MIAMI, FL - McDowell Housing Partners (MHP), a leading affordable housing development and investment company, announced the financial closing to build Ekos at Warrington, its first affordable housing community in Pensacola, FL, comprising a total of 120 units.
“We are excited to break ground on Ekos at Warrington, our first affordable development in Escambia County, made possible through Florida’s landmark Live Local Act, which will provide working families with apartments and loads of amenities in a prime location,” said Christopher Shear, President of McDowell Housing Partners. “Ekos at Warrington is a leading example of policy working as intended. It demonstrates how targeted public investment can deliver meaningful housing for those who need and deserve it most.”
As the developer continues expanding its footprint across Florida, Ekos at Warrington represents Miami-based McDowell Housing Partners' 17th project to start construction in the state of Florida.
The community will serve a mix of income levels, with 10% of units reserved for extremely low-income (ELI) households at 40% of Area Median Income (AMI), and the remaining 90% of units serving households at or below 60% AMI. In accordance with the RFA requirements, 50% of the units will be set aside for active-duty military members, veterans, and their families. Half of the ELI units, representing 5% of the total project, will be reserved for veterans experiencing homelessness.
There is a critical shortage of attainable housing surrounding Naval Air Station Pensacola and other major military installations across Florida. In response, the FL legislature acted through the 2023 Live Local Act by allocating funding specifically for developments serving military bases.
Located at 280 Dogwood Dr., Ekos at Warrington will deliver 120 apartment homes across four separate three-story buildings, along with a stand-alone clubhouse. The project will provide well-appointed 72 one-bedroom, 36 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom units ranging from 631 to 1197 square feet, featuring spacious kitchens with granite countertops, luxury vinyl tile flooring, full-size, stainless steel, Energy Star appliances, and washer and dryer connections. Enhanced community amenities include a clubhouse with on-site management and maintenance offices, a fully equipped fitness center, a versatile community room with a kitchenette and game tables, and a media/business center with a computer lab. Additional amenities include a pool, playground, dog park, BBQ area, and a gazebo.
The development will also provide additional community services in partnership with a local services coordinator, Opening Doors Northwest Florida, a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness across Northwest Florida.
Ekos at Warrington will be a green building certified under the National Green Building Standards. Each spacious apartment will offer several energy efficiency features, including low-flow plumbing fixtures, SEER 15 HVAC systems, high efficiency (low-e or insulated) impact windows, Energy-Star qualified water heaters, LED lighting, and more.
The project was awarded $10,327,100 in State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) and Extremely Low Income (ELI) funding from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation through RFA 2024-215, Live Local SAIL Financing for Developments Near Military Installations.
Ekos at Warrington is financed through a combination of tax-exempt bonds, SAIL/ELI funding from FHFC, and 4% non-competitive Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). CREA serves as the tax credit investor, and R4 Capital is the construction and permanent lender.
The project team for Ekos at Warrington includes Park & Eleazer Construction as the general contractor, Slocum Platts Architects as the architect of record, and Kim Do as co-developer
The development will be near the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, a large military installation that serves as the initial training base for all U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers pursuing naval aviation and naval flight officer designations.
Ekos at Warrington is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2027.