Pictured: Richelle Sayles Henderson; Tad Bullard; Tory Gunsolley;  Francisco Castillo; Gloria Moreno (Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia); Rene Martinez; Melody Hiebert; Texas State Representative Armando Walle; Bryan Sanchez; Amanda Rocha

The Harris County Housing Finance Corporation (HCHFC), Harris County Housing & Community Development (HCD) and Zimmerman Properties, LLC marked a significant milestone: the completion of a comprehensive, $38.1 million rehabilitation of Meadowbrook Plaza Apartments — restoring and modernizing 220 affordable homes for Harris County residents.

Located at 600 E. Little York Road, Meadowbrook Plaza has served the community since 1998, when it was originally developed using Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Now, more than two decades later, the property has been substantially reimagined — with renovated kitchens and bathrooms, updated finishes, improved building systems, and critical infrastructure repairs that address accessibility concerns and bring the community in line with today’s housing standards.

“The completion of Meadowbrook Plaza reflects our continued commitment to expanding high-quality, affordable housing options across Harris County,” said Thao Costis, Executive Director of Harris County Housing & Community Development. “Through this comprehensive revitalization, we’ve not only preserved affordability but also delivered modernized, updated homes that meet today’s standards — creating a community where residents can live comfortably, safely, and with pride for years to come.”

The rehabilitation touched all 220 units across a mix of configurations: 28 one-bedroom, 120 two-bedroom, 56 three-bedroom, and 16 four-bedroom apartments — a unit mix that allows the community to serve families of varying sizes and needs. 

Financing the Future of an Existing Community

The $38.1 million total development cost was made possible through a layered public-private financing strategy. HCHFC issued $17.5 million in tax-exempt bonds, which qualified the development for 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Harris County HCD contributed $9 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support land acquisition and renovation costs. Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust and Alliant Capital, A Walker & Dunlap Company, provided additional financing support.

This project is a strong example of how targeted public investment — particularly ARPA funds — can be deployed to preserve and improve existing affordable housing rather than simply building new. By reinvesting in a community that already serves lower-income Harris County residents, the partnership extended the property’s useful life while ensuring families can continue to call Meadowbrook Plaza home.

A Model for Preserving What Already Works

Harris County faces a significant and ongoing affordable housing shortage. Projects like Meadowbrook Plaza demonstrate that preservation and rehabilitation are powerful tools alongside new construction — delivering quality homes faster, at lower cost, and with less disruption to the people who already live there.

HCHFC’s role as bond issuer on this transaction reflects the Corporation’s broader strategy of leveraging its financing authority to unlock tax credit equity and make projects like this financially viable. By pairing public financing tools with developer expertise and county investment, the partnership delivered a community that works for residents today and will continue to serve Harris County for decades to come.

Partners on the Meadowbrook Plaza rehabilitation include Harris County Housing & Community Development, Harris County Housing Finance Corporation, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, and Alliant Capital, A Walker & Dunlop Company.