Lennox House opened in 1951 as a 110-room hotel in Grand Prairie, Texas.
As motels became more abundant along Interstate 30, the property developed by Dallas real estate magnate Leo Corrigan drew fewer guests and fell into disrepair, closing in 1985. Several years later, National Church Residences converted the hotel to 40 housing units for vulnerable seniors under the federal Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) program in 1993.
The nonprofit is now ready for the next chapter in the property’s history and ensured its future as affordable housing. Lennox House recently became the state’s first Section 202 PRAC property to convert under the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration program using low-income housing tax credits. This allowed the property to move from the Section 202 program to long-term Section 8 assistance, creating new opportunities to access private capital and conduct needed repairs.
Under the $8.1 million effort, residents received fully renovated apartments. The substantial rehabilitation also included the addition of enhanced mobility features and mechanical ventilation to improve air quality. Residents also have a new community garden and outdoor space.
Lennox House is home to seniors 62 and older with incomes less than 50% of the area median income (AMI). Most have incomes less than 30% of the AMI.
In addition to preserving the building, National Church Residences has obtained a new 20-year project-based rental assistance contract for all units.
“The project is preserving critical affordable housing for our aging seniors,” says Tracey Fine, senior director of housing development at National Church Residences. “As part of the preservation, Lennox House is also contributing to the overall revitalization of downtown Grand Prairie.”
Across from City Hall, the development is in the heart of the city and pivotal to an areawide rejuvenation effort.
