Construction wrapping up on affordable housing complex in Madison

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — More affordable housing is about to open in Madison, but this development is about much more than housing. It includes resources from job training to books, and you can help.

Construction is almost finished at a new affordable housing complex in Madison called the Birchstone Village. The nearly $80 million project has been in the works for years, headed by the Nashville-based Trent Development Group.

“We know there’s been so many new people moving to Nashville and our housing affordability has skyrocketed, so it’s definitely a problem that needs to be tackled,” said McKenzie Trent, a developer for the project.

Residents currently living at an affordable housing complex at the corner of Porter Road and Cahal Avenue in the Inglewood community have the option to relocate to the new space, with moving expenses paid by the development group. Meanwhile, their current building is considered old and will eventually be torn down.

“It started as a Section 8, 195-unit Section 8 that’s in Inglewood, and it sort of completed its life and we were looking at what to do, what do we do with these families that are here…So voucher holders, that’s basically rent, and the issue is we’ve got lots of people that have vouchers, we don’t have that many places that want to accept them.”

The complex will also be open for the public to apply, and the Birchstone Village’s family center will be full of amenities. In partnership with Nashville nonprofit Family Affair Ministries, there will be Social Service resources, job training, a full commercial kitchen, small classrooms, and even a library for kids who will live at the complex that the community can donate to.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback so far. People are really excited and eager to contribute,” said Trent.

With applications for some of the units available set to open in the Fall, the project was made possible with a mixture of federal and local funding, including a $1.5 million grant from the Nashville’s Barnes Housing Trust Fund.

“We wanted to create this space where not only this place can feel like a real community instead of sort of a transient, constant turnover of people,” Trent told News 2.

If you’re interested in signing up for the housing, contact relocation@fcpnet.com.