Building a Future: Local housing authority brings affordable living to families

PHARR — Mario Lizcano was raised in Pharr, near the Villa de la Esperanza development comprised of low rent public housing units on Polk Avenue in Pharr.

Created by the City of Pharr Board of Commissioners in 1949, the Pharr Housing Authority (PHA) aimed to provide safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations and affordable rentals to families of low income. In 1952, the 75 units at Villa de la Esperanza were built to serve the needs of housing residents.

Since then, and for more than 70 years, PHA has diligently served to meet the affordable housing needs of low income residents and families in Pharr. The original development was demolished in 1996, and today the PHA housing portfolio has grown to a total number of 1,063 units — 247 are Public Housing and 828 are Section 8 Housing.

In 2016, PHA added Sunset Senior Village, a 3-story, 80unit development for qualifying seniors 62 and over.

The Pharr Housing Development Corporation was created on January 20, 1993 by the Pharr Housing Authority Board. The PHDC is committed to provide affordable housing opportunities, community improvement and family support programs with particular attention to the needs of low and moderate income residents in the City of Pharr.

As Chairman, Lizcano, along with his colleagues on the PHA Board of Directors and through the Pharr Housing Development Corporation, has led the effort to change expectations and sentiment associated with low-income housing, and to elevate the quality and standard of affordable living with modern design, upscale amenities, attention to detail, and most importantly, a safe place to live.

“Everyone deserves to live in a place that they are proud to call home,” said Lizcano in a release. “Through PHA’s new housing initiatives, we are elevating the standard of what that means here in Pharr, and providing beautiful, upscale, and affordable units for Pharr families to enjoy.”

The newly constructed Camellia Court Apartments do just that. Located near the site of the original housing development in downtown Pharr, Camellia Court consists of two three-story complexes. Site 1 is located at 920 W. Villegas with 57 units, of which 9 apartments are handicap accessible. Site 2 is located at 301 W. Polk, with 23 units (3 ADA).

The contemporary design adds an air of elegance to the units, with modern cabinetry, fixtures, and hardware, stainless steel appliances, countertop islands, effective use of space, energy-efficiency and sleek amenities. The Villegas site also has a swimming pool and playground for families to enjoy.

PHDC leverages public private partnerships in order to construct and manage affordable developments such as Camellia Court, which is the latest project in its property portfolio. Through this process, PHDC has been able to provide upscale, affordable housing units and elevated living to Pharr families.

The units have already been assigned to residents, and are expected to occupy them in September.