SEQUIM — The check’s in the mail, Charles Morgan promised Tuesday. More precisely, it’s on the Federal Express plane.
Morgan, architect of the Vintage at Sequim, a senior apartment complex off West Washington Street, in 2004 promised the Sequim Senior Center a $10,000 donation when the Vintage opened its doors.
Vintage residents would be likely users of the center, which offers exercise classes, seminars, trips and other activities.
Last spring, tenants started moving into the Vintage’s 118 apartments.
But senior center director Michael Smith told the City Council Monday that he had yet to see that $10,000.
Morgan and the Vintage’s builder, Canddle Development, were on the council meeting agenda since they’re taking another project through the building-permit process: the Elk Creek Apartments, a 138-unit complex proposed for the corner of East Washington Street and South Rhodefer Road.
Elk Creek’s site plan will place seven apartment buildings on 14.35 acres, with about 32,000 square feet of open space in a courtyard and children’s play areas.
One-bedroom apartments will rent for $536, two-bedrooms will go for $650 and three-bedroom units $725, Morgan said.
Leases will be available to low- to moderate-income tenants only.
The City Council, which has long expressed a desire for affordable housing, unanimously approved the Elk Creek project.
Morgan has mentioned the possibility of making another donation to the Senior Center as the apartments are built next year.
As for the donation that was supposed to come with the Vintage, city attorney Craig Ritchie said the council cannot force Canddle to cut a check, since it’s unlawful for a government to mandate private donations to non-governmental agencies.
“We can investigate it,” Ritchie said, “but we certainly can’t require it.”
