Two affordable housing apartment complexes have been restored in Greenville’s Berea neighborhood.
Vista West III features a total of 38 units for households earning between 60% to 70% of the area’s median income. A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the reopening of the two apartment complexes off White Horse Road was held on April 23.
Affordable Upstate purchased the outdated apartment buildings at 100 Lilly St. and 2001 W. Parker Road in July 2024. The Greenville-based real estate investment firm oversaw the approximately $4.2 million preservation of the two properties, with support from Lowe’s.
“Many times, apartments such as these are bulldozed, and then something new comes and creates gentrification,” said Mario Brown, CEO of Affordable Upstate. “We didn’t do that here. We invested in the actual communities to keep them affordable.”
Extensive interior and exterior renovations were completed to both properties, including adding new appliances, replacing plumbing and electrical, improving insulation, completing structural repairs and enhancing landscaping.
“This is a brand-new complex in almost every way possible,” said Chris Cloud, CEO of NOAH Property Management. “Most typical rehabs only do superficial upgrades, whereas here everything is brand new.”
Ninety percent of the existing residents in both apartment complexes were relocated to another affordable housing property while renovations were underway. The Southeast Affordable Housing Administration, a Greenville-based nonprofit housing corporation, helped subsidize the relocation of these residents and covered moving expenses.
Delores Brown, executive director of the Southeast Affordable Housing Administration, said Vista West III exemplifies how thoughtful apartment renovations can preserve affordable housing units in an appreciating market.
“Berea is a submarket that has historically been one of Greenville’s affordable areas, and this project prevents the loss of 38 affordable homes and sets a standard for rehabilitating aging apartments without losing sight of the existing residents,” Delores Brown said. “It’s a win-win for the neighborhood.”
Greenville-based NOAH Property Management serves as the property manager for Vista West III. A documentary on the affordable housing preservation project will be released in the coming months.
For more information, visit vistawestiii.prospectportal.com.
