By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
The Del Rio Housing Authority’s board, along with some local elected officials, broke ground Feb. 12 on a new senior housing development at 1001 W. Garza St.
Isidro Valdez-Fernandez, executive director of the Del Rio Housing Authority, said the housing project will provide much-needed affordable housing for elderly residents.
The development, called Las Casitas, will include 14 one-bedroom units designed specifically for seniors, with accessibility features intended
to help residents remain independent.
Valdez-Fernandez said the project has been years in the making and reflects the agency’s commitment to serving the community’s aging population.
“This project has been a long time coming. It may not solve all the housing needs, but it will help our elderly community,” Valdez-Fernandez said. “The Housing Authority is committed to serve our community and our clients in many different ways, and Las Casitas is a true example of that.”
Construction equipment stood ready behind the speakers after crews had already leveled the site and begun the first steps of the project. The groundbreaking was held to publicly mark the project’s start in the San Felipe neighborhood.
Valdez-Fernandez credited numerous community partners, including county officials, city leaders, past and present Housing Authority board members and Methodist Healthcare Ministries.
“They’ve been with us every step of the way, through calls, emails and problem-solving whenever something came up,” Valdez-Fernandez said, referring to Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “We truly appreciate their support in getting this project moving.”
When finished, the 14 units will improve the quality of life for the seniors able to live there.
The complex will feature walk-in showers, support rails and affordability protections so residents living on fixed incomes can remain independent. Residents will also be able to apply Section 8 vouchers toward rent assistance.
Funding for the project includes two $350,000 grants from Methodist Healthcare Ministries plus an additional $174,000 from Methodist to the DRHA board they decided to utilize for the project.
Mayor Al Arreola said he supported the project from its early stages and praised Housing Authority leadership for moving it forward.
“When this project was brought to me, I was on board 100 percent,” Arreola said. “It’s about improving the quality of life for our citizens,
especially in the San Felipe area that really needs it.”
Arreola credited Valdez-Fernandez and the board for turning the idea into reality.
“Without him bringing it forward and recommending it, this doesn’t happen,” the mayor said. “I hope this doesn’t stop here and we continue growing.”
Construction should be finished in December.
