HOUSTON, TX (Tuesday, March 23, 2021) – The Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA), Harris County – Community Services Department (HCCSD), Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis, the Texas General Land Office (GLO), and the development partner LDG Development (LDG) celebrate the groundbreaking of Northwood Apartments, a multifamily development located at 12620 Eastex Freeway to replace housing lost during Hurricane Harvey. The development is financed with Harris County’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds in conjunction with private financing from Citi Community Capital and AEGON USA Realty Advisors, LLC.

This $53.9 million community’s groundbreaking will commence the development of 288 beautiful new apartment units for families seeking quality housing near the Eastex Freeway in the Shelvin Acres community. 

“We are honored to partner with LDG Development to build much-needed quality housing that is affordable for working families,” said Horace Allison, AIA, Executive Director and CEO of Harris County Housing Authority. “Northwood Apartments will replace housing resources lost during Hurricane Harvey and provide not only a place to live but the facilities and services to improve the lives of the families who will call this community home.”

Northwood Apartments will provide a wide array of amenities to the families it serves, including a swimming pool with a sun deck, a playground, and picnic/grilling areas.

“This project is one of sixteen the Harris County Community Services Department is supporting with the use of HUD CDBG Disaster Recovery funds in the effort to replenish housing stock lost from several past disasters,” said CSD Director Dr. Adrienne Holloway.  “These developments provide a significant investment in the effort to provide affordable housing for all who live and work in north Harris County.”

The apartments are expected to begin leasing in 2022, offering a mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom units. Rents will range from $396 to $865 for a one-bedroom/one-bath unit, $475 to $1,033 for a two-bedroom/two-bath, $551 to $1,240 for a three-bedroom/two-bath unit and $613 to $1,362 for a four-bedroom /two-bath unit.

“We are in a housing crisis. Families who were first displaced by natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey are now facing difficulty staying in the places they grew up because of rising costs,” said Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “As we face the economic impacts of COVID-19, which is placing additional strain on families, I am proud that we are coming together to bring new, quality housing units for Harris County families.”

This development will serve residents at incomes below 80% of area median income and is just one in an ongoing HCHA development program to work with private and public partners to address the housing shortage in Harris County.

“The Texas General Land Office is committed to helping Texas communities recover from the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Harvey,” said Heather Lagrone, Director of Disaster Recovery, Texas General Land Office. “This community is one of many multifamily developments the GLO is funding with long-term disaster recovery assistance to restore affordable rental housing for Texas families. We are very pleased these funds will provide an additional 288 units of quality housing for families in Harris County.”

The total development cost for the new community is $53.9 million, comprised of $42.4 million in private funding provided by Citibank Community Capital and AEGON USA Realty Advisors, LLC, and $11.5 million provided by Harris County Community Services Department using Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery funds from the Texas General Land Office.

“Access to quality, safe, and affordable housing helps families achieve many of the goals they have in life. Whether it is ensuring their children can thrive in school and pursue a post-secondary degree or certification; or pursuing a new job that will provide for greater financial stability; access to quality housing can help change the trajectory of a family’s life. That is why LDG remains committed to bringing more affordable housing to communities like Harris County that share this belief and are focused on helping more families find a place they can be proud to call home,” said Dru Childre, Development Coordinator LDG Development.

HCHA is currently developing more than 650 additional housing units scheduled to be brought into the Harris County housing rental market in 2022 to replace housing lost in Hurricane Harvey.