See the Work

Bethel Estates

“This represents for us a step of faith and a real commitment to a community that suffered so much in Katrina and has so much to offer... I think there is a misnomer people have when they hear the phrase 'affordable housing. They think that somehow they're going to be of lesser quality than they want to live in. Our development will show that just isn't fact. It's going to be beautiful homes, four different designs, plenty of amenities in a beautiful town.”

— Shari Prestemon, Director, Back Bay Mission

Back Bay Mission, Alembic Development Company, the Mississippi Development Authority, and the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio (GCCDS) teamed together to create the first affordable housing development in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The 34-unit development is currently under construction with the first houses anticipated to finish construction in early 2010. The development is the first project that has gone through full SmartCode design and planning reviews by the City of Pass Christian, which recently adopted the New Urbanist ordinances.

The development breaks new ground in stormwater management for new developments in coastal areas. Watersheds along the Mississippi Gulf Coast rely on wetlands during rainwater events to capture, hold, and allow stormwater to infiltrate into the ground. Wetlands are crucial to managing the surface water during hazardous weather, central to ecological habitats, and increasingly encroached upon by new developments. This project will use a combination of raingardens (which act like ‘mini’ wetlands on a site) and indigenous plantings to mimic the natural infiltration methods of wetlands and avoid heavy infrastructure such as concrete retention ponds and large stormwater drainage pipes. Additionally, water-permeable walkways, driveways, and alleys help maintain ideal water infiltration rates on the sites.



Seth has been working on the design team through the GCCDS on the site planning and layout and has taken several of the units from schematic design through construction documents.

Project Summary

Location:
Pass Christian, Mississippi
Program Scope
34 affordable home ownership units
Project Status
Under construction (April 2010 anticipated completion)
Location:
Pass Christian, Mississippi
Project Scope
2.20 acres gross site area
New construction
2 stories
42,500 sq ft gross project area
Program Scope
34 affordable home ownership units
Residential Unit Profile

Affordable units serve moderate income households.

303 BR1,200-1,350 sq ft
42 BR1,000-1,000 sq ft
34TOTAL
Cost
730,000Acquisition (land)
730,000TOTAL
Major Funders
Back Bay Mission
Mississippi Development Authority
Alembic Development Company
Project Status
Under construction (April 2010 anticipated completion)

Enterprise Community Partners