Hobart City Council denied yet another request by developers of the Lake Park Senior Apartments to extend its completion date.

Representatives of developer RealAmerica had asked that the completion date for the final 15 units be changed from Dec. 31 to June 31, saying they’re waiting for Northern Indiana Public Service Co. to turn the utilities on and have been having difficulty finding qualified laborers within their budget constraints.

It was the latest of several requests for changes and extensions at the apartment complex, located at 10th Street and Lake Park Avenue.

A construction manager for RealAmerica said the project is near completion. He said he’s asking for the six-month extension to finish the landscaping.

“At what point do residents have to absorb their (tax) abatement,” asked Councilman Dave Vinzant, D-4th, who moved to deny their request at the meeting Wednesday.

He said the abatement will kick in as soon as the project is complete.

Councilman Josh Huddlestun, D-2nd, asked what RealAmerica is doing about the potential residents of these final apartment units, adding “The residents can’t be happy.”

Roy Marschke, chief financial officer for RealAmerica, said the potential residents are kept apprised of the status of their units and remain in the current living arrangements until the units are available. He said the current residents aren’t affected by the latest snafu.

Councilman Lino Maggio, D-3rd, pointed out that the company received permission to decrease the number of subsidized units and increase the number of full price units in the complex.

“Did you adjust your labor costs as a result,” Maggio asked.

Marschke said the change didn’t result in a huge adjustment in construction costs.

The entire 95-unit project will now have 71 subsidized units.

In other matters, the council approved a 2-year extension of its latex paint recycling agreement with Porter County and an agreement with New Chicago to provide the community with emergency medical services through Dec. 31, 2021.

Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.