On Wednesday, June 6, the Atlanta Housing team was joined by representatives of Columbia Residential, JM Wilkerson, Wells Fargo, Sweetwater Capital, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, as well as City of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, to celebrate the return of residents to Tenth and Juniper, an affordable 149-unit community for seniors and the non-elderly disabled.

Renovations began at the high-rise, located in Atlanta's sought-after midtown neighborhood, in November 2016. Construction is complete, and the property is being re-occupied. Current residents include 48 former residents, with an additional three whose return is anticipated soon. During renovations, residents were relocated to other affordable housing with the option to return.

"Days like today are what we work so very hard for," said Brandon Riddick-Seals, interim president and CEO of Atlanta Housing. "Our seniors deserve quality, well-maintained units in communities that provide access to the services they need. Tenth and Juniper hits all the marks, and the success of this project proves what we can do with respect to affordable and equitable housing when the public and private sectors are strategic and collaborate."

Noel Khalil, CEO of Columbia Residential, the development partner for the renovation project, agreed. He said, "Tenth and Juniper is an example of public private partnership that achieves a very high ideal of providing the finest in affordable housing."

Atlanta Housing has leased the land to Columbia Residential and continues to subsidize rents at the property. Columbia Residential owns and manages the building and manages the property's waiting list. They are currently focused on the effort to bring the community to full occupancy.

Renovation of Tenth and Juniper High-rise was accomplished through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Rental Assistance Demonstration program, which allows public agencies to leverage public and private funding to reinvest in existing public housing. Residents continue to pay the same rent and maintain the same rights.