Groundbreaking set for 100-unit affordable senior housing project in Gainesville

Paces Preservation Partners and the Gainesville Housing Authority will break ground Aug. 19 on Lakeside at Harrison Village, a 100-apartment affordable community for seniors in Gainesville, Georgia. The project adds to the city’s push to expand senior housing with public-private financing and local support.

Why it matters: - Gainesville is adding 100 affordable apartments for residents 55 and older as the metro area grows and demand for senior housing tightens. - The project is part of a broader public-private effort to expand affordable housing options in the city. - Financing comes from tax-exempt bonds allocated by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and issued by the Gainesville Housing Authority, with additional support from BWE, JPMorgan Chase and U.S. Bank.

What happened: - Paces Preservation Partners and the Gainesville Housing Authority will host a groundbreaking for Lakeside at Harrison Village on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. - The ceremony marks the start of construction on a 100-unit affordable apartment community for seniors. - The event will begin at 10 a.m. at the Harrison Village Community Center, 1370 Harrison Dr., Gainesville, Georgia 30507. - The event is free and open to the public. - Media interested in attending or arranging in-person interviews were directed to contact The Paces Foundation press contact.

The details: - Speakers are scheduled to include Gainesville City Manager Bryan Lackey, Gainesville Housing Authority Board Chair Darryl Smallwood, Council Member Abigail Guzman of Ward 4, Austin Chancy of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Steve Bien of Soho Housing Partners. - Brunch will be provided, and the event will include photo and video opportunities. - Lakeside at Harrison Village is described as an affordable apartment community for seniors in a 55-plus setting. - Paces Preservation Partners is a strategic partnership between The Paces Foundation and Soho Housing Partners. - The partnership works with local housing authorities to develop and build public housing.

Between the lines: - The project signals continued reliance on layered financing and public-private partnerships to make senior housing possible in a competitive market. - Gainesville Housing is pairing new development with resident services, which suggests the city is aiming for more than just unit production. - The project also fits into The Paces Foundation’s broader affordable housing pipeline across the Southeast.

What's next: - Construction is expected to begin after the Aug. 19 groundbreaking. - Gainesville Housing says its partnerships and financing strategy will help secure more than $220 million in investments by the end of 2027. - That pipeline is expected to produce 439 new affordable apartment homes in the city. - Gainesville Housing has already issued bonds that enabled the development or preservation of 616 apartments. - More information is available at the Paces Foundation website and Gainesville Housing’s website.

The bottom line: - Gainesville is taking another step toward expanding affordable senior housing, with construction about to begin on a 100-unit community backed by public and private financing.