The Housing Authority of Columbus, Georgia, MercyMed and Columbia Residential Celebrate Grand Opening of The Banks At Mill Village

Ribbon Cutting, Affordable Housing, Atlanta, Columbia Residential

The grand opening of The Banks At Mill Village was celebrated Tuesday by Columbus Housing Authority, MercyMed, and Columbia Residential.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COLUMBUS, GA – April 19, 2023 – The Housing Authority of Columbus, Georgia, MercyMed, and Columbia Residential gathered with community leaders, partners, and residents this week to celebrate the grand opening of The Banks at Mill Village, the first phase of the Louis T. Chase Homes revitalization. Originally the former site of Louis T. Chase Homes, which included 108 units of public housing built in 1952 on the Chattahoochee River, Mill Village was awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in 2019, which enabled the new construction of 102 units of mixed-income housing. The new mixed-income housing development, located at 120 20th Street, was designed to complement the history of The Mill District, a Purpose-Built Community designated in 2019.

This unique and productive partnership between the development team of the Housing Authority of Columbus, Georgia, MercyMed, Columbia Residential, the City of Columbus, The Mill District, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, RBC Investments, Bank OZK, and Sugar Creek Capital has positioned The Banks at Mill Village for long-term affordability, and operational and financial sustainability.

The new community comprises four buildings with 91 affordable units (60% or below AMI) and 11 market-rate units. The 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartment homes feature spacious interiors with abundant natural light, fully equipped kitchens with ENERGY STAR® appliances, energy-efficient lighting, and fixtures for improved air quality and utility savings, luxury vinyl plank flooring, and ceramic tile baths. Other amenities include an on-site leasing office, community room, fitness center, on-site laundry, business center, playground, dog park, and community garden.

The Banks at Mill Village

A key feature of this development is the co‐location of the MercyMed Health Clinic, which provides preventative healthcare services conveniently located on‐site for the residents of The Banks at Mill Village, and existing patients. MercyMed is partnering with Mercer University School of Medicine to staff the clinic with a medical provider. Residents of the community will have access to primary medical on-site, and other services that are offered by MercyMed, including preventative dental, behavioral health, and wellness services.

The community is located within walking distance of Mercer University School of Medicine and is connected to the Columbus RiverWalk, providing multimodal travel between The Mill District, Uptown Columbus, and Fort Benning. Public transportation is conveniently located next to the property, providing access to area shopping, restaurants, and healthcare providers.

“This is a momentous occasion for The Mill District community,” said Lisa Walters, CEO of the Housing Authority of Columbus, Georgia. “The beautiful new residences you see today and the convenient co-location of MercyMed for preventive care will transform the lives of so many for years to come. We are so thankful to our community leaders, development and financing partners for their instrumental roles in making this dream a reality.”

“As a part of The Mill District Purpose Built Communities program, I’m excited about the economic opportunities that will be available to the residents,” said Carmen Chubb, president of Columbia Residential. “A key component of the Purpose Built model is housing, and The Banks at Mill Village supports the overall vision for The Mill District.”

“Healthcare is more than a medical clinic — it’s about the health of the people living in the community,” said Dr. Grant Scarborough, CEO of MercyMed. “We’ve been proud to serve the residents of The Mill District for over 11 years and are honored to continue serving the residents of this beautiful new community by promoting wellness — physically, mentally and spiritually — for future generations.”

FINANCING: This development received an allocation of Federal and State 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in November 2019. Other funding sources included HACG Moving to Work (MTW) funds, a private construction loan, funding from the City of Columbus, and deferred developer fees. The total development costs were $30 million.

CONTRACTORS: Capstone
ARCHITECTS: JHP
ENGINEERS: Long Engineering
GREEN BUILDING CONSULTANTS: SK Collaborative
ACCESSIBILITY CONSULTANTS: Terracon

SPEAKERS: The ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from the following speakers:

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