Reviewed by: Pat Byington
New disability-forward housing coming to Avondale in 2026
Reading time: 4 minutes
California-based development and advocacy organization The Kelsey is teaming up with local leaders to bring disability-forward, inclusive and affordable housing to The Magic City!
Learn more about the organization’s mission and The Kelsey Avondale, a new housing development coming to Avondale in 2026.
About The Kelsey
Headquartered in San Francisco, The Kelsey is a non-profit organization focused on creating affordable, accessible housing for tenants with disabilities.
The organization’s namesake and co-founder was Kelsey Flynn O’Connor, an advocate for access and community. Although Kelsey has passed, her passion has inspired a coalition of people with and without disabilities to create inclusive housing.
As co-developers, The Kelsey works with local developers to build mixed-income, mixed-ability residential communities that:
- Are affordable to low- and moderate-income level tenants
- Are accessible to people with a range of disabilities and access needs
- Have a range of features to support a thriving, connected community
The organization’s first project—The Kelsey Ayer Station—opened near downtown San Jose, CA earlier this year. The housing community includes:
- A mix of 115 two-bedroom and studio apartments, designed for tenants with and without disabilities and with various income levels
- 25% of the units are reserved for people with disabilities
- Community amenities such as a fitness room, maker spaces and a sensory garden
- And more
“It’s an incredible milestone for our team to have our community at The Kelsey Ayer Station up and running.
Our goal is to make disability-forward housing the norm nationwide, meeting a critical need and resulting in better housing for everyone.
We’re grateful to partner with and provide technical assistance to cities and states as they develop housing based on our model, and are thankful for the partnership of local organizations and individuals who are helping expand affordable, accessible and inclusive housing in Avondale.”
Micaela Connery, Co-founder & CEO
The Kelsey is currently working with the City of San Francisco to develop The Kelsey Civic Center, an urban community with 112 homes located across from San Francisco City Hall.
Bringing inclusive housing options to Avondale
In 2021, a parent of a child with significant disabilities in Birmingham attended a seminar about disability-forward housing hosted by The Kelsey. Noticing a lack of appropriate housing in Alabama for their child, the parent and other local advocates reached out to The Kelsey for help.
“Disability-forward housing is a model that stakeholders around the state want to duplicate in their communities to provide independent housing for people with disabilities who want to live in a home that is affordable, inclusive and has access to jobs, transportation and recreation.
Social isolation experienced by people with disabilities is at an all-time high and it is paramount that we create opportunities for that not to happen.”
Veronica McGee, Local Advocate
After several years of community engagement, The Kelsey has released details about its latest project: The Kelsey Avondale.
Located at what is now an empty lot next to the Axel Row apartments on 3rd Ave. S, The Kelsey Avondale will include:
- A mix of one-bedroom units and two-bedroom units
- On-site staffing, including The Kelsey’s Inclusion Concierge program
- Community spaces and outdoor amenities, such as a sensory garden and a play space
- Fitness center and bike parking
The Kelsey chose Avondale for its access to:
- Nearby restaurants & bars like Black Market Bar & Grill, Munchies on 5th, Parkside on Fifth, Taco Morro Loco, Avondale Common House, Ampersandwich, Miracle Pizza Co., SAW’s Soul Kitchen, Dzire Bar and Lounge, Luna Latin Cuisine and many more.
- Grocery stores like Red Bird Produce
- Nearby bus transit, offering access to the city and services
- Outdoor amenities such as Avondale Park
“When scoping a development, we also look for transit-oriented communities with access to grocery stores, career opportunities, healthcare, and fun because we want to ensure that our residents have access to the greater community around them.
Avondale offers these things in abundance, so it became a no-brainer that our first out-of-California co-development would take place here.”
Brittney Harris, Housing Development Manager, The Kelsey
Below is The Kelsey Avondale’s project timeline:
- February 2024: Site control established
- June 2024: First design review by Community Advisory Group
- Spring 2025: Secure financing, including $1M capital campaign
- Fall 2025: Construction start
- Winter 2026: Resident services hiring and launch
- Spring 2027: Community opens
Follow Bham Now on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn and sign up for our FREE newsletter to stay up to date on the latest exciting news in The Magic City!
