The Kelsey Avondale is an inclusive, affordable housing development located in Birmingham, Alabama’s vibrant Avondale neighborhood. A collaboration between The Kelsey and Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP), the project advances a disability-forward housing model that serves residents with and without disabilities, offering accessible design, affordability, and a community-centered approach.

In 2021, The Kelsey hosted a national convening around strategies to advance disability-forward housing. Among the attendees was a parent of an adult child with significant disabilities from Birmingham. Motivated by the work of The Kelsey, she returned to Alabama to explore what possibilities for community-based housing for her son and others with disabilities existed in the state. After failing to find solutions, she convened local advocates with and without disabilities and reached out to The Kelsey, asking for our support in bringing our model to the state. With a first roundtable in November 2022 and community convening in April 2023, The Kelsey has led a community engagement process to define the local housing need in Birmingham, outline current strategies and necessary future interventions, and assemble local partners to be part of implementation of new solutions.

We have engaged over 35 organizations and 110 individuals across listening sessions, one-on-one meetings, and community convenings.

The Kelsey Avondale is a joint development effort between The Kelsey and Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP), bringing together national expertise in disability-inclusive housing with deep local development experience in Alabama. Together, we’re advancing a mixed-income, community-centered development.

Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP) is a mission-driven real estate developer based in New Orleans, Louisiana, dedicated to creating transformative affordable and mixed-income communities throughout the Gulf South. Since its founding in 2006, GCHP has developed or preserved more than 4,560 homes and over 1 million square feet of commercial and community-serving space across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. GCHP is recognized for its deep experience in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) financing, its success in closing complex, multi-source transactions, and its commitment to building communities that support long-term resident success. GCHP Management will serve as the property manager, bringing extensive experience in operating and maintaining affordable housing communities across the Gulf South. Their portfolio includes thousands of affordable homes designed for diverse populations, including individuals with disabilities.

This work is further guided and strengthened by The Kelsey Avondale’s Community Advisory Group, a highly engaged group of Avondale and Birmingham residents, local leaders, and community stakeholders who help shape the project through ongoing input and partnership. Learn more.

Vision

Together with local leaders, The Kelsey is bringing disability-forward, inclusive, affordable housing to Birmingham and supporting regional systems and policy change that support these kinds of communities to come to life beyond The Kelsey. Our work includes:

Facts

The community is being designed by David Baker Architects, a nationally recognized firm with offices in Birmingham. It will feature inclusive design to support a wide range of resident needs while activating a vacant site with a sustainable, beautiful development.

The community is in early schematic designs and will include:

In the lively Avondale neighborhood of Birmingham, residents will have access to housing near transit, community amenities, outdoor space, recreation, and social services.

Project Timeline

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To learn more about our community and how to join as a partner, advocate, service provider, or funder, contact us.