Houston City Council approves new construction of senior affordable apartment homes

City is investing $10.25 million in Harvey Recovery funds to build new senior apartment complex in Historic Third Ward.

June 30, 2021 -- HOUSTON – Houston City Council has unanimously approved a $10.25 million loan towards new construction of an independent living senior community located at 3345 Elgin Street, 77004. During Hurricane Harvey, many buildings throughout Houston were damaged, leaving residents, including seniors, without secure and affordable homes. Using Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery funds, nonprofit developers NHP Foundation and Change Happens Community Development Corporation will construct replacement apartments in an area at lower risk of flooding to ensure the safety of residents for the future.

The new complex, called The Citadel, will offer 74 studio and one-bedroom apartment units. The proposed complex will include on-site services and amenities such as exercise classes, social events and a food pantry. The property is close to neighborhood amenities such as grocery stores, a multi-service center, parks and schools. Serving low- to moderate-income seniors, certain numbers of units will be designated for different levels of income. Each unit will be made affordable for forty years, and net rents will range from $343 - $963 per month, depending on unit size and the household’s income. With its location in the Third Ward, the development adds to the revitalization of an historic area and will provide seniors with access to key resources and services.

"We are thrilled to help bring a senior apartment community to the Third Ward,” said Tom McCasland, director of the City’s Housing and Community Development Department. “A large national nonprofit and a local nonprofit with roots in the community, partnering together, and using funds from different sources can have a tremendous impact on the number of affordable homes available to those who most need it.”

The developers are NHP Foundation and Change Happens Community Development Corporation. NHP is a national nonprofit developer, responsible for the new construction or rehabilitation of 90 multifamily properties. They are leveraging their capacity and experience to partner with Change Happens, a local nonprofit community development organization.

The City of Houston’s Harvey Multifamily Program, launched in mid-2019, will provide a total of $450 million to rehabilitate and build apartment homes across the city. The 34 developments supported through the program will create over 3,900 apartments, including more than 1,200 apartments for seniors. The Harvey Multifamily Program is providing $10.25 million of the total $28 million project cost for The Citadel.

The City of Houston Housing and Community Development (HCD) makes long-term investments to better the lives of Houston residents by creating opportunities for every Houstonian to have a home they can afford in a community where they can thrive. Our department will spend approximately $350 million in federal, state, and local funding this fiscal year to construct and maintain affordable homes, reduce barriers to homeownership, support the work of social service providers, build public amenities, and facilitate disaster recovery efforts. Learn more about programs and resources for Houstonians at www.houstontx.gov/housing.