Since 2010, Woodlawn United has been an organization committed to the revitalization of the Woodlawn community of Birmingham, Alabama. This includes ensuring that residents of Woodlawn – regardless of their income – have access to healthy food, quality education, public transportation, and stable employment. 

“But housing is the number one thing that should happen for any family,” said Joe Ayers, Chief Community Development Officer at Woodlawn United. “Before I can really focus on anything else, my housing needs to be stable.” 

That’s why Woodlawn United has partnered with a dynamic group of collaborators to build an affordable housing community of eight rental cottages and 12 townhomes on Georgia Road in Woodlawn. The project is made possible through a partnership with the Alabama Housing Finance Authority, the City of Birmingham, the Housing Authority Birmingham District (HABD), and Navigate Affordable Housing Partners and South State Bank. 

Impact Investing

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has also supported this endeavor by offering a low-interest loan to Woodlawn United for phase one of the project. This loan, offered at a 2 percent interest rate, is one of the Community Foundation’s first-ever impact investments. Impact investing is strategically invested capital that makes a positive social impact in local neighborhoods while providing a small financial return. Donors can also contribute to impact investing projects through their Donor Advised Funds at the Community Foundation. 

“It’s sometimes difficult to get banks to loan funds in areas where appraisals don’t support the value,” Ayers explained. “So, organizations like the Community Foundation, by offering access to low-cost bridge funding for real estate development, gives us a resource that would be difficult to secure using traditional lending practices. 

The newly developed community will provide housing for HABD residents whose incomes are below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI). The maximum amount a family of four can earn at 30% of AMI in Alabama is just over $28,000 a year, Ayers explained. 

“These are families who traditionally might not have access to resources you’d find in flourishing communities.” 

The eight cottages of phase one will be marketed to extremely low-income individuals and families and will be leased units. 

The development will be built on 2.8 acres of land in Woodlawn, next to another apartment complex also built by Woodlawn United, the Park at Wood Station. Through the years, Woodlawn United has built more than 100 houses and apartments in the Woodlawn neighborhood.  

The rental homes of phase one will be roughly 900 square feet with two bedrooms and one bathroom. 

“The Housing Authority will provide vouchers to offset the rent,” Ayers said. 

Building Opportunities

The location of the homes is intentional and important.

“The Cottages on Georgia Road are about four blocks from downtown Woodlawn,” Ayers explained. “What’s in downtown Woodlawn? Well, you have access to restaurants and entertainment as well as healthcare, public transportation, and retail. You have all that within four blocks of where the Cottages of Georgia Road are being built. That’s what makes this project important.” 

Ayers said the team at Woodlawn United hopes to have the eight cottages completed and move-in ready by early 2026. And Ayers believes phase one of the project will lay the necessary groundwork for phase two, the construction of 12 affordable townhomes that will be available for purchase. These 12 units will be marketed at affordable prices for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families. 

 “At Woodlawn United, we believe in a mixed-income housing strategy,” Ayers said, adding that projects like the Cottages and Townhomes at Georgia Road help to make Woodlawn a more welcoming and inclusive community. 

“Regardless of income, you can come to Woodlawn,” he said. “There’s a place for you.” 

Furthermore, Ayers hopes that the Cottages and Townhomes at Georgia Road and other affordable housing efforts in Woodlawn can serve as a model for the city of Birmingham as a whole. 

“There’s a lot of opportunity around the city for redevelopment,” Ayers said. “No one should be excluded from having an opportunity to grow and thrive in our city. We want to be a part of that solution.” 

Learn more about Woodlawn United’s mixed-income housing initiatives here.