Back to Square One

The Register-Star reports this morning that the plan to rent this house from Phil Gellert as the county's first location for congregate housing was been abandoned: "518 Columbia nixed as transitional housing." 

In late November, city officials informed the county that the house is located in a Residential Special Commercial (R-S-C) zone, where transitional housing is not a permitted use. On the strength of a "verbal agreement" with Gellert, the county has already paid $4,600 in rent to Gellert and purchased furniture for the two apartments to be located in the building, which were never occupied. The Register-Star reports that there is now a "For Rent" sign on the building.