Upgraded Alief apartments stay affordable

An affordable apartment complex in Alief is set to get extensive upgrades, according to its New York-based owner, Olive Tree Affordable Housing.

A $7.8 million renovation of the Life at Westpark, which has already begun, will replace flooring, cabinets, countertops, sinks, service lines and appliances for 188 of its 312 units. A number of units will also receive new water heaters and HVAC systems.

Olive Tree is funding the updates with a mortgage insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and said in a release that the resulting capital improvements would extend the period for which the project must remain affordable for another 75 years. Now, apartments at the complex will remain affordable for households making up to 60 percent of the Houston area’s median income until 2100. The area median income is calculated every year and adjusts depending on a household’s size — for example, a family of four would currently qualify if they made up to $53,100 a year. Apartments in the building range in size from two- to five-bedrooms.

“When we acquired the Life at Westpark in 2019, preserving the property’s affordable longevity as well as ensuring that Houston-area residents continue to have access to high-quality and safe affordable housing options was of paramount importance,” said Ian Bel, Olive Tree Holdings’ chief executive, in a release.

Besides updating unit interiors, the renovations will also include improvements to the exterior. The roof, windows and sidewalks will be replaced, and new accessible parking will be created. Olive Tree said the improvements will be completed by the first quarter of 2023. The company declined to comment on its plans to fund ongoing maintenance after the current renovation.