Woda Cooper Companies Inc. and Parallel Housing Inc. celebrated the opening of Prior Farms in Madison with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 16. The $18.5 million development features 40 single-family rental homes at 1001 Harrow Street, adjacent to the Carmichael Commons townhomes.
The Tuesday morning event took place six months after the co-developers hosted a grand opening for the Carmichael Commons living units and a groundbreaking ceremony for Prior Farms. The more recent development is the second phase of Woda Cooper Companies and Parallel Housing Inc.’s Carmichael Commons development.
Multiple individuals spoke during the ceremony, including Madison Mayor Fred Perriman and representatives of Woda Cooper Companies.
Tommy Lowmon, senior vice president of development for Woda Cooper Companies, made opening remarks during the event. He emphasized the importance of the partnership with Parallel Housing for such projects.
“Parallel Housing is instrumental in everything that we do here in Georgia; we love to build affordable homes and keep them in perpetuity so people have a good place to live,” Lowmon said.
“It is important that our partnerships are very sound, and so one of those [is Parallel Housing]; they looked at the energy efficiency and sustainability to make sure that these are great homes for people to live in.”
Perriman later spoke to the audience, noting Prior Farms is an example of the city’s efforts to address “housing needs” in Madison.
“Prior Farms is a development that truly reflects our commitment to meeting the housing needs of our community,” Perriman said. “Madison families and employees continue to benefit from strong housing partners like Woda Cooper Companies and Parallel Housing, who are committed to creating quality, affordable homes for our residents.”
Perriman added that the need for affordable housing is dire for “upscale communities,” such as the City of Madison, as employees enter the local workforce.
“If we rely solely on the private market, Madison will have no options for employees entering into our workforce, and young people who want to move back home and start a family,” Perriman said. “This neighborhood proves that these developers will listen to community needs and leaders like Madison’s Get Housing team, to provide a product that works to meet real community priorities. So, as we cut this ribbon, we’re not just opening doors to new homes, we’re opening doors to opportunities, stability, and a stronger future for the great city of Madison.”
According to a recent press release from Woda Cooper Companies, Prior Farms features four one-bedroom homes, 20 two-bedroom homes, and 16 three-bedroom homes. Four of the homes are offered at the market rate without any income restrictions, and the remaining 36 singlefamily homes are “reserved for renters with household incomes up to 60 percent of the area median income.”
Shortly before the ceremony concluded, Crystal Ross, a Prior Farms resident, shared a testimony about moving into her new home.
She said she previously lived in apartments with her children and is happy to call the new space her home finally.
“I have always lived in apartments and know what it feels like never to have a home, and I remember applying for so many different things, and I got denied. It’s so discouraging when you’re working hard and trying to accomplish things, and it seems like you’re never gonna get there,” Ross said. “For my children and me, when I make this turn [onto the street], I just look at the beauty of the property, the families whose lives are changed, and for the first time, Thanksgiving was hosted at my house.”