New affordable housing opens in Foxtail Meadows neighborhood
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Twenty-six new affordable rental homes are now part of Lincoln’s Foxtail Meadows neighborhood, including six dedicated to refugee families.
Hoppe Development celebrated the opening of Foxtail 26 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, marking another step toward addressing the growing need for affordable housing in Lincoln.
The development provides rental housing for working families and refugee households, who can face additional challenges finding safe, stable and affordable places to live.
“They’re wonderful families who have gone through such a journey to come to the United States,” said Jake Hoppe, CEO of Hoppe Development. “And the last thing I think is it’s challenging is often finding a place to live.”
The new development offers different unit sizes to accommodate families’ needs. One of the newly constructed two-story units features spacious living areas, modern finishes, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Connor Menard, project development manager for Hoppe Development, said finding housing with enough space can be particularly difficult for refugee families.
“A lot of times, it’s hard to find new housing, especially in this market,” Menard said. “And so being able to provide large units that are, you know, four bedrooms, two baths, to refugee families that a lot of times are in inadequate conditions, living conditions, and cramped, you know, smaller bedroom and smaller living spaces.”
Foxtail 26 came together through a partnership between Hoppe Development, Good Neighbor Community Center and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, with support from federal pandemic relief funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Tom Randa, executive director of Good Neighbor Community Center, said the project demonstrates the importance of collaboration in addressing housing needs.
“That kind of partnership really matters,” Randa said. “It demonstrates what can happen when a private sector, the government, and community organizations work together towards a common goal.”
Foxtail 26 is part of the larger Foxtail Meadows neighborhood, which developers say will eventually include more than 500 homes, including affordable housing options.
The project also contributes to Lincoln’s goal of adding 5,000 affordable and attainable housing units by 2030.
According to Hoppe Development, a 20-year affordability agreement will help ensure homes supported by the Pandemic Relief Housing Program remain available to qualifying households.
But Randa said the impact of the development goes beyond the number of homes being built.
“Today we are not simply celebrating buildings, we are celebrating possibilities,” Randa said. “We are celebrating the child who will have a safe place to sleep and do their homework. We are celebrating the parents who can finally focus on their jobs and their children’s future without constantly worrying about where their families will live.”
Refugee families were among those attending Tuesday’s celebration, including some who hope to one day call Foxtail Meadows home.
