A long-declining area along the promising Grant Avenue Parkway corridor will be converted to sustainable, high-quality affordable housing through a public-private collaborative partnership that will play a key role in enhancing quality of place in downtown Springfield.
Officials with the City of Springfield, Flourish Community Development Corporation and DHTC Development LLC broke ground March 27 for the Nordic Landing apartment development on Catalpa just west of Grant Avenue. Nordic Landing is a transformative example of the most successful and impactful public private partnerships. It will establish a $9 million housing development adjacent to the $21 million Grant Avenue corridor infrastructure project. The project is financed through an allocation of federal and state housing tax credits, a conventional loan from Great Southern Bank and a HOME funds loan by the City of Springfield. This multi-family development will offer both one and two-bedroom designs and will offer mixed-income housing built to high quality, sustainable standards for those who will call Nordic Landing home.
Of the 41-unit development, eight units will be set aside to serve youth aging out of foster care. DHTC principal Debbie Shantz Hart spoke of the importance of providing support for this vulnerable population.
“An Annie E. Casey Foundation survey found, among young Missourians who’d been in foster care after their 17th birthday, 17% had experienced homelessness by age 21,” Hart said. “Providing quality affordable housing to stabilize this vulnerable population so that they can start work on securing employment and/ or furthering their education will offer foster youth a more traditional support system like other kids their age.”
Flourish CDC will serve as the nonprofit partner at Nordic Landing and provide staff to serve as a resource coordinator for all residents to assist them in accessing available community services. Flourish CDC also will assist other committed nonprofit service providers to deliver services. Other service providers include Foster Adopt connect, I Pour Life, Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Missouri Career Center, Burrell, Community Partnership of the Ozarks, and others.
Springfield Mayor Ken McClure highlighted the significance of the project as City officials work to carry out the vision of Springfield citizens in the Forward SGF comprehensive plan.
“The Grant Avenue Corridor Plan developed by the City of Springfield and Forward SGF consultants focused on the development of the area adjacent to the Grant Avenue infrastructure improvement project,” McClure said. “Nordic Landing is the first project to break ground along the Grant Avenue Corridor, addressing critical affordable workforce housing needs and contributing to the economic vitality of our community. The City is delighted to partner on this transformative development.”
Nordic Landing quick facts
- 41 units
- Eight units for foster youth
- One and two-bedroom unit designs
- Onsite neighborhood room and outdoor common space to encourage community connections
- Rents averaging $545 and $635 respective to bedroom size
- Mixed income project offering work force and market rate rents to create socio-economic diversity.