The subject property, located at 1727 South Edmonds Lane, is owned by Bethel Baptist Church of Texas. The church is relocating, and the owners are selling the property, providing an opportunity for senior housing to replace the church, according to the agenda item.
A zone change from a single-family residential district to a medical district will allow the site to be redeveloped into a community for people age 55 and above.
The proposed development would offer one- and two-bedroom units. Community amenities designed specifically to appeal to seniors would be included, such as a community garden, a fitness center, a business center, a community room and porte-cochere. Free services, such as health and wellness classes as well as community group outings would also be included in the proposed development.
The proposed development aligns with the Lewisville 2025 Vision Plan, which intends to address the need for affordable and senior housing, according to the agenda. Affordable housing was one of nine City Council priorities adopted for this year.
The council approved a resolution of support for low-income housing tax credits for the proposed development on February 21. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs awarded 9% housing tax credits for the project in July.
Council Member Kristin Green praised the project’s potential but raised concerns about affordability during the meeting. The income bands would be between 30%-60%. The proposed development received low-income housing tax credits from the state.
“Roughly 10% of these units are—what [the council is] hearing—actually affordable,” she said. “I feel like this is still out of reach for a lot of our senior population.”
Residents in surrounding neighborhoods expressed concerns, such as traffic, parking, privacy and security, during a public hearing by the planning and zoning commission in July. The zone change was unanimously approved by the commission.
Council Member Ronni Cade said the project can help address a critical need for affordable senior housing.
“I don’t know what the neighborhoods are actually afraid of that surround this. This is not low-income, multifamily with 456 units,” she said. “It's gonna be a lot quieter than anything else that can be there. We need more places like this so that we don't have this chamber full of displaced, homeless seniors.”
The council went on to approve the zone change request, which will allow further consideration for the development.
