MIAMI, FL - McDowell Housing Partners (MHP), a leading affordable housing developer and investment company, hosted an official groundbreaking ceremony for Ekos at Rockledge Park, a 100-unit affordable housing community near Florida’s Space Coast in Rockledge, Florida. Ekos at Rockledge Park will provide desperately needed housing options to the Rockledge market for families making between 30-70% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
The groundbreaking event was attended by Rockledge Mayor Thomas J. Price; Deputy Mayor/Vice Chair Frank T. Forester, Seat #4; and council members Michael A. Cadore Sr., Seat #1; Sammie Brown Martin, Seat #3; Duane A. Daski, Seat #5; and Tara L. Connor, Seat #6, along with representatives from McDowell Housing Partners.
Located at 1505 Cogswell Street, Ekos at Rockledge Park will deliver 100 apartment homes within a five-story residential building with a fully-amenitized internal clubhouse. The project will provide 70 one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom well-appointed units ranging from 671 to 1,162 square feet and feature kitchens with full-size stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, modern cabinetry, luxury vinyl tile flooring, balconies, and washer/dryers hookups in all units.
The community will serve a mix of income levels, with 15% of units reserved for extremely low-income (ELI) households at 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), 40% of units serving households at 60% AMI, and the remaining 45% serving households at 70% AMI.
The community-oriented amenities will include an internal clubhouse with on-site management offices, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a media/business center with computer stations, and a multipurpose clubroom with a kitchenette and game tables. Additional amenities include a mailroom, package lockers, community washers/dryers, and an outdoor shaded pavilion area and seating.
Ekos at Rockledge Park will be a green building certified under the National Green Building Standards to help residents keep their utility bills down. Each apartment will offer many energy efficiency features, including Energy Star-rated appliances, low-flow plumbing fixtures, impact windows, LED lighting, and more.
Finance for this development is made possible through a combination of tax-exempt bonds, $10,000,000 in CDBG-DR funds, and 4% non-competitive Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), all issued by Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Bank of America serves as the project's tax-credit investor and construction lender, while Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust provides long-term permanent financing.
Ekos at Rockledge Park is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2028.
As the developer continues expanding its footprint across Florida, Ekos at Rockledge Park represents Miami-based McDowell Housing Partners' 18th affordable housing project to start construction in the state of Florida since 2019, and its first development in Brevard County.
McDowell Housing Partners (MHP) is a leading developer and investor of affordable housing. Founded in 2019, MHP ranks #17 nationally on Affordable Housing Finance’s AHF 50 list of top affordable housing developers, measured by units started. The company has secured competitive funding for 22 new affordable communities, providing more than 3,100 units across Florida and Texas. With a vertically integrated team, MHP works closely with local governments and community stakeholders to address the critical shortage of high-quality affordable housing, ensuring access to safe, stable, and affordable homes for families and seniors regardless of socioeconomic status. For more information, visit www.mcdhousing.com