Potential residents not likely to bring crime

I live near St. John Vianney Church in Spokane Valley. My neighbors are concerned about what will happen if Catholic Charities is allowed to build an apartment complex for seniors next to the school and church. I am afraid of what will happen if they don’t.

Catholic Charities builds nice facilities and maintains them. They have stated that the complex will house only those 62 and over for a minimum of 40 years and longer, if needed. They do background checks and screen all of their residents.

If St. John Vianney Church is not allowed to build the planned housing, I am afraid they might sell that land to the highest bidder who could build any manner of 12 units on the property and rent to just anyone.

I would prefer a 38- to 40-unit, well-maintained facility only for seniors to a 12-unit complex where there is no guarantee that it will be well-maintained or that good citizens will live there.

I have heard my neighbors complain that the proposed complex will bring crime to the area. I am positive that 40 or so seniors keeping an eye on the neighborhood will have the exact opposite effect.

Rebecca Taylor

Spokane Valley