Edison Lofts affordable rental homes to revitalize Fort Bend community
City’s Harvey Multifamily Program continues to aid in recovery with second completed development
August 12, 2021 -- HOUSTON - The Edison Lofts community of 126 mixed-income apartment homes in Houston Fort Bend County celebrated its grand opening on August 12, 2021. This development, the second completed through the City of Houston’s Harvey Multifamily Program, provides affordable homes complete with an on-site Pre -K Early Learning Center, a clubhouse, and community gathering spaces. Resiliency features for the development include solar panels that offset 100% of the electrical cost for the community center and leasing office.
“Edison Lofts brings resilient, affordable homes to Fort Bend in an environment that caters to community enrichment with multiple amenities on-site, including a quality Pre-K Early Learning Center,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “The learning center will improve the lives of future generations by significantly benefiting the children’s school readiness. This development looks beyond creating homes to creating a community where families can thrive.”
Fort Bend Houston is a Complete Communities Neighborhood. The Complete Communities Initiative, launched by Mayor Turner in April 2017, is focused on improving ten historically underserved and under-resourced neighborhoods. Complete Communities works across private, public, and nonprofit sectors to collectively overcome economic, environmental, and equity challenges in these communities.
Nearly 90% of the one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment units at Edison Lofts will be designated for low- to moderate-income households. Fort Bend ISD will operate the adjacent Pre-K Early Learning Center, providing a curriculum that meets the standards of the school district. All residents of Edison Lofts Apartments will have free access to the Pre-K Center, offering significant convenience; the school will also be open to the surrounding community. Nearby amenities include access to public transportation, grocery stores, health centers, public parks, and outdoor recreation areas, as well as a neighborhood library and Houston Community College Southwest.
The Harvey Multifamily Program not only replaces homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey, it adds to the supply of homes that will be safe from future storms at rental rates that are manageable for low- and moderate-income renters. The program, which began accepting applications for developments in early 2019, is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and overseen by the Texas General Land Office.
Speaking on behalf of DWR Development Group, developer and one of Edison Lofts’ owners, Donna Rickenbacker said, “Investing in communities and creating spaces that enable a positive and healthy lifestyle and educational opportunities is as important as constructing resilient buildings that people call ‘home.’ We are proud of the results and excited to watch this community thrive and grow.”
The total cost of Edison Lofts is approximately $26 million, $8 million of which is provided by the Harvey Multifamily Program. Most of the other funding is provided through tax credits and private lenders. For additional information on Edison Lofts, visit https://edisonloftsapts.com/features.html .
For additional information on the developments funded through Houston’s Harvey Multifamily Program, please see recovery.houstontx.gov/multifamily .
The City of Houston Housing and Community Development (HCD) makes long-term investments to improve 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 invest approximately $450 million in federal, state, and local funds 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 https://houstontx.gov/housing.
