The Paces Foundation opens affordable apartments in Panama City Beach
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Tupelo Park apartment complex is located on Fernwood Street just south of Middle Beach Road.
It will have 47 units ranging from 2 and 3-bedroom apartments priced for middle-income families. The Paces Foundation has been developing the building for more than 4 years and says it brings new life to this part of the beach.
"I think that this area started to become, or this site in particular, started to become a blight on the neighborhood. And so I think that just having residents here, promotes a level of safety and community in this area. And so we're we're really happy about that," The Paces Foundation Chief Development Officer Steve Bauhan said.
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The Paces Foundation is no stranger to the Panhandle. Besides Tupelo Park, the non-profit also developed Panama Commons off of East 11th Street and Sherman Avenue in Panama City.
Developers say the apartment complex is here to help local residents get stable, affordable housing, no matter their situation.
Aisha Coleman is a future tenant who is living on her own for the first time. She says having an affordable housing option close to work has made a huge difference.
"It's not easy. I mean, being alone, especially when you, you know, you don't really, you don't have a family to live with and homelessness and stuff like that. It's definitely a Lord-made way," Coleman said.
Other future tenants say it is a great option for those on fixed incomes.
"The availability of places like this in this area is just so few and far between. If they are, we collect together made too much money or we did not make enough money at a lot of the places that we have inquired about. So this was like a dream in this area and this is where we want it to live," Tupelo tenants Jerry and Beth Callis said.
Construction is finished, but the complex will get a few more inspections before tenants can move in. The Paces Foundation is planning to build 4 more affordable housing complexes in the Panhandle.
For information and rental applications for Tupelo Park, click here.
