Elizabeth Bush - The Daniel Island News

Humanities Foundation project receives warm reviews

As Edwina Stanley walked into the gleaming new kitchen with recycled glass countertops and bamboo cabinets, her eyes lit up like a child on Christmas morning.

"It’s overwhelming!" said the 69 year-old from North Carolina, who was among the first to sign and complete her paperwork to move into a unit in the recently completed Seven Farms Village, a Daniel Island affordable housing complex for senior citizens. "…It is absolutely awesome! I have never been so thrilled."

The temperatures outside may have been cold, but plenty of hearts were warmed on Wednesday, December 8, as Stanley and several other new residents joined community leaders and housing executives under a tent beside the building to officially dedicate the Humanities Foundation’s latest Daniel Island initiative.

"I am proud that we are able to provide 42 sustainable apartments to senior citizens in our community, and that they will be able to enjoy them this holiday season," said Tracy Doran, president of the Humanities Foundation, in her opening remarks.

"God, we pray for those who will find a home here," added Pastor Don Flowers of Providence Baptist Church, in his invocation at the ceremony. "May it truly be a home, a place where they will find not only comfort for their bodies, but also for their souls."

Doran thanked several partners who worked with the Humanities Foundation to see the project through to its completion. Funding for the $5.5 million project came from City of Charleston HOME Funds, the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program and the Tax Credit Assistance Program), the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, The Richman Group Affordable Housing Corporation, and the Lowcountry Housing Trust.

"People like to work with people who are successful," said Donald Cameron, president and CEO of the Charleston Housing Authority, the organization that provided "gap" funding to complete the financial puzzle on the effort. "People like to be with winners. The Humanities Foundation is a winner, has been a winner for 18 years, but the (real) win is for the 42 people who are going to live here."

"These are challenging times in the affordable housing industry," added Dale Saunders, executive director of the Lowcountry Housing Trust, of the difficulty in obtaining funding for projects like Seven Farms Village. "Not only does it take time and money and dedication to successfully develop affordable housing, it takes a vision, tenacity and a clear sense of purpose…The Humanities Foundation has once again demonstrated leadership, commitment and character in addressing the needs of senior citizens…A job well done!"

Mayor Joseph P. Riley gave the keynote address at the dedication. He praised the Humanities Foundation for the "beautiful" addition to the Daniel Island community and for the organization’s diligence in piecing together necessary funding to make it a reality.

"Some of the finest home sites in the region are here on Daniel Island…and we have some smaller homes for smaller families and their children," said Riley. "But we wanted to make sure that people of modest resources have the ability to live on Daniel Island, too…What you want in the community is a sense of sharing and togetherness…Today is continued wonderful progress and evolution of this great neighborhood."

Rent for the one bedroom units starts at $500 per month and tenants must meet income eligibility requirements (60 percent of the area’s median income) to qualify.

One of the most highly touted features of the complex is its environmental sustainability. The apartments feature energy-efficient doors, windows, kitchen appliances and plumbing fixtures – all of which could save tenants some $400 a year in utility costs. Seven Farms Village anticipates being the highest ranking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes Gold Certified multi-family development in North and South Carolina.

"There aren’t a lot of elderly who are homeless, but there are tremendous amounts who are financially challenged…who have to make decisions like ‘do I buy medicine or do I cut down the heat?’" added Cameron. "They have to make a lot of tough decisions because they’ve got a small amount of money in their pocketbooks. And one of the things that this is going to do for these 42 units is provide an opportunity for (these) seniors to be able to afford…their rents and their utilities where they live."

"It is a triumphant day," said Valerie Williams, executive director of the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Corporation. "With this project, they will not only have a great design, but it is energy-efficient. What person could not use some extra dollars in their pocket that they can use towards another need that they might have? This is a great thing that the (Humanities Foundation) has done."

Also addressing the crowd at the dedication was Rich McCauley, vice president of The Richman Group Affordable Housing Corporation. The company provided approximately $3.1 million in equity for the Seven Farms Village project.

"It really is unlike most affordable housing that we see these days," said McCauley, who traveled from Connecticut to take part in the dedication ceremony. "….It’s just a beautiful project. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, in this case, it takes a village to raise a village. There are lots of folks in this room and elsewhere that contributed a lot of hard time and lots of funds to make this project happen….We’re just thrilled to be a part of it."

Ron Haynes, another new resident at the facility, watched the dedication service and then went inside the building for a tour.

"So far so good," he said. "Everything is so well done!"

But perhaps the best summation of the event’s significance came from Morris Street Baptist Church soloist Rosemary Robinson, who sang "O, Holy Night" to the crowd gathered. The wind blew the tent sides gently back and forth as her poignant words sprang forth.

"…For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn."

It is a new day indeed for Edwina Stanley, Ron Haynes and the 40 other seniors who will call this place home.

Apartments in Seven Farms Village are still available. For more information, stop by the leasing office at 305 Seven Farms Apartments, or call the Property Manager at (843) 856-1436.