Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. and Park Heights Renaissance held the grand opening of Woodland Gardens I, a new four-story affordable apartment community on Thursday as part of a multi-year effort to expand affordable community housing for Baltimore residents.

The Woodland Gardens I building joins the neighboring Woodland Gardens II that opened in June 2023, providing a combined 138 affordable housing units with some set aside specifically for people of various income demographics, people with disabilities and older adults.

“Woodland Gardens is more than just housing; it’s a vibrant, inclusive community where families, older adults, and individuals with varying needs can thrive together,” said Ellen Jarrett, CHAI’s vice president of housing planning and development.

The Woodland Gardens I building contains 63 housing units, including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

“Fourteen units are designated for households earning between 50% and 60% of the area median income (AMI), 36 units target households at 50% of AMI or below, and 13 units are reserved for families earning 30% or less of AMI. The latter units are specially allocated for individuals with disabilities,” CHAI wrote in a press release announcing the grand opening.

One of the key aspects of this partnership was to provide housing to Baltimore residents as a steppingstone for future life success, according to Earl Millett, the managing director at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, who helped sponsor the project.

“CHAI recognizes, as we all do, that housing is a social determinant of health, and CHAI is determined to not make housing be the roadblock to the successful, productive lives that all these folks want to have, and it’s just our honor to be a small party contributing to that and the supports and services that this community will have for at least another 30 years,” Millett said.

Organizers at the grand opening brought out one resident, Shawntay Thompson, 24, who is moving into the building with her daughter as a first-time housing owner.

Thompson said that her needs have all been met and she’s excited about the opportunity to live on her own while staying in the community for years to come.

“All these projects are great opportunities for safe and affordable housing. Oftentimes, they’re the first step in a person’s life,” said Yoland Jiggetts, CEO of Park Heights Renaissance.

The project was made possible by loans and equity from Truist Bank, loans and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the State of Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, financial support from the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, Housing Authority of Baltimore City, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Affordable Housing Program and the France-Merrick Foundation.