Decatur affordable housing build goes vertical at sprawling park site
Decatur affordable housing build goes vertical at sprawling park site
Josh Green
Fri, 10/25/2024 – 13:16
A long-planned injection of affordable housing is making visible progress at a greenspace-laden Decatur property considered a “historic oasis in the city.”
The first phase of a Decatur Housing Authority project called Village at Legacy has begun vertical construction near the city’s southern limits, where South Columbia Drive meets Katie Kerr Drive, at the southernmost tip of 77-acre Legacy Park.
South Housing Village, the facet under construction now, calls for 66 housing units—duplexes and garden-style apartments—to be reserved for qualifying, low-income families, according to DHA officials. Specific rents have yet to be specified.
A later component situated toward the opposite end of the park, North Housing Village, will have a similar scope but different design, per DHA.
Site plans for phase one show 11 residential buildings situated around a greenspace commons and U-shaped parking lot, with a community center in the middle.
All but three of the new residential structures would stand three stories, the others two stories.
The PATH Foundation’s 1.2-mile East Decatur Greenway trail runs alongside the phase one construction site, providing an off-street link to the Avondale MARTA station on College Avenue.
The Village at Legacy project has been about seven years in the making.
The City of Decatur bought the park (the former United Methodist Children’s Home property) in 2017 and launched a planning process that resulted in a master plan and affordable housing goals for Legacy Park. That process was concluded in late 2019.
Two years later, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Decatur leaders brought on DHA and its nonprofit housing developer, Preserving Affordable Housing Inc., or PAHI.
That Intergovernmental Agreement calls for DHA and PAHI to develop, own, and operate the South Housing Village’s affordable housing. Meanwhile, the city will continue to own Legacy Park’s land.
Beyond access to Decatur schools, jobs, and health services, perks of the Legacy Park project will eventually include a running track, orchard, community garden, inclusive playground, and new greenspaces, per site plans. DHA plans to implement its services program to help all residents as well.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded the project Low Income Housing Tax Credits to help bring both phases to fruition, with additional financing sourced from the city and DHA.
According to DHA, phase one’s equity and debt investment is being provided by Hudson Housing Capital, Advantage Capital, and Bank of America.
DHA’s project website states Village at Legacy’s first phase is scheduled to open next summer, with the second phase kicking off construction late this year.
Head to the gallery above for more Legacy Park context and construction progress pics.
…
Follow us on social media:
Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram
• Decatur news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Decatur affordable housing build goes vertical at sprawling park site
Josh Green
Fri, 10/25/2024 – 13:16
A long-planned injection of affordable housing is making visible progress at a greenspace-laden Decatur property considered a “historic oasis in the city.”
The first phase of a Decatur Housing Authority project called Village at Legacy has begun vertical construction near the city’s southern limits, where South Columbia Drive meets Katie Kerr Drive, at the southernmost tip of 77-acre Legacy Park.
South Housing Village, the facet under construction now, calls for 66 housing units—duplexes and garden-style apartments—to be reserved for qualifying, low-income families, according to DHA officials. Specific rents have yet to be specified.
How the Village at Legacy community center will meet the central green. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA
Breakdown of phase one components at Legacy Park’s southernmost edge. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA
A later component situated toward the opposite end of the park, North Housing Village, will have a similar scope but different design, per DHA.
Site plans for phase one show 11 residential buildings situated around a greenspace commons and U-shaped parking lot, with a community center in the middle.
All but three of the new residential structures would stand three stories, the others two stories.
The PATH Foundation’s 1.2-mile East Decatur Greenway trail runs alongside the phase one construction site, providing an off-street link to the Avondale MARTA station on College Avenue.
The Village at Legacy project has been about seven years in the making.
The City of Decatur bought the park (the former United Methodist Children’s Home property) in 2017 and launched a planning process that resulted in a master plan and affordable housing goals for Legacy Park. That process was concluded in late 2019.
The first Village at Legacy buildings under vertical construction this week along Katie Kerr Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Planned look of phase one’s community center. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA
Two years later, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Decatur leaders brought on DHA and its nonprofit housing developer, Preserving Affordable Housing Inc., or PAHI.
That Intergovernmental Agreement calls for DHA and PAHI to develop, own, and operate the South Housing Village’s affordable housing. Meanwhile, the city will continue to own Legacy Park’s land.
Beyond access to Decatur schools, jobs, and health services, perks of the Legacy Park project will eventually include a running track, orchard, community garden, inclusive playground, and new greenspaces, per site plans. DHA plans to implement its services program to help all residents as well.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded the project Low Income Housing Tax Credits to help bring both phases to fruition, with additional financing sourced from the city and DHA.
According to DHA, phase one’s equity and debt investment is being provided by Hudson Housing Capital, Advantage Capital, and Bank of America.
DHA’s project website states Village at Legacy’s first phase is scheduled to open next summer, with the second phase kicking off construction late this year.
Head to the gallery above for more Legacy Park context and construction progress pics.
Location of Legacy Park at 500 S. Columbia Drive in relation to downtown Decatur and Avondale Estates. Google Maps
…
Follow us on social media:
Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram
• Decatur news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
500 S. Columbia Drive
Village at Legacy
Decatur Housing Authority
Preserving Affordable Housing Inc.
PATH Foundation
PATH Trails
Lubin Enterprises
Lubin Construction Company
United Methodist Children’s Home
Low Income Housing Tax Credits
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Affordable Housing
Decatur Development
Decatur Construction
South Columbia Drive
Decatur Legacy Park
Legacy Park
Hudson Housing Capital
Advantage Capital
Bank of America
Images
Location of Legacy Park at 500 S. Columbia Drive in relation to downtown Decatur and Avondale Estates. Google Maps
Breakdown of phase one components at Legacy Park’s southernmost edge. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA
Planned look of phase one’s community center. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA
How the Village at Legacy community center will meet the central green. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA
Example of three-story, garden-style apartments in phase one. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA
Overview of full scope of changes planned at Legacy Park and existing perks such as passive greenspace and walking trails. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA
The first Village at Legacy buildings under vertical construction this week along Katie Kerr Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Entry to the Lubin Enterprises construction site today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Proximity of the phase-one construction site to PATH’s 1.2-mile East Decatur Greenway trail. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Subtitle
First phase of long-planned Village at Legacy project calls for blended housing types, abundant nature
Neighborhood
Decatur
Background Image
Image
Before/After Images
Sponsored Post
Off Read More
cre101_93oscz
Related Posts
Images: Project near Atlantic Station enters construction homestretch
Warehouse project near MARTA, Beltline on brink of construction
MAA Sells Off Charlotte Apartments for $41.8M
A...
Images: Kirkwood project gets name, visuals on Memorial Drive
Stoltz Acquires Atlanta/Nashville Warehouse Portfolio
CBRE...
Construction Underway on New $206M Raleigh City Hall
Crescent Moving Forward on 31-Story Charlotte Tower
Waterton...
Cobb County Coliseum Primed for Renovations
Post Content