COGIC opens 20 new affordable housing units in Downtown Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Church of God in Christ leaders unveiled a new affordable housing building last week. Applications for the apartment units are being accepted.

There are 20, one-bed, one-bath 700-square-feet units available at 280 Vance Flats. COGIC Director of Economic Development, Darin Burns, said the complex adds to their 80 income-based units at Owens Place Townhomes next door.

“The quote I use is the same one that Paul Young uses: ‘a downtown for everyone,” Burns said. “And so, we want to make downtown affordable for anyone who lives here, regardless of your economic status of anything of that sort.”

According to Habitat for Humanity, rent prices across the nation rose 12% from March 2021 to March of this year. a statistic COGIC leaders say is the driver of the price they plan to set for 280 Vance Flats. The average price of a one-bedroom apartment is around $1,000 according to several apartment finder websites.

“That is our goal. That is our target, to make it under what the threshold is right now because again, our motto is ‘affordable housing for downtown,” said Burns.

In 2017 COGIC joined forces with city leaders to create an affordable housing community called Mason Village. Five years later, leaders said they want to reach more areas of the metropolitan.

“Our presiding bishop, Bishop J.D. Sheard, is passionate about increasing affordable housing,” Burns explained. “So, our plan is to hopefully build another 100+ units in downtown, and in south Memphis we desire to build senior housing. Also, the Frayser community is another community we plan to impact with affordable housing.”

To apply to live at 280 Vance Flats, contact COGIC.

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