs," their business plan presented to the board said.

All 30 duplexes will be built on property currently in the city's land bank. The land bank focuses on converting vacant lots and abandoned and tax-delinquent properties into use.

At-large City Director Joan Adcock is the liaison between the Board of Directors and the city's Land Bank Commission.

"This is a great project. It not only addresses a special need in our community, but it also will allow new housing in our neighborhoods," Adcock said. "I appreciate the Springer group being a part of revitalization in the inner city neighborhoods and selecting lots from the land bank. These lots will move from being weed lots and a cost to the city to being on the tax rolls with housing on them. This is one of the top goals of the land bank."

The Springers hope to break ground for the first building within a month and have it available for rent by the first of the year. They are building the homes one at a time.

Metro on 10/10/2017

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