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Village at Mills Creek

The Housing Authority of DeKalb County (HADC) developed a comprehensive plan to convert Tobie Grant Manor's 200 public housing units for the 21st century. The comprehensive project plan involves the relocation all of the residents (Uniform Relocation Plan), the demolition of the existing public housing, and the finance and redevelopment of the entire site through public and private partnerships.

Tobie Grant Manor, unincorporated DeKalb County’s last public housing project, is being redeveloped according to a multi-phase, mixed-use master plan, with an emphasis on mixed-income senior and family housing. Tobie Grant Manor, built in 1966 on 55 acres in Central DeKalb County's Scottdale community, included 200 units and consisted of 104 prairie-style single and duplex buildings.

The new development, Village at Mills Creek, is a master planned mixed finance development, the redevelopment site plan includes 380 units, including one family (200 units) and two senior (100 and 80 units) communities.

Relocation of Tobie Grant Manor residents was completed in the Spring of 2014 and demolition and reconstruction at the site began in November, 2014. Construction for Phase I, Reserve at Mills Creek, as well as parts of Phase II, Mills Creek Crossing, was completed with new residents began moving in May, 2016.

Each phase is a stand-alone project with separate financing. The communities will not share amenities or any other financial and physical components. The Housing Authority is working in partnership with DeKalb County Community Development to include an intergenerational center that will be located at the rear of the site.

Phase I of redevelopment, Reserve at Mills Creek, included a100-unit mid-rise senior community restricted to those aged 62 or older. The community includes 84 one-bedroom units and 16 two-bedroom units, and is designated as an EarthCraft Community with all the energy efficient features and future reduced costs. Amenities include a fitness center, community room, computer/business center, arts room, resident gardens and an outdoor gazebo with barbeque area. The project was financed with a mix of 9% LIHTC, conventional and HADC loans, and includes 30 project-based and 70 rental assistance demonstration (RAD) units.

Phase II of the redevelopment, Mills Creek Crossing, is a 200-unit mixed-income family community consisting of 44 one-bedroom units, 116 two-bedroom units, and 40 three-bedroom units. The project was financed with a mix of 4% LIHTC, conventional, HADC, and DCA HOME loans, and includes 40 market units, 120 60% LIHTC units, and 40 rental assistance demonstration (RAD) units. 

Phase III of the redevelopment, Retreat at Mills Creek, included an 80-unit mid-rise senior community restricted to those aged 62 or olderl Leasing began in early 2017. The community includes 60 one-bedroom units and 20 two-bedroom units, and is designated as an EarthCraft Community with all the energy efficient features and future reduced costs. Amenities include a fitness center, theater, multi-purpose community room, porches, computer/business center, arts and crafts activity room, resident gardens and an outdoor gazebo with barbeque area. The project was financed with a mix of 9% LIHTC, conventional and HADC loans, and includes 19 project-based and 61 LIHTC units.

Additional phases may include private development of approximately 100 units of for-sale single family detached homes and townhomes and the potential for retail. The HADC is also working in partnership with DeKalb County Community Development to include a new Intergenerational Community Center located at the rear of the site.