Northeast Montana News

The Montana Department of Commerce has announced that it has received funds for a rehabilitation project for Oakwood Village Apartments.

The Multifamily Coal Trust Homes program has given Affiliated Developers Inc. $3.6 million to renovate the apartments, according to the Havre Daily News. Currently, the housing structure has 60 units and is low income.

Karen Burkett, Oakwood Village management agent, told the outlet the funds are being used to improve the apartments.

"We do have a plan," Burkett told the Daily News. "Of course, the most important things would be the roof [of] the building's exterior and building interior as it comes to upgraded appliances that are more energy-efficient...They'll all get new paint, they'll all probably get new floors, and then updated kitchens and bathrooms."

Improving the apartments will save money and improve residents' lives.

Justin Doney, a maintenance worker for the apartments, told the Havre Daily News he is excited about the renovation.

"I'm excited for everyone living here, and I'm excited for everyone who will be living here after this is done," Doney said. "This is really gonna be a nice-looking place."

Doney said he's been working on the property a long time and knows just how old many parts of the apartments are.

"Over time, I've gotten to learn this building and it's old, you know, there's pre-'70s stuff in here," he told the Havre Daily News. "A lot of this stuff should have a good life span, that means less maintenance for me to take care of."

Burnett's company also owns Hillview apartments, which were recently renovated. She told the Havre Daily News that Hillview could be used to indicate how Oakwood will turn out.

"It's been, oh gosh, five, six, seven years now since it (Hillview) has been renovated and it's still in the same shape, so this is gonna sustain this housing for many years to come," she told the Havre Daily News. 

Oakwood is in need of renovation but hasn't reached the point where it would completely fall down, according to the report.

"It's not like the place is gonna fall down tomorrow, but in a few years we may have not have been able to continue to occupy the buildings," Burkett told the Daily News.

Burkett added that renovating the property will convince residents to keep living at the apartments instead of moving to a nicer building.

"I mean, they would stay in Oakwood and then immediately put their names on the list to move to Hillview, which has been rehabbed and is beautiful," she told the Havre Daily News.

The renovations are set to begin soon, but there is a possibility of delay with the COVID-19 pandemic, Burkett added.

"The rehab will start, we hope, in June and will be completed by the end of August," she told the Havre Daily News. "I can't imagine it would delay us too much ... I think they can probably get started."