Affordable senior housing complex holds grand opening in Doraville

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Guests attended the grand opening of the Veranda at Assembly in Doraville, Ga.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

Officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development joined DeKalb County leaders at a ribbon cutting ceremony for an affordable senior housing complex.

The Veranda at Assembly is a100-unit apartment complex in Doraville, northeast of Atlanta, open to people ages 55 and up. Residents in 80 of the units will have their rent capped at 30% of their salary.

This affordability is made possible by the public-private partnership between the DeKalb County Housing Authority, HUD, and real estate developers the Integral Group.

DeKalb Housing Authority CEO Pete Walker said the agency tries to create or improve 1,000 units of affordable housing a year and HUD supports them.

“I have to give a special thanks to Secretary Todman for coming in,” he said. “I want to personally thank you for sending that $50 million to DeKalb County every year for our housing choice voucher program. That allows stuff like this to happen.”

Construction on the four-story building began in January 2023. HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said the agencies are removing restrictive barriers to build housing that won’t sit empty.

“We're doing it for the people, for the seniors who may have retired, who may have lost a loved one,” Todman said. “Maybe their kids moved away. They can't afford where they are — for our seniors to have some place to live with dignity and with affordability.”

Residents will be able to apply and move in immediately.

This senior housing development is one of many additions planned in Doraville. City council recently approved a plan to redevelop the downtown corridor to add greenspace, a library and a new park near Buford Highway.