On Thursday, October 27, Harrison County Board of Supervisors President Kent Jones and Councilman Ron Roland joined with developer Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP) and South Mississippi Housing and Development Corporation (SMHD) to celebrate the ribbon cutting for North Park Estates in Gulfport.
North Park Estates is located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near the intersection of S. Carolina and Jackson Streets. The original site had 166 duplex-style apartment homes constructed in 1959 by the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. VIII (MRHA VIII) under the name L.C. Jones Public Housing.
In 2008, SMHD assumed ownership of North Park Estates from MRHA VIII. Over the years, many existing structures became uninhabitable, and 94 original units were demolished during the redevelopment.
“The redevelopment of the original L.C. Jones public housing site represents a tremendous investment in the North Gulfport community, said Justin Brooks, Executive Director of MRHA VIII and SMHD. “We are proud of the history that Mississippi Regional Housing Authority VIII and its non-profit development arm, South Mississippi Housing Development Corp. have forged in this vital community. We are even more proud to be a partner in this collaborative effort to assure future generations in North Gulfport have quality, affordable housing opportunities.”
The 37-acre site now has 80 newly constructed one, two- and three-bedroom duplex-style apartment homes. North Park Estates features new apartment and community amenities for residents, including off-street parking, individual patios, in-unit washers and dryers, a community clubhouse, a computer center and a playground.
North Park Estates is designated for families at 60 % area median income or below.
“In the 1970s, I spent a lot of time with family and friends who lived in this development when it was L.C. Jones Public Housing,” said Kent Jones, Harrison County District 4 Supervisor. “Those memories are special to me, but we need to think about the future, and the redevelopment of North Park Estates is not only exciting for the residents but good for the entire community.”
The development team includes SMHD, real estate developer GCHP, Jay Bearden Construction, and Allred Stolarski Architects.
“North Park Estates is a community that has played a significant role in providing affordable housing for Gulfport residents over the years,” said Kathy Laborde, GCHP President, and CEO. “This neighborhood is a great example of how GCHP works with partners to provide families across the Gulf Coast with quality affordable housing while investing in residents’ overall wellbeing with access to supportive services and community amenities.”
The project is financed by the Mississippi Home Corporation, Mississippi Regional Housing Authority VIII, Column Financial, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, its member institution Synovus, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, its member institution The Peoples Bank and Wells Fargo.
“It’s been an honor collaborating with Gulf Coast Housing Partnership and South Mississippi Housing and Development Corp. on revitalizing North Park Estates,” said Jason Aldridge, Managing Director, South Region for National Equity Fund. “We are inspired by our partners and the shared mission to create and preserve affordable housing to empower individuals and communities. Thanks to hard work and dedication, families in Gulfport now have a safe and stable place to call home.”