Hedge Lane Apartments provide Johnson County residents with access to affordable housing
More Johnson County residents now have access to affordable housing. On Wednesday, June 6, Johnson County Government and Sunflower Development Group celebrated a ribbon cutting for Hedge Lane Apartments, a 144-unit Low-Income Housing Tax Credit apartment complex located in Shawnee.
In May 2022, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners authorized a $1 million investment to partially finance the construction of Hedge Lane Apartments. The loan was used to cover a funding gap in the affordable housing project due to inflation and increased construction costs. This was the first time Johnson County Government has provided funding for this type of project.
“We are so happy to partner with Sunflower to benefit our low-income families with housing vouchers,” Heather McNeive, director of Housing Services, said. “Our community needs more developers like Sunflower and projects like Hedge Lane to expand housing options and allow Johnson County to be an inclusive county for all.”
Hedge Lane Apartments accepts Housing Choice Vouchers, a program administered by Johnson County Housing Authority. Roughly 70% of those on the voucher program are elderly and/or disabled on a fixed income and struggle to meet their basic needs.
Participants on the program pay a portion of their income (30%-40%) towards rent and utilities combined. Rental subsidy payments are made directly to the property owners. These payments are intended to cover the remaining housing costs, easing the financial burden on the participants ensuring housing stability.
Hedge Lane Apartments, located just west of K-7 and 75th Street, features 42 one-bedroom units, 80 two-bedroom and 22 three-bedrooms – complete with washer and dryer, kitchen space and kitchen islands.
Haley Bruner is the Director of Asset Management at Sunflower Management Company, and her team manages Hedge Lane Apartments. Bruner recognizes the importance of Hedge Lane and other apartments that accept Housing Choice Vouchers.
“We think Hedge Lane is a great asset to the area. This area needs more housing options like this,” Bruner said. “I’m a big believer in low-income housing tax credit programs.”
Bruner’s team has worked closely with the Housing Authority leading up to the opening of Hedge Lane Apartments. “We have had a great experience with the residents and the Housing Authority so far. We appreciate the responsiveness and flexibility with inspections,” she said.
No Johnson County property or sale taxes were used in the financing of Hedge Lane Apartments. Funding comes from Countywide Support Fund in the county’s use of the lost revenue component of the American Rescue Plan Act.