Cooper Green

Located on Birmingham’s southwest side, Cooper Green Homes was originally constructed in 1971. The multifamily rental housing community includes 46 two-story buildings housing 227 apartments, a community center/rental office and several playgrounds. All apartments are reserved for residents who earn 60% of the area median household income or less, and qualified households are eligible for HUD rental assistance. The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) is converting Cooper Green from traditional public housing to project-based vouchers under HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program.

Renovations of the residential buildings will include new roofs, gutters, energy-efficient windows and siding, improved attic insulation and brick repairs. Inside, the apartment homes will get new appliances—including washers and dryers, cabinets and countertops, plumbing, light fixtures, flooring, HVAC systems and water heaters. Along with new interiors and finishes for the community building/rental office, all existing playground equipment will be replaced, and new amenities will be added, including a splash pad, gazebo, barbeque grills and picnic tables. A protective concrete buffer wall will be constructed between the Cooper Green property and the neighboring railway and fuel facility.

Fully renovated, Cooper Green will contain 50 one-bedroom units, 77 two-bedroom units, 83 three-bedroom units, 12 four-bedroom units and 5 five-bedroom units. The nearly $30 million project translates to approximately $132,000 per unit. Financing includes a combination of RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) conversion to project-based vouchers and tax-exempt bonds: according to the Alabama Housing Finance Authority, the development received $45 million in tax-exempt multifamily bonds and ~$3.8 million in housing tax credits.