PARKLANE VILLAS CLOSE TO COMPLETION IN BRENHAM
The second phase of the Brenham Housing Authority’s public housing project is nearing completion.
The Parklane Villas Apartments, an 80-unit apartment complex at 800 Hosea Street near Henderson Park, held an open house and ribbon cutting Monday afternoon.
Parklane Villas is being built by a partnership between the Washington County Housing Corporation, real estate developer HuntJohn LLC of Houston, and investment firm Raymond James.
Brenham Housing Authority Executive Director Ben Menjares says the Amenities Center and first building of housing for Parklane Villas has been completed, with the next four buildings expected to be approved by the city within the next month. He also says people will begin moving into new units next month, with about 60 people moving from existing public housing units, and 20 from a waiting list.
Menjares says these new units will replace 80 old public housing units. Once all of the tenants are transferred, the old units will be demolished.
The Brenham Housing Authority is working through the HUD-sponsored Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program. The program allows private investors to fund the construction and remodeling efforts.
It also converts units from the public housing program into the Section 8 Project-Based Voucher platform. These vouchers are tied to a specific unit, and help the tenant with rent payments. Residents pay roughly 30 percent of their income towards rent.
Menjares says RAD maintains public stewardship of converted property, through rules regarding ownership and use. The Brenham Housing Authority will have controlling interest in ownership and management, while investors will keep limited ownership of the units.
The first phase of the project began in 2016, with the rehabbing of 66 public housing units at Northview Village. The phase was completed in 2017, with total development costs around $5.5 million. Menjares says, as the remodeling was being done, tenants were temporarily moved to other available housing units, and were moved back once it was complete.
This second phase began in late 2017, with construction beginning in January. Development costs are expected around $11 million. Menjares says that, while rain has delayed the project, construction is still ahead of schedule. He expects to have everything completed and fully operational by December 31st, at close to 100 percent occupancy.