Eagle’s Point on track

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EATON — The opening of Eagle’s Point, what was once the former Eaton High School, is on schedule to happen later this year.

Bill Hutton, executive directory of the HIT Foundation, presented members of Eaton Rotary Club with an update on the project during a meeting in June.

Matt Owen, Executive Director of the Preble County Chamber of Commerce, said this is a “tremendous reuse project” because it was an old high school.

“That isn’t always easy to transform into something new,” Owen said before he introduced Hutton to Rotary members. “When this started to come about I was extremely excited to see something go into the high school.”

There will be 40 affordable housing units ranging from a single bedroom to three-bedroom units in varying sizes.

“No two apartments are exactly alike,” Hutton said.

Hutton said tenants will have to qualify for the housing.

“People have to be either at a 30 percent, 50 percent or 60 percent — no greater than that — of area median income.

“HUD designates those numbers,” Hutton said.

Hutton said currently the area median income for a family of four is about $64,000, which means a person at the 50 percent level cannot make more than $32,000 to qualify for housing.

“Again, it’s affordable housing. Not subsidized housing,” Hutton said. “They have to be able to afford the rent.”

Eagle’s Point will have the “Bistro” located in it, which will be a non-profit restaurant with a pay-it-forward concept.

“It’s going to be some very nice upscale bistro-type food,” Hutton said. “If you can pay the $6 or whatever the base price is, we also ask if you can pay $8 to help pay it forward for somebody who can’t afford to pay it. For somebody who can’t afford to pay — they don’t have to pay it. All we ask them is to agree to provide an hour of volunteerism to help with the bistro.”

Hutton said there will only be two paid employees, while the rest of the workers will be volunteers from the community.

The auditorium is being converted into a single-screen movie theatre with a drop-down-type screen so it can still be used for live theatre performances.

The theatre will be operated on limited hours.

Hutton said Sinclair Community College has a 20-year lease to have manufacturing labs located in the facility. And the gym will remain intact.

“We’re hoping to partner with the YMCA to actually manage that facility,” Hutton said.

Hutton said the goal is to begin occupancy is December of this year.

“We’re ahead of scheduled right now. So things are going very well,” he said.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/07/web1_SCHOOL-5.jpgDeron Newman | For The Register-Herald

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HIT Foundation Executive Director Bill Hutton speaks about the Eagle’s Point project during a June Rotary meeting.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/07/web1_hit.jpgHIT Foundation Executive Director Bill Hutton speaks about the Eagle’s Point project during a June Rotary meeting. Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

By Eddie Mowen Jr.

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Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4056 or on Twitter @emowen_RH.

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