The affordable housing units that currently sit on the site of a major downtown redevelopment project will be rebuilt down the street, officials said.
The current apartments operated by the Lawrenceville Housing Authority are in the shadow of City Hall, in part of an area that is slated for a $200 million makeover. The city announced Thursday that the aging Housing Authority units will be rebuilt in a new development about half a mile west, near the intersection of Scenic Highway and Constitution Boulevard.
It will be a $4 million project.
“Our goal with this project is long-term preservation of affordable housing,” Lejla Slowinski, executive director of the Lawrenceville Housing Authority, said in a news release. “Often times when cities redevelop their downtowns, affordable housing is just an afterthought. I commend the City of Lawrenceville for working collaboratively with us to provide viable, quality housing options for residents at all income levels.”
The new housing units will provide residents with “modern floor plans, upgraded amenities and improved energy efficiency,” city officials said. The development, which is still in the design stage but expected to be completed in early 2019, will also include a common area and a playground.
“This development will blend today’s new urban living style and walkable environment with affordable housing options for those in need,” Lawrenceville City Manager Chuck Warbington said.
The $200 million “South Lawn project” that is oustering the current affordable housing units is slated for 32 acres just south of downtown. It’s expected to offer more than 600 residential units, includes “urban-style” apartments and townhomes, single-family homes and “age-targeted” residences. Plans also call for about 15,000 square feet of retail space and a new “town green” in the middle of a central promenade.
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