Navitage + Woodlawn United — Members of Woodlawn United, Navigate Affordable Housing Partners and the Woodlawn community gather to break ground on new affordable homes. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

On Monday, July 14, members of Woodlawn United and Navigate Affordable Housing Partners broke ground on a new set of affordable homes in Woodlawn. The event marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to provide high-quality homes and promote neighborhood revitalization in Woodlawn.

New affordable homes coming to Woodlawn

Woodlawn Theatre exterior (2) — The Woodlawn Theatre is located along 1st Avenue N in Woodlawn. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Located east of downtown Birmingham, Woodlawn is a vibrant, growing neighborhood home to an inclusive community and dozens of thriving businesses—everything from coffee shops and cocktail bars to event venues, restaurants and boutique stores. Events like the annual Woodlawn Sunday dinner—hosted by Woodlawn United—help to foster a welcoming community atmosphere and boost future growth in the community.

“In a growing community like Woodlawn, there are a lot of people flipping houses to cash in on the uptrend. People who have owned houses in these communities for years and refused to do anything with the property suddenly think the home are worth $2,000 a month, pricing people out of the community.

That’s why its so important to do what we are doing here. We have to make price points accessible for those who want to live in Woodlawn and make sure that the original community is not priced out. As long as we work together and continue to make space for houses and developments like this, I think we are going to continue to see a diverse, vibrant and growing community in Woodlawn.”
Jason Avery, President, Woodlawn United

To help create a vibrant and sustainable neighborhood, Woodlawn United partnered with Birmingham-based nonprofit Navigate Affordable Housing Partners to construct a new set of high-quality, affordable homes in the community.

“Addressing the community’s needs is the forefront of our mission and what makes this partnership work. There are many people who will come into a neighborhood like Woodlawn and snap up properties; but the first obligation of Woodlawn United, Navigate and so many other nonprofits is addressing the needs of the community first—if you do that, everything else shakes out.
Lisa McCarroll, CEO, Navigate Affordable Housing Partners

Using an award-winning, standardized construction method developed by Navitage in North Titusville, the nonprofit partnership is beginning construction on the next batch of four energy-efficient, affordable homes in Woodlawn.

“With support from partners like the Regions Foundation and PNC Bank, we are building houses that are specifically for folks at a particular include level that have trouble qualifying for subsidies. We aren’t looking for investors who plan to rent out these homes; we want homeowners that actually live in the community.

These homes are strategically located a block away from public transportation, five blocks away from downtown Woodlawn and just a couple blocks away from elementary education. These are resources that are necessary for families to thrive in our community.”
Joe Ayers, Chief Community Development Officer, Woodlawn United

Jason Avery, Community President of Woodlawn. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)
JT Moore, Birmingham City Councilor, District 4. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)
Lisa McCaroll, Chief Executive Officer ofNavigate Housing. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)
Mashonda Taylor, President and CEO of Woodlawn United. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

According to Navigate’s Director of Planning and Community Development Matt Churnock, the new affordable homes are expected to be completed and ready for move-in by September 2025.

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