Austin, Sept. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson and Federal Housing Commissioner Brian Montgomery will join the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA), its development partners Atlantic | Pacific Communities and Madhouse Development Services, and the Austin community to celebrate the groundbreaking of HACA’s first redevelopment of one of its public housing properties, Goodrich Place. The event will take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 19 at 2126 Goodrich Ave.
The new community – renamed Pathways at Goodrich Place – is located in the Zilker Neighborhood, one of Austin’s highest opportunity areas. The property is being redeveloped as part of HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), a bold federal initiative to improve the quality and availability of federally assisted housing. According to HUD, Pathways at Goodrich Place represents the 100,000th public housing unit being converted through RAD. The redevelopment will result in significant quality of life improvements for residents and the community.
“We are honored to have Secretary Carson, Commissioner Montgomery, and Council Member Kitchen join us for the Goodrich groundbreaking,” said HACA President Michael Gerber. “The new Goodrich Place will mean better housing and better services for our existing residents, and added affordable units in one of Austin’s highest opportunity neighborhoods.”
Through the RAD Program, all 40 existing public housing units at Goodrich Place have been removed. HACA was recently awarded $15 million in competitive housing tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the construction of new units at the property. This is the first time in HACA’s 80-year history that the agency has applied for competitive housing tax credits. The new mixed-income development will consist of 120 apartment homes in a new three-story wrap style building with affordable one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. All current Goodrich residents will have the right to return to the property once construction is complete.
Pathways at Goodrich Place will include improvements like a fully-furnished clubhouse, business center with computer and internet access, fitness center, onsite laundry facilities, playground, and community meeting room. Updated unit features will include washer and dryer hookups, walk-in closets, covered patios and balconies, high-speed cable and internet access, 9-foot ceilings, and green features like Energy-Star or equivalent rated appliances. Residents will have access to onsite health and wellness programs, youth enrichment activities and job training opportunities.
WHAT: HACA, Atlantic | Pacific Communities and Madhouse Development Services celebrate the groundbreaking of Pathways at Goodrich Place, HACA’s first redevelopment of one of its public housing properties. WHEN: 11 a.m. Sept. 19
WHERE: Pathways at Goodrich Place, 2126 Goodrich Avenue, Austin, Texas 78704
WHO: Dignitaries invited to speak at the event include:
- HUD Secretary Ben Carson
- Federal Housing Commissioner Brian Montgomery
- State Representative Gina Hinojosa
- HACA President & CEO Michael Gerber
- Madhouse Development President Henry Flores
- Goodrich Resident Council President Jerry Dawson
- Austin City Council Member Ann Kitchen
About Housing Authority of the City of Austin: Established in 1937, the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) is one of the highest performing public housing authorities in the United States. HACA provides housing or rental assistance to more than 22,000 low-income persons in the City of Austin. HACA’s has been nationally recognized for the quality of its communities, and innovative partnerships in health care, education, job training, and digital inclusion. For more information, visit www.hacanet.org.
About Atlantic | Pacific Communities: Atlantic | Pacific Communities (A|P Communities) is a national multifamily development company dedicated to excellence in market rate, workforce, and affordable housing. Since the mid 1970s, A|P currently has under management more than 36,000 residential units in over 140 properties and more than 500,000 square feet of commercial space. A|P is dedicated to the highest level of support and satisfaction found within the industry. For more information, visit www.apcompanies.com.
About Madhouse Development Services: Since 1999, Madhouse Development Services, Inc., based in Austin, has been established in the multifamily housing industry, providing expertise in the areas of finance, development, construction and asset management of quality affordable and market-rate rental housing. For more information, visit www.madhousedevelopment.net.