NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The city's largest public housing neighborhood has been set to get a massive, multi-million dollar makeover.
The plan has been to rebuild James A. Cayce Homes and replace them with housing units, mini parks and retail space.
It’s all happening near 5th and Summer Place, where officials held a groundbreaking Friday.
Several city and state leaders attended the groundbreaking on what will be the first new public housing in Davidson County in 18 years.
The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency has had big plans for East Nashville's James A. Cayce Homes, and residents who were there for the big unveiling were excited.
“I feel like this is going to be something good, good for everybody in the community,” a resident said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Soon the $11 million, 70 unit apartment building will go up, and when it’s completed, 300 of the old Cayce apartments will come down.
The long term plan for Envision Cayce has included about 128,000 feet of retail space and mixed income housing.
All 2000 residents will be moved into the new homes once they’re built, and they'll never have to pay more than 30 percent of their income.
“Without HUD support and the U.S. government support, this would not have been possible,” said Jim Harbison, of MDHA. “Roughly 90 percent of the funds that support this project come from federal government.”
For many of the residents, it’s a blessing. They said they’ve been wanting a nicer place to live but can't afford the rising cost of rent in Nashville.
Of course this will be a long project, but they have hopes phase one will be completed and people will be moving in by the summer of 2017.
