There’s a hidden jewel in Phil Campbell, and it’s only available to the first 24 families to find it.
The Village at Oliver Place, a 24-unit townhome complex on Pike Street in Phil Campbell, is one of the silver linings on the cloud that was the April 27, 2011 tornado that devastated the community. A project of the Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, the complex was completed approximately eight months after last April’s groundbreaking ceremony. The first residents moved into their units in January, and 13 of the 24 townhomes are currently leased.
Michael Tubbs, executive director of Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, said at last year’s groundbreaking that the facility would bring beauty and a sense of pride to Phil Campbell.
“We believe it will be a valuable asset, especially as families look to return to the area after moving away following the tornado in 2011,” Tubbs said last year.
His words could be no more prophetic, as anyone who has toured the beautiful new complex can attest. The Village at Oliver Place features 12 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom units, each two-story, energy-efficient residences that include fully equipped kitchens, ample storage, washer/dryer connections, porch and patio, and the look and feel of a place residents can be proud to call home.
Applicants’ incomes must be at or below income limits based on 60 percent of Franklin County’s annual median family income. For one person, the annual income limit is $21,060. The cap for two persons is $24,060; the cap for three persons is $27,060; and the cap for a family of four is $30,060. Subject to a credit and background check, if applicants fall within the income guidelines, their applications can be approved within four days of completion.
David Scoggin, onsite manager at the Village at Oliver Place, said the income-based eligibility is the most frequent source of confusion for potential applicants.
“Because our criteria is income-based, people think that if they make less their payments are less,” Scoggin said. “If you meet the income levels, your monthly rental rates are the same for all units.”
Scoggin, who also manages a complex in Winfield, is onsite in Phil Campbell Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. He provides assistance to potential residents in completing their application once the eligibility criteria are explained. That way, he explained, he doesn’t waste the time of someone who isn’t eligible to apply.
“Our goal is to find long-term residents for this complex. We want to have stability with our residents living here,” Scoggin said. “If you qualify to move in, you remain qualified even if your income later increases, as long as you remain in the same unit.”
Rental rates are $419/month for two-bedroom units and $493 for three-bedroom townhomes. Monthly rental includes water and sewer.
The Village at Oliver Place provides amenities for residents, including a playground, gazebo picnic area, fitness room and use of a community building with kitchen, plus wireless Internet. Although all units have washer/dryer hookups, a laundry room is also available for residents. Scoggin said fiber-optic cable will soon run to all units as another Internet option.
With spacious floor plans and high-end construction, the Village at Oliver Place is unlike any other income-based complex. And with 11 more units available, future residents can move into a brand-new townhouse for a cost comparable with most apartments in the area.
“Our mission is to reduce and/or eliminate the causes and consequences associated with poverty by providing a great, family-friendly place that will be another step in bringing Phil Campbell back to its pre-tornado level,” Tubbs said. “This was a very special project for us and something we were excited to move forward with. It’s a great example of what can be accomplished when public, private and non-profit partners come together to support the community.”
Funding for the Village at Oliver Place came from multiple sources, including U.S. Housing and Urban Development programs, a $600,000 Community Development Block grant provided through the Town of Phil Campbell and private investors.
Community Action Partnership of North Alabama is a non-profit agency. The complex is managed by Hollyhand Companies, Inc. in Tuscaloosa. Units are inspected monthly for damage to walls, carpets, etc., in an effort to ensure proper care is being taken of each townhome.
Tubbs said Phil Campbell is the only rural complex Community Action Partnership of North Alabama has developed, as most are in more densely populated areas.
“We’re here to provide affordable housing for people who don’t have it or can’t otherwise afford it. The Village at Oliver Place was created for people without significant assets,” Tubbs said. “This is our first time to do a complex like this, and it’s the best-looking place we’ve built. We’ve built many complexes in the last several years, but I don’t know of anything nicer as far as internal design.”
For information on applying for residency at the Village at Oliver Place or to schedule a tour, contact Scoggin at 256-476-0746.
