NEW ORLEANS—Volunteers of America (VOA) has thrown open the doors to The Terraces on Tulane, a 200-unit community for low-income seniors.
The Mid-City development is part of the nonprofit’s pledge to build 1,000 units of affordable housing destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“The courage, the faith. and the stories of these and the other seniors who are returning are truly remarkable,” said VOA President Charles W. Gould. “Their strength has furthered our resolve and commitment to help rebuild New Orleans and provide affordable housing that allows residents to return to the city, re-establish lost communities, and rebuild their lives. Volunteers of America has been part of this community for more than a century and will continue to play an active role in recovery efforts here and throughout the Gulf Coast region.”
The $43 million Terraces on Tulane is built on a transit-oriented infill site that was once the site of the local Social Security Administration office.
It replaces Forest Towers, located in New Orleans East, which closed after suffering heavy damage from Katrina. Many former Forest Towers residents have reunited after recently moving into the new community.
Developers like the new location because it allows the seniors to be close to the Tulane Avenue health-care corridor and public transportation.
The development includes a commercial kitchen, computer lab, hair salon, fitness center, and medical exam rooms. The Terraces on Tulane was also built to meet green building standards.
Construction of the new project was funded through a partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, JPMorgan Chase, the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, the city of New Orleans, and the Major League Baseball Players Trust. The development is one of a small number of Gulf Opportunity Zone low-income housing tax credit projects to have finished construction and opened to residents, according to VOA officials.
The organization has had a presence in New Orleans since 1896 and has been a leader in rebuilding affordable housing after the hurricane. In August 2007, it opened the renovated Duvernay Residence, a 70-unit facility for formerly homeless adults.
Construction is under way at Chateau Carre in Gentilly, which will offer 150 affordable apartments, and at Mile Branch Creek in Covington, which will have 94 mixed-income units.
