March 26, 2023 – East Carolina Community Development Inc. celebrated the grand opening of Wellington Grove apartments in Jacksonville on March 25.
The 88-unit apartment community provides safe, affordable housing to more than 200 residents and created three permanent jobs and 163 temporary ones.
Working with local subcontractors for 67 percent of the development’s needs, ECCDI achieved cost savings during construction while it enhanced the living environment and amenities at Wellington Grove. The community features playground facilities, an additional picnic shelter, glass-top ranges in the apartments and improved storm water drainage.
Wellington Grove was designed with families in mind and is located close to amenities and schools. It has large open areas for recreation and family-friendly amenities, such as picnic pavilions and separate playgrounds for children and toddlers. In addition, the clubhouse offers laundry facilities, a computer room and community gathering room.
Wellington Grove is funded in large part by tax credits from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, which ranked the property the number one site in the east during its 2011 tax credit application and review process. ECCDI also used a $202,469 grant from the City of Jacksonville’s Community Development Department.
“Our continued partnership with the City of Jacksonville has allowed us to bring quality affordable housing to hundreds of low-income families,” said Keith Walker, ECCDI’s chief executive officer and president. “This investment in the community plays an essential role in stabilizing our economy by creating jobs, growing the tax base and providing physical and financial security to families.”
Wellington Grove is the nonprofit’s eighth multi-family development in Jacksonville, where demand for affordable rental housing is high. ECCDI’s previous housing development, a multi-family community for seniors, had more than 100 people on the waiting list before construction was completed. Another senior housing development is in the pipeline to address some of that demand.
Visit www.eccdi.com for more information on Wellington Grove apartments.