WALTON _ A project to build housing units and construct a factory in Walton has changed venues but is still moving forward, according to Craig Northacker, executive director of Vets-Help.org.
Northacker said Thursday that the nonprofit organization is purchasing the former Buteau Motors location on Delaware Street in Walton.
He said the organization is also purchasing the apartment building adjacent to the business location.
Northacker said he is no longer in negotiations with John McAteer, the developer of Sheffield Estates in Walton and River Run in Delhi.
"We are not working on the Sheffield Estates proposal because there were differences in terms of how they were looking at doing things," Northacker said. "We now have a different agenda, but we are absolutely committed to the Walton area and only good things are going to come of this."
Vets-Help.org now plans to begin converting the Buteau building into a manufacturing plant to build special all-terrain wheelchairs that allow people to stand up while in the chair.
"We are going to start by cranking jobs up, and we will use the Buteau building as a hub and headquarters for Vets-Help," Northacker said.
Jim Thomson, Delaware County Industrial Development Agency executive director and Delaware County Chamber of Commerce president, said Thursday that the Vets-Help project is moving forward with the purchase of the Buteau property and has not lost its federal funding.
Northacker said although he is no longer in negotiations for the Sheffield Estates
property, he has looked at several other more-suitable sites to build affordable housing for veterans.
"I couldn't be more pleased that as it all comes together, we are going to bring a lot of jobs, nice homes and business opportunities for vets and others," Northacker said. "We will have more announcements in the coming weeks."
Ira Epstein, Vets-Help managing director, said previously that he and his business partner, Northacker, funded the nonprofit organization with $500,000 of their money.
Additional funding to begin building homes and businesses in the Walton community will come from government grants, subsidies and Veterans Administration mortgages.
Epstein said the concept for Vets-Help grew out of Northacker's frustration in attempting to deal with issues faced by disabled veterans.
Northacker served in the U.S. Army during and after the Vietnam War with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 11th Special Forces Group.
He sustained serious injuries during airborne operations and is classified as a service-connected disabled veteran.
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