National Church Residences Opens Baptist Gardens

National Church Residences has opened Baptist Gardens, an affordable senior housing community located at 1881 Myrtle Drive, in southwest Atlanta.  Mayor Kasim Reed was among the dignitaries attending the opening ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 10.

 “You measure a city by how it takes care of its old and its youth.  When you look around here, you see a building worthy of our seniors,” Reed said.

 The $8.56 million project was built using Low-Income Housing Tax Credit financing. The four-story building with elevator service has 100 one-bedroom apartments for seniors ages 55 and older. It includes spacious kitchens with appliances including dishwashers and microwaves, central air conditioning, controlled access with a security gate and intercom system, and emergency pull cords.

 Reed said he expected the city to partner with National Church Residences in the years to come. “The saying goes: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. With National Church Residences, we will go far together,” he added.

 Other speakers at the grand opening celebration included:

• Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta City Councilmember, District 11
• Laurel Hart, director of Affordable Housing, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
• Alan Patricio, president, ABP Associates
• Bill Foley, president, Foley Design Associates Architects
• Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, recently retired pastor, Providence Missionary Baptist Church
• Steve Rish, president, National Church Residences Board of Directors
• Eric Borders, member, National Church Residences Atlanta Advisory Board
• Tom Slemmer, president & CEO, National Church Residences

 The building, designed for energy efficiency, has been certified as "gold" by the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program, developed by the U.S. Green Building Agency Council.

 The community, which has a security gate and other features, also has a courtyard and walking trail through wooded areas and gardens. It has a library, computer center, a 1,500-square-foot community center with a kitchen and an on-site laundry. Residents benefit from a service coordination program that helps them obtain services from outside agencies and assistance with a variety of tasks, including paying bills, arranging for transportation and working with health care providers.

 “Baptist Gardens is part of National Church Residences’ growing presence in Atlanta. We’re so pleased to open this beautiful facility in this section of the city, expanding the number of affordable senior housing apartments in the area,” Slemmer said.

 In Atlanta, National Church Residences also has affordable senior housing at Lakewood Christian Manor, Trinity Towers and Baptist Towers. Construction of another affordable senior housing community is underway at Betmar Village.  Work also is proceeding at the Imperial Hotel, where National Church Residences is partnering with Columbia Residential to create a permanent supportive housing community for the formerly homeless.

 National Church Residences is committed to excellence that transforms the lives of the people it serves. The not-for-profit organization is an innovative leader in integrating housing, health care and supportive services, serving seniors of all income levels and families. With 330 communities in 28 states and Puerto Rico, National Church Residences operates six continuing care retirement communities and is the nation’s largest not-for-profit developer and manager of affordable senior housing. It also operates supportive housing for the formerly homeIess. The National Church Residences model of person-centered care includes adult day health, assisted living, senior housing, skilled nursing homes, rehabilitation center, outpatient therapy, home health care and hospice. For more information, visit www.nationalchurchresidences.org.

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