Who pushed some of you guys off your monkey bars?! I can't believe waco isn't welcoming this project with open arms. You want downtown to be revitalized, but you don't want the lower income (middle class) to live there. I don't get it. Get a clue, the middle class are the ones who spend the most money and time in their community. I can't wait to take a tour and tell them they are doing a great thing there!

I am so excited to see that there is someone who recognizes the fact that there are hard working honest families that need a nice affordable place to live. This is so amazing. Thank you to all of those who have contributed to this project. I would love to see more like it. HUGE KUDOS!!!

There is one very large misconception with this property, we are NOT income based. Our rents are $450, $550 and $650. There are 11 units set aside for those who are disabled and on Social Security and/or SSI; those are the $222 and $261 rents. At this time, we are not accepting Section 8. This means the people must prove they are making at least 2 times the rent to qualify. Verifications are done by Employment Verifications or pay stubs. There is no $50 rent for a $500 apartment; the resident pays and is responsible for the whole amount. If you call around Waco, there are at LEAST 8 other properties that come to mind that have a ‘low income discount’, I haven’t seen the same reaction to those. I’m very proud to say I’m the Property Manager of this project. I see hardworking families and individuals come in the door extremely excited about being able to live in a nice place they can also be proud of. This project can only be as good as its Management AND its city support! I challenge you to come by and see what we’ve done. Support us, this is and was a Waco Landmark. The building was falling apart, and no one could get enough money together to do something with it. Instead of demolishing it, a company, with no ties to Waco, came in and spent $12 million dollars to revitalize it. I think Waco should stand behind this project 100%, that’s the only way it will be successful from now until whenever! Robyn Moss Property Manager Historic Lofts of Waco High 815 Columbus Ave Waco, Texas 76701 website: www.wacohighlofts.com

This is a great opportunity for Waco, mostly downtown. This gives the people who make the 'average' income here in Waco a chance to live like the Hilton rather than Hotel 6. As everyone has mentioned, Waco needs higher paying jobs, well where do these people live who don't have the higher paying jobs? Just because you are poor or lower income doesn't mean you are a drug dealer or low life. For each applicant we do extensive background checks, with 2 different separate sources, and a credit check with all 3 credit bureaus. We also participate in the Crime-Free Multi-housing Program with the Waco Police Department. If a resident does something illegal, on property or not, or a guest does something illegal, the resident is IMMEDIATELY evicted. Not to mention we do quarterly checks of each residence to make sure everything is in order. I tell each resident as they move in, they are the biggest crime deterrent there is. Nothing can be done unless people step forward and take responsibility for their community. In response to Ann’s comment, each resident has passed through our VERY through application process (we do MUCH more than ANY property in Waco). Management can’t be everywhere at all time, that is where residents and applicants must take the next step to report any criminal activity to either Management or the Police. I ask people like Ann, who have prior knowledge of a residents and applicants, to put a name to a face. For us to be able to handle this, I need to know the name of the person you are referring to so I can resolve the situation from the start. (cont.)

So Ray Adams you are from Buna,Tx? The same Buna on hwy 96 in east Tx? So what do you think of lil 'ol Waco? Straight backwater huh. Nothing like the piney woods huh? I've got friends down that way. Jasper, Vidor, Newton, Beaumont, Silsbee. Welcome to slaughterhouse sir.

I have to agree with prev posters that it's a shame that no one can be "poor" but good people anymore. I can recall 17 years ago making a whopping $1100 per month SALARY, but I was no drug dealer, thug, drug user, alcoholic, etc etc. I was working my way up in my job and started out like most - at the bottom. I was fortunate enough to have lived in a relatively nice cheap spot until I could venture into home ownership- I make triple what I did then, but have NEVER forgotten where I came from. Rent that's based on income is not necessarily "HOUSING" people- it's allowing some people an opportunity to live somewhere nice and breathe a little easier money wise (remember, it's those who are living in overpriced shacks that I would guess have a need to steal and be criminals)- while they concentrate on their jobs. Have any of you no compassion at ALL for the working poor?

I have to agree with Tammy - it's a shame how cynical everyone is being. This is a good thing. Finally people on fixed incomes have an option other than "the projects" or other substandard housing. People, there are a lot of nice, respectable folks who live on fixed incomes. What if you were suddenly unable to work due to a disability? Wouldn't you want to have the option of living in a nice, affordable place rather than being relegated to living at the Kate Ross apartments? Let's keep a little perspective here and stop being so judgmental.

