ACHR operates the Head Start program in Lee County, Alabama, and had some unused property at its Opelika Darden Head Start Center. The goals were to build some very affordable and attractive housing proximate to the school, maintain a strong sense of community and incorporate “a Southern influence” in the design. ACHR sought the services of a visiting architecture professor at Auburn University to provide the design. He arranged 42 townhouse buildings facing a common oval park at their center. Each unit has a “sitting porch,” complete with a tin roof to enjoy the summer showers common in this area. The center park offers a recreation area for children who can be easily observed by their parents from these generous porches.

This architect was licensed only in California; thus one of our tasks was to introduce him to an Alabama architect willing to collaborate on the project. We were successful in this, and the project won the “Partnerships in Excellence” Award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta that year.

We were also able to build this project entirely with a HOME loan provided by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority. This loan carries a ½% interest rate that accrues for 20 years. This has enabled the property to remain very affordable for its residents.