Shepherd’s Garden, Lynnwood, Washington’s new affordable housing community for seniors, celebrated its grand opening earlier this month and features 39 apartments on 2.24 acres.  The $9.8 million project was built by ABHOW of Pleasanton, Calif., and co-developed by the Seattle-based Beacon Development Group and is open to low and very low-income seniors over 62 years of age.  The project received $5.4 million in federal support, as well as $2 million from the Washington Housing Trust Fund, and $462,000 from Snohomish County.

“The State of Washington’s Housing Trust Fund was critical to the success of this project,” said Paul Purcell, president and founder of the Beacon Development Group. “In today’s economic environment, projects financed by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development are only possible when state and local funders get involved too. Shepherd’s Garden is another good example of that collaboration.”

In addition, Good Shepherd Baptist Church, the project’s neighbor, donated the land, which is valued at $1.9 million.  The project was the result of a vote by members of Good Shepherd Baptist Church as a gesture to bring an affordable senior housing project to the area.

“We were blessed by the foresight of those who chose this land for our congregation 50 years ago, land that is now at the heart of a vital and growing city. By making the property available and being a small part of the development of this beautiful home for our neighbors in need, we feel that we have honored God and God’s calling to us,” said the Rev. M. Christopher Boyer, pastor of Good Shepherd.