Decatur Housing and Preserving Affordable Housing Inc. (PAHI) have announced the groundbreaking for the second phase of the Village at Legacy project, designed to bring affordable housing to the increasingly expensive Decatur area.
This initiative is set to create a unique community that combines affordable housing with greenspace, located near the city’s southern limits.
The Village at Legacy marks the first new construction of attainable housing for families in Decatur in several decades.
Over the past 15 years, Decatur Housing and PAHI have redeveloped and acquired over 630 units throughout the city.
As phase one nears completion, new residents are expected to begin moving in later this year at the intersection of South Columbia Drive and Katie Kerr Drive, situated at the southern edge of the 77-acre Legacy Park.
The first phase consists of 66 housing units, including duplexes and garden-style apartments, specifically reserved for qualifying low-income families, according to officials from Decatur Housing.
In terms of pricing, current rents at Village at Legacy start at $1,000 per month for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit with an area of 658 square feet.
On the other end of the spectrum, the largest units, which include three bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,263 square feet, are listed at $1,800 per month.
Site plans reveal that phases one and two will encompass 11 residential buildings arranged around a central greenspace commons and a U-shaped parking lot, highlighted by a community center at the heart of the development.
Most of the new residential structures are designed as three stories tall, while three of them will be two stories high.
Upon completion of phase two, the Village at Legacy project will comprise a total of 132 townhomes and apartments, which cater to families with one to three bedrooms, spread out over approximately 6 acres of parkland.
Notable attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony include Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, DeKalb County CEO Lorrain Cochran-Johnson, and Decatur Housing CEO and Executive Director Larry H. Padilla, among others.
The Village at Legacy project has been in development for more than seven years, initiated as home prices in Decatur soared beyond the reach of many working families.
As reported in May, the median sales price for homes in Decatur was a striking $685,000, reflecting a nearly 10 percent increase from the previous year, according to Redfin analytics.
The City of Decatur acquired the land for Legacy Park, previously the United Methodist Children’s Home property, in 2017.
By late 2019, after a comprehensive planning process, the city established a master plan to address affordable housing goals for Village at Legacy.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Decatur leaders partnered with Decatur Housing and PAHI to advance the project.
An Intergovernmental Agreement exists between Decatur Housing and PAHI, stipulating the development, ownership, and operation of the South Housing Village’s affordable housing, while the city retains ownership of the land.
In addition to access to Decatur’s schools, jobs, and health services, the project will offer amenities including a running track, orchard, community garden, inclusive playground, and enhanced greenspaces, according to site plans.
Decatur Housing plans to roll out a services program to assist all residents as well.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has awarded Low Income Housing Tax Credits to facilitate the project’s development phases, with extra funding sourced from both the city and Decatur Housing.
Adding to the project’s attractiveness, the PATH Foundation’s 1.2-mile East Decatur Greenway trail runs adjacent to the site, providing a convenient off-street connection to the Avondale MARTA station located on College Avenue.
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