Ground was broken Sunday in Mansfield on a $20 million affordable housing project that will take 12 to 16 months to complete. But plans for the project stretch back more than a decade for Bethlehem’s Pioneer Place, a living facility with 135, one and two bedroom units for tenants age 55 and older.
Pioneer Place is a project of Bethlehem Baptist Church on the west side of Mansfield. Bethlehem Baptist Church Senior Pastor, Dr. Michael Evans Sr. has led the process.
“We are standing on the shoulders of our fore parents – the pioneers of this city, former slaves, sharecroppers – the citizens of the past who made Mansfield a place where all could call her home,” said Evans. “Today, I believe, we mark the beginning of the renaissance for the West Broad corridor.”
Bethlehem Baptist Church, the oldest predominantly African-American church in Tarrant County, celebrated the groundbreaking Sunday for the $20 million quality affordable housing development with units as low as $400 a month.
The 113,500 square foot complex is under construction on 5.5 acres located at 1197 W. Broad St. The project will be built and managed by Carleton Residential Properties and Carleton Management Services.
Pioneer Place is the first major housing development in more than 50 years in the once economically-disadvantaged and impoverished sector of Mansfield. The church developed the Historic West Mansfield Texas Community Development Corporation to champion initiatives to enrich the community. The organization was able to obtain tax-exempt funds to construct the project with apartment homes for citizens 55 years and older.
It took more than 10 years to secure full ownership of the property where the complex will be built, years of failed attempts for a nine percent tax credit by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and an arduous review process by the City of Mansfield Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. Each time, Evans and church members stood together in full support.
“We know that we serve a God who majors in the impossible,” Evans said during the groundbreaking.
“Today begins a new day in the City of Mansfield and the West Broad corridor,” said Mansfield Mayor David Cook. Mansfield City Manager Clayton Chandler agreed.
“There is a real need for what is being built here,” said Chandler. “There’s been a need in Mansfield for a long time.”
The state-of-the-art development will include:
· 135 one and two-bedroom units
· Elevators
· Wi-Fi
· Cable accessibility
· Energy-star rated appliances
· Fitness center
· Business center
· Library
· Meeting rooms
· Green spaces
· Barbecue grills
· Gazebos
· Walking paths
· Community garden
The planned completion of Pioneer Place in Mansfield is summer 2019.
Bethlehem Baptist Church hosted several dignitaries at the groundbreaking. In addition to Mansfield Mayor David Cook and Mansfield City Manager Clayton Chandler, Texas state Sen. Konni Burton, Texas state Rep. Bill Zedler, and staff from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs were at the ceremony.