After years of development, the first families are settling into new units of subsidized housing at Peoria’s Providence Pointe, the $40 million-plus development that stands where the Taft Homes once stood.
In the last years of its life, Taft Homes struggled with offering quality housing. Peoria Housing Authority CEO Armeca Crawford said she had an opportunity to tour some of the buildings before they were demolished.
“I did have an opportunity to see how some of the residents were living,” said Crawford. “They no longer need to live there.”
Crawford said the improvements include air quality, quality of life and just the overall physical appearance of the units. Only three of the original Taft buildings remain, as the residents inside wait for new Providence Pointe units to become available. Those buildings will be demolished by the end of this year.
While Taft Homes had its issues, people who grew up there remember the deep family ties that living in close proximity fostered in residents. Former Taft resident John Ray Jones is now the resident commissioner for Peoria Housing Authority.
“The whole environment in that regard is a lot different, as Peoria is a lot different,” he said. “But I know that director Crawford and these guys, you know, care about Taft, they care about it. And, you know, that's important.”
Jones remembers families of eight, 10 or 16 kids filling four-bedroom apartments at the old Taft. When completed, Providence Pointe will have 142 units, ranging from one to five bedrooms.
A three-bedroom, two-bath unit toured by WCBU included an open living space with a kitchen island, an in-unit washer and dryer and new energy-efficient appliances.
Crawford said 44 families have moved into units in six finished buildings so far. New families will move in every week until the entire development is finished in Spring 2024. The project did face some issues with cost and construction, including the inflating cost of construction materials and supply chain issues.
Crawford estimated a $43 million total project cost in April.
Meetings with partner Bear Development and other state and federal funding sources helped find a way to complete the project, she said, including all the original amenities, like a playground and a community center to help foster a sense of place.
Now, families like Erica Jones’ are moving in. Jones moved in with her five grandkids last month.
“My self esteem has went up tremendously, I feel better about myself,” she said. “My children can play without worrying about mold in the walls, or, you know, just bad things happening to the apartments, because they were so old.”
Jones said she sees the new units as an opportunity to spread hope and provide a solid start for Peoria’s children.
Providence Pointe is managed by the Chicago-based Evergreen Real Estate Group. The website for Providence Pointe doesn't seem to be functional at this time, but in the meantime you can learn more about the organization here.
Rent is based on income and family size. Crawford said Taft residents get the first “right to return” and there is a wait list for additional units.
