Housing and Community Development Department

Press Release

New Villas at Colt Run Apartments Brighten Settegast Community

September 18, 2015 -- The Settegast community is getting a facelift with the elimination of blight and the addition of Villas at Colt Run, a new affordable housing property. On Thursday, September 17, Houston Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) Director Neal Rackleff joined Council Member Jerry Davis and community residents in the ribbon cutting ceremony for Villas at Colt Run, a new 138-unit multifamily community where abandoned, dilapidated apartments once stood.

This property represents the city’s continued success with public/private partnerships to increase economic development, quality housing stock and transit-oriented development throughout Houston. The HCD director sees the $3 million investment of federal HOME Investment Partnership funds in the $18 million property as a necessary catalyst to transform the area. “This project took a blighted site and transformed it into quality affordable housing,” Rackleff said.

HCD partnered with LDG Development, an experienced developer of multifamily properties across the country, to bring the vision for quality affordable housing to fruition. LDG Development has developed thousands of units throughout Texas and Kentucky and is committed to maintaining the quality of the property and community. LDG principal, Chris Dischinger spoke about the necessity of quality affordable housing saying, “As a national leader in developing affordable housing solutions for working families, I understand that the need for more options continues to grow.” He also expressed his desire for Villas at Colt Run to act as a catalyst for future economic development adding, “We hope this property will inspire future development and investment in the community.” The property will provide residents with amenities to improve their quality of life in a safe, comfortable environment. Villas of Colt Run is located on two bus lines, making local job centers, grocery stores and schools accessible for working individuals and their families. There is also an onsite business center, fitness center and two playgrounds within the gated community to ensure residents from the youngest to the oldest can reach their fullest potential while enjoying a quality standard of living.

For several years prior to the development of Villas at Colt Run, this site housed a partially completed apartment building that had been abandoned and threatened the safety of residents in the surrounding area. Property values also suffered as a result of the blight. Today, the newly rebuilt apartments are completely leased, according to LDG Development. Villas at Colt Run resident Katherine Martin commended property management and expressed gratitude saying, “There is no place like home and this is truly a place where magic happens. There is consistent grounds keeping and responsiveness from management and we have neighborly activities like clothing and back-to-school drives for the kids.” She closed by telling the audience, “I am proud and grateful to live here and in my opinion, the investment in the property was a wise one.”

 “The speed and success of leasing activity at Villas indicates the demand and need for affordable housing options within this area,” said Rackleff. “It’s the perfect example of what can happen when the public and private sectors join forces to address a need within our city.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony for Villas at Colt Run represents HCD’s commitment to transform communities from blight to bright one property at a time.