Construction broke ground Wednesday on the $12.5 million Mason Village Project, a community of 77 townhouses adjacent to the Mason Temple, the Church of God and Christ (COGIC) world headquarters in Memphis.
The 6.3 acre development along E.H. Crump and Fourth, scheduled to be completed by July 2018, will be designated for low-income households with children.
The project is a partnership of the COGIC leadership, John Stanley real estate development company, and the city’s Division of Housing and Community Development, who provided $4 million of funding for the project.
The townhomes will be 2- and 3-bedroom units spread over 30 buildings. There will also be a “community” building, which will house a state-of-the-art computer lab where community computer classes will take place. The community center will also have a gym and spaces for parties and lounging.
CEO of John Stanley, Saki Middleton said helping people be healthy and educated is a major component of the project.
Middleton added that the project aims to provide large families with adequate, affordable living spaces, serving families whose incomes are between $20,000 and $40,000 annually. The rent each family pays will be based on their income and the size of their household and will average between $600 and $1000 a month.
However, Middleton said no household will spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent.
Mayor Jim Strickland said he thinks the Mason Village will show “the community we care” and “provide safe, healthy, affordable housing to people who otherwise might not be able to afford it.”
“Our destiny in this city to me is in our core city,” Strickland said. “Today we celebrate one more meaningful project that will help us reach our goal of a vibrant core Memphis.”