1st residents of Beechwood mixed-income housing community in New Albany expected to move in this summer

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) -- Just months after the demolition of the barrack-style community in the Beechwood Neighborhood, a new vision of public housing is on the horizon.

The New Albany Housing Authority is developing a mixed-income community in place of what previously existed, and the first residents will move in this summer.

"We're coming along really, really well," David Duggins, director of the New Albany Housing Authority, said Tuesday.

Just months ago, Duggins stood on the property covered in brick and debris left behind from the demolition. His vision for the future of this neighborhood remains unchanged: lead the way for the future of mixed-income housing.

"It served its purpose," Duggins said of the barrack-style units. "It did a great job housing people for a number of years. (The new development) is going to do a great job housing people over the next 50 years, too."

The roughly $25 million project is being funded by a tax credit, a bank loan and an additional $2.5 million from the City of New Albany's American Rescue Plan dollars.

The first phase, consisting of single-family homes and duplexes, is expected to wrap up this summer. All four phases should be finished by spring of 2025.

The units and amenities help accommodate the residents to the entire community despite residents having to qualify for the spaces. Each resident will pay a maximum of 30% of their income.

"All of those things go into creating community, and that's our real goal here, community," Duggins said.

With each passing day of work, the vision for this newly imagined community looms on the horizon.

"As long as (residents) have pride in it and we do a good job of upkeep, I think it's going to be a perfect addition to the neighborhood," Duggins said.

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