Housing Authority, Partners Complete $30 Million Renovation of Cooper Green Homes

City leaders and residents celebrate the milestone today with a ribbon-cutting

BIRMINGHAM, AL, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Paces Preservation Partners, a strategic partnership between The Paces Foundation and Soho Housing Partners, and the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) celebrated the completion of the final phases of renovations for Cooper Green Homes today.

City leaders were joined by HABD, Paces Preservation Partners and community residents to commemorate the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The two-phase project upgraded the community’s residences, buildings and shared amenities across its 32-acre site. Financing was provided by Synovus Bank in partnership with United Bank, Bellwether and HABD.

HABD President and CEO Dontrelle Young Foster told the audience, “We are preserving valuable, affordable housing through substantial rehabilitation by investing in the future of our residents. This continued transformation is a part of our vision for stronger and more vibrant communities throughout the city of Birmingham.”

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., said, “Today’s ribbon cutting of the newly renovated Cooper Green Homes represents an important step toward tackling the housing crisis and ensuring every family has a quality, affordable place to live. I commend all the partners who helped make this project a reality, and I look forward to seeing Cooper Green Homes continue to serve as a source of strength and opportunity for the Birmingham community.”

Fully renovated, Cooper Green Homes contains 50 one-bedroom, 77 two-bedroom, 83 three-bedroom, 12 four-bedroom and five five-bedroom units. The nearly $30 million project translates to about $132,000 in upgrades per unit.

“Paces Preservation Partners is honored to have worked with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District and our finance partners to bring innovative ways to improve affordable housing here and preserve Cooper Green as a high-quality community that residents can comfortably afford,” said Steve Bien, president and CEO of Soho Housing Partners. Steven Bauhan, chief development officer of The Paces Foundation, added, “Affordable housing is about more than preserving buildings—it is also about making the investments that foster stable, welcoming communities where families can thrive for years to come.”

Renovations of the residential buildings included new roofs, gutters, energy-efficient windows and siding, improved attic insulation and brick repairs. Inside, the apartment homes received new appliances, cabinets and countertops, plumbing, light fixtures, flooring, HVAC systems and water heaters.

While initial phases focused on the renovations of the apartments, the final phases included updating a playground with shade covering and solar lighting, adding new community amenities like water and dog parks, and building a protective concrete buffer wall between the Cooper Green property and the neighboring railway and fuel facility.

Located on Birmingham’s southwest side, Cooper Green Homes was built in 1971. The multifamily rental housing community includes 46 two-story buildings with 227 apartments, a community center, a management office, a day care center with Head Start programming and several playgrounds. All apartments are reserved for residents who earn 60% of the area median household income or less, and HABD provides rental assistance to ensure affordability.

About Soho Housing Partners
Leveraging more than 40 years of housing and capital markets experience, Soho Housing Partners, LLC was founded by Steve Bien and Kevin DiQuattro to develop, construct and preserve multi-housing with a concentration on affordable housing developments. Soho’s significant structuring, financial and technical expertise affords the ability to find value in even the most complex transactions and unique development opportunities.

About The Paces Foundation
Founded in 1991, The Paces Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and services for low-income neighbors. The housing for both seniors and families is built to green certification standards to ease utility and maintenance costs for residents and has a low impact on the environment.
The foundation contributed millions of dollars to the economy through professional services and building trades and is Section 3 compliant. The Paces Foundation has owned, preserved or developed more than 3,500 units across the Southeast. Visit www.pacesfoundation.org.

The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) is Alabama’s largest provider of public housing, serving 23,000 residents. Its mission is to provide the highest standard of affordable housing while fostering vibrant, inclusive communities and serving as a catalyst for opportunity. To learn more about HABD, visit www.habd.org.

Amy Sigal
The Paces Foundation
+1 678-467-0253
amy@pacesfoundation.org

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Written By: EIN Presswire