Construction begins, Sacred Heart at St Bernard Complex to be completed in 2018

On Wednesday, February 8, the Providence Community Housing began its construction phase of its planned multi-use community complex. Constructed in 1955, the current site is the former Sacred Heart church, located on 1720 St. Bernard Avenue.

The four story complex will contain 53 residential units, and over 4,200 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The complex will have a total of 65,000 square feet, according to an official release.

In May of 2015, New Orleans City Council approved zoning for the Sacred Heart at St Bernard Complex.

Forty-four of the units will be allocated to low-income tenants, who make below 60 percent of the median Income in the 7th Ward. The other nine units will be sold at market rate. This pricing comes at a time when affordable housing in New Orleans is becoming less common.

The multi-use construction was funded through the Louisiana Housing Corporation’s Low Income Housing Tax Credits, a $400,000 grant from the Office of Community Development. The Permanent Supportive Housing provided rental subsidies for 11 units, and the Housing Authority of New Orleans provided rental subsidies for 13 voucher-based units.

Additionally, Enterprise Community Partners and Capital One provided tax credit assistance and loans for the construction costs. The City of New Orleans awarded $1.14 million in HOME funds to the project.

The multi-use complex was designed by JHP Architecture/Urban Design, Gulf Engineers & Consultants, and Massengale. The construction will be undertaken by Block Builders.

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