OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — The Oak Ridge Housing Authority and the Tennessee Housing Development Agency marked a major milestone Thursday with the completion of the rehabilitation of 70 public housing units as part of a broader affordable housing initiative in the city.
The renovation work is part of the Oak Ridge Preservation Project, a redevelopment effort valued at more than $40 million that includes upgrades to the housing authority’s existing properties and the construction of 104 new affordable housing units in the Scarboro community.
Oak Ridge Housing Authority Executive Director Maria Catron said the agency has spent the past several years working to modernize its housing portfolio and improve living conditions for residents.
The authority’s existing housing developments were built during the 1970s and early 1980s and had gone decades without major upgrades due to funding limitations.
“We were able to do not just interiors, but exterior renovation,” Catron said.
The rehabilitation project included new roofs, windows, HVAC systems, siding, brick skirting, upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, cabinetry and new flooring. Community spaces were also renovated as part of the effort.
Residents who temporarily relocated during construction are now beginning to move back into the updated homes.
The project received financial support through low-income housing tax credits awarded by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, or THDA.
“THDA is proud to support Oak Ridge Housing Authority in the rehabilitation of various affordable housing units,” said THDA Executive Director Ralph Perrey. “This project will help preserve affordable housing opportunities in Oak Ridge while also investing in the community’s future.”
Addressing a Growing Housing Need
Catron said affordable housing remains a major challenge in Oak Ridge and throughout East Tennessee.
The housing authority currently operates 128 public housing units across eight locations and has historically seen between 1,000 and 3,000 households on its waiting lists.
“There is not the affordable housing stock available in the community to be able to serve those individuals,” Catron said.
Officials say population growth across Tennessee continues to drive housing demand and increase costs.
Perrey noted that Tennessee has experienced rapid growth, with hundreds of new residents moving to the state each day, placing additional pressure on housing availability and affordability.
He said most new housing developments in the Knoxville region target higher-income residents, leaving a shortage of affordable options for working families.
“Almost nothing affordable to regular working people gets built without some kind of subsidy or incentive,” Perrey said.
New Scarboro Development Underway
In addition to renovating existing properties, the housing authority is expanding its footprint through the construction of 104 new affordable housing units in Oak Ridge’s Scarboro community.
Catron said the development will nearly double the size of the housing authority’s inventory and help meet growing demand for affordable housing.
Construction on the Scarboro project is expected to continue through the coming year.
The housing authority also plans to continue its partnership with Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services, which provides mental and behavioral health support through the Peer Support Center at the Joel Lane property.
Officials say the combination of housing improvements, expanded inventory and supportive services will strengthen affordable housing opportunities for residents for years to come.
