By Roger Lanse

Mark Schumacher, representing Bethel Corporation, the construction company, which built the Silver Cliffs project on Little Walnut Road, outlined a proposal to turn the old Hillcrest Hospital site into a 69-unit affordable housing community. Schumacher said their proposal addresses much of what is contained in the 2010 Town Plan for Affordable Housing.

Bethel's proposal would create 69 units with rents ranging from about $450 for a one-bedroom unit to about $475 for a two-bedroom apartment.

Shumacher stated that Bethel has built affordable housing projects in various parts of the country including several here in New Mexico. GǣWe know what we're doing; every affordable housing project we've built is 100 percent occupied. This is just the first step for this project, this will get us to the starting line.Gǥ

In answer to a question from District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison, Schumacher said the total development costs for the project would be about $9.9 million, emphasizing that this figure is a G