Eight units in Davis are move in ready as community deliberates on what project to take on next
Together with the local supporters and state champions who made this project possible, Woodlands celebrated completing the Blackwater Avenue Apartment project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project provides two units of handicap accessible and six units of family/workforce housing in Davis. As with all Woodlands projects the units are constructed with green building practices and provide a healthy, energy-efficient, and affordable living environment. A local preference gives Tucker County residents priority for available units.
“This project is an example of Woodlands’ commitment to responding to community-identified needs,” said Executive Director Dave Clark. “We hope that successful projects like this lead to further private and non-profit housing developments, a stronger workforce, and a more robust community.”
Congressman David McKinley, who has been an important supporter of Woodlands, was in attendance. McKinley stated that, “We need more groups like Woodlands who are willing to take risks on projects like this. One of the constant issues we hear about in communities is the need for quality housing, and that is especially true in Tucker County. This project is a great example of how a community can work together to address a need and provide housing so people who work here can live here. I applaud Woodlands Development Group for making this project a reality.”
Workforce housing is badly needed in Tucker County where the average listing prices and property values have risen exponentially in the past three years and long-term rental units are being converted to vacation rentals. Local business’s abilities to keep their doors open or expand are dependent on the development of housing units like these that are affordable for working families and individuals.
Nate Testman noted that the WV Housing Development Fund was proud to partner on this project and he thanked Woodlands, “for its continued commitment to the development of affordable housing.” He went on to say that “We know affordable housing can change lives and is the cornerstone of healthy communities, which is why projects like this are so important not only in Davis but throughout the state.”
Woodlands Development and Lending works to develop affordable and workforce housing, drive downtown development, increase community capacity, and provide small business support and lending services to the communities in our service area. Woodlands Development and Lending is an Elkins based Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and Financial Institution (CDFI) that serves Randolph, Barbour, and Tucker Counties.
For further information about Woodlands please visit our website at woodlandswv.org