One Emancipation Center: A Place to Gather, Do Business and Develop Affordable Housing
(view from One Emancipation Center)
One Emancipation Center will soon open, serving as a hub for affordable housing initiatives, office space, and community gatherings. Located in the heart of Third Ward, across the street from Emancipation Park, it’s more than a new building; it is a symbol of rebirth for the neighborhood.
“People are very aware and excited about what’s to come,” said Sean Haley, interim executive director of the Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement (CCPPI), which is working in cooperation with the Midtown Redevelopment Authority (MRA) to provide affordable housing in the area.
In addition to office space and a community room for events and meetings, One Emancipation Center also includes a 20-unit apartment complex. CCPPI Housing Manager Algenita Scott Davis predicts dozens of applications will be submitted the day the rental units go on the market.
“We are looking for tenants who already live in the neighborhood and want to stay there,” said Davis. “We won’t have any problems finding them because people are already driving by to take a look.”
The apartments, which range in size from 600 to 900 square feet, were built in the same style as the nearby Project Row Houses artist studios. There are 18 one-bedroom units and two studio apartments. The third floor features high ceilings and skylights that create a feeling of openness. There are also apartments designed for the disabled.
One Emancipation Center is part of a broader effort to add approximately 1,000 new, affordable homes in Third Ward and the surrounding area. The housing is available to first-time homebuyers who can meet income requirements that are generous enough that many working-class individuals and families qualify. Applicants must complete basic financial education.
Our next blog post will delve more into the requirements for potential homebuyers. Interested buyers can reach out to the Houston Area Urban League for more information.