I have to agree with Tammy - it's a shame how cynical everyone is being. This is a good thing. Finally people on fixed incomes have an option other than "the projects" or other substandard housing. People, there are a lot of nice, respectable folks who live on fixed incomes. What if you were suddenly unable to work due to a disability? Wouldn't you want to have the option of living in a nice, affordable place rather than being relegated to living at the Kate Ross apartments? Let's keep a little perspective here and stop being so judgmental.

Wow! Looks great to me and I am from the small town of Buna, TX. How negitive can Waco citizen get? Try a little support for inprovement.

Wow! Looks great to me and I am from the small town of Buna, TX. How negitive can Waco citizen get? Try a little support for inprovement.

As a citizen in waco i think you should screen your applicants more thoroughly,i was at the complex the other day bringing a friend of mine,and what do you know there was the girlfriend of a drug dealer moving in and he was driving the u haul.Why don't you rent to hard working individuals instead of women that will be moving drug dealers in as soon as you go home after 5pm.

As most of us who have been around a while know, this type project always starts out on a high note. Then the manager leaves and the company who built it becomes disinterested. They hire a lousy replacement manager, and here we go again. The 20-foot fence will be built in about a year or two. Just wait until those tenants find out how much their rent is going up when Oncor puts those new "flawed" digital meters in. I figure that $200 to $600 rent will jump to $450 - $1000 or more pretty fast. The city should have taken that building, renovated it, and moved the Central Public Library there decades ago. It's a crying shame to think of what it is going to look like 10 or 20 years from now.

Wow!! Have people become so jaded that you can't have any type of well wishes for a noble cause anymore?? John, I hope that everything does go well and it sounds like a great concept to draw families downtown at an affordable price. Just because someone doesn't make a ton of money shouldn't relegate them to the likes of ex-cons and drug dealers. Why can't lower-income families have a nice place to live and actually be expected to take pride in the place where they live? Come on people...have a little faith in humanity!!!

Apparently most of you haven't gone by to take a look. I have a disabled sister who is on a fixed income who can't afford to live somewhere nice, and she is a perfect tenant! I went with her to put her application in and the lady in charge seemed really on her game. The apartment she picked out is HUGE compared to others in town, and they are very nice. I want to live there but apparently I make way to much. I'm very excited about this. The property seems safe and everything is brand new, and most importantly its VERY affordable. Hopefully my sister will be moving in by the end of the month!! If you are going to complain, you at least you need to go take a look yourself.

Don't park near downtown. A record number of BMV's within the first month. If you do not have it locked, welded, concreted or some other way of holding things donw, then consider them stolen by the "residents" of the old waco high.

It is interesting that the old building will be used for housing, since it is 100 years old and was deteriorating when I went to school there almost 50 years ago. It was a dump then and should have been torn down. It looks and feels more like a prison than a place to live.

I think that those who are fortunate to live there and pay such little rent should have to help with the maintenance of the building and grounds. People tend to respect and take better care when they have to put time and effort into maintenance!

I'm excited at the potential that this can bring to Waco. Sounds like great things can come out of this!

Congratulations. I am so proud of you 'sis' and I know you will do a great job!!!

I personally think the building should have just been bulldozed down and make room for a business with good paying jobs. But since it has been made into a housing project so be it. There is already an abundance of apartments and houses for rent or to buy in Waco. Bad Idea here. Bad Idea. I give it 1 year.

Why do some people react so "negative" to new things? It sounds like the manager is taking the right steps to make sure that the property will be well ran and a nice place to stay. AND I am happy to read that the apt/lofts are offered at reasonable prices. I wish them well.

i hope this will be a nice place to people that are responsible and cares. I went to school at Waco high and I wanted it to go for something like this. Is it for senior citizens too? Keep up the good work. I look up to you.

People of Waco listen up, this site will be the next "substation" for Waco PD.......its pushes the Village to second place.....Waco leaders at their finest......gotta love it....boy I miss Garret....

Waco may as well put a 20 foot fence around it with razor wire at the top to keep in the drug dealers. Like most govenerment sub-leases, this will be trashed in 3 or 4 years and most Wacoans will be scared to drive by.