The Murfreesboro Housing Authority (MHA) is advancing its Mercury Park Phase 1 redevelopment project on S. Bilbro and Minor St., replacing the former low-income housing structures near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. This new development, designed for low-income residents, is expected to welcome qualifying tenants starting April 2025. A CityTV YouTube video provides additional information about the project and can be viewed here.
Thomas Rowe, CEO of MHA, shared details about the development, highlighting the construction of 34 affordable housing units with two and three-bedroom options. The development is located on the north side of Minor Street and both sides of Bilbro Avenue, extending from the north side of Hancock Street to 1st Avenue. A similar project, Parkside, is under construction nearby and features 46 units of public housing converted into Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) units. RAD is a HUD initiative aimed at preserving affordable housing by converting public housing subsidies into Section 8 subsidies tied to properties.
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The Murfreesboro Community Development Department is collaborating with MHA, providing grants to support Mercury Court and other affordable housing projects. In total, MHA received $1.1 million in federal funding for the Mercury Court Redevelopment Phase I Plan through the HUD HOME Investment Partnership Grant Program. Robert Holtz, director of the Community Development Department, noted that these grants, beginning in 2022, help fund affordable housing for low-income families.
The Mercury Court project includes 34 units, featuring fourteen two-bedroom and twenty three-bedroom homes, with completion expected by December 2025. These units will serve families earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income, utilizing the 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). Applications for residency will be accepted starting January 2025, both online at www.mha-tn.org and in person at the Murfreesboro Housing Authority office.
The city has contributed 25 percent matching funds totaling $240,000 to the initial 2022 HOME grant. MHA, established in 1950, continues to provide safe and sanitary housing for eligible families. Governed by a five-member board appointed by the Mayor of Murfreesboro, the organization strives to utilize available resources to maximize opportunities for residents. For more city news, visit www.Murfreesborotn.gov.
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