A housing development named for a historic Black theater is going up on Laney-Walker Boulevard at the site of a historic Catholic school.
The Lenox, a four-story complex of 64 units, will be open to residents earning up to 80% of the area median income, which is $69,900.
The development is a public-private partnership involving Augusta Housing and Community Development, Augusta Housing Authority, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Athens-based Parallel Housing and Woda Cooper Companies Inc.
Officials said The Lenox’s application had the high score for Georgia DCA’s 2022 award of of 4% low-income housing tax credits. It beat other local applicants, such as the Bon Air, to become the only Augusta recipient.
Funds for the $16 million development will come from several source, including federal and state low-income housing tax credits, as well as private activity bonds issued by the housing authority.
The development isn’t traditional public housing, but the housing authority was authorized to issue $7.79 million in bonds for the project, and to provide 20 project-based housing vouchers for residents.
City officials said a critical component in securing the state-allocated funding was the HCD’s commitment of a $640,000 HOME loan. It also has a $440,000 loan from United Bank, according to a news release.
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson said creating affordable housing is “one of my top priorities” as mayor.
“The Lenox addresses this need and will contribute to the continued revitalization of the downtown corridor,” he said.
The Lenox will include a four-story building with elevator, 25 one-bedroom units and 39 two-bedroom apartments. Approximately 4,000 square feet of commercial space will face Laney-Walker Boulevard.
The complex sits about two blocks from the former Lenox Theatre, which was torn down in the 1970s. The Lenox was the only Augusta movie and stage theater where Black patrons could sit in the front prior to integration, and James Brown reportedly won his first talent contest there.
The development sits on the historic former campus of the Immaculate Conception school, which was the area’s only Black Catholic school prior to integration. After the school moved to Telfair Street, the original location fell into disrepair and the church eventually sold it to the housing authority.
Parallel Housing, a nonprofit based in Athens, has partnered with Woda on multiple developments. Parallel Executive Director Gregg Bayard said the firm will aim for LEED gold certification, a standard that ensures sustainable, environmentally-friendly construction.
This will greatly benefit the residents through reduced energy consumption and better indoor air quality,” Bayard said.
Woda Management and Real Estate LLC will manage the property once it is built. For more information about The Lenox, write info@wodagroup.com or call 614-396-3200.
