NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — It didn’t take long for the city’s newest affordable housing project to fill up, with phase one of the Kindred community and its 192 units already fully leased.

Mayor Kenny Alexander joined Redevelopment and Housing Authority Executive Director Nathan Simms and project developers to cut the ribbon just Tuesday afternoon.

So far, Kindred comprises two new buildings — Origin Circle, with 120 units for mixed income residents, and 72 Reunion apartments for senior living.

It’s designed to replace Tidewater Gardens, and 44 of the new units are now home for its former residents.

Among them is Wilma Gray, who moved into a three-bedroom, two-bath unit several months ago.

“It’s been awesome,” Gray said. “I like being out here. It’s safer, it’s quiet. The kids can enjoy themselves. There’s plenty stuff for them to do. We have a fitness center. We have a game room and a playground.”

Taylor Franklin, CEO of Franklin Group, said the amenities create modern and convenient living spaces.

“We have granite countertops, washers and dryers, tile floors and nine foot ceilings,” Franklin said. “We have all enclosed hallways, elevators and security cameras.”

Again, security was on the mind of Tasheda Kahill. Like Gray, she used to live in Tidewater Gardens.

“I feel 100% more secure here,” she said. “I can actually let my 10-year-old son play in the courtyard. It’s not accessible for people who have nothing but negative things to do because they see kids having fun.”

A press release from the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority calls Kindred a milestone that “represents a significant advancement in the St. Paul’s Area Transformation/Tidewater Gardens Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI). With a total investment exceeding $300 million, including a $30-million HUD grant, this initiative is among the largest redevelopment projects undertaken by the City and NRHA.”

Kindred has three more phases to go. Phase 2 is under construction, and Rich Sciortino, co-founder of Brinshore Development, hopes to have all four phases completed by late 2027.