After many years of planning the developers of Erdace Apartments held a groundbreaking ceremony in the heart of downtown Lake Charles, LA. The project is valued at over $40,000,000 and is the largest downtown investment in the history of Lake Charles. Erdace is a 4-story building featuring 270 luxury studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. The units feature 10-foot ceilings, private balconies in every unit, washer and dryer, granite countertops, hardwood flooring, walk in showers with garden size tub, track lights and ceiling fans. Erdace offers downtown living with interior entry for every unit. Amenities include a 4,500-square foot fitness facility, a yoga room, landscaped courtyard with a massive swimming pool, fountain areas with gas grills, parking garage and a separate conference/business center for residents. Unicorp Construction, is the General Contractor for the project. Erdace has a 15-month construction schedule with an opening planned for Spring of 2018.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in January for the Edgewood Health and Rehabilitation Center, a 58,400 sf 80 unit, 119 bed facility located in Byram, MS. The project has a slab-on-grade foundation with wood frame panelized walls. The exterior has burnished lime stone and brick with a Porte Cohere drive thru entrance, architectural shingles and standing seam metal roof. The building features a full commercial kitchen with a spacious dining area and a memory care unit. Unicorp Construction was the General Contractor.

Unicorp Construction began demolition on the Vicksburg Housing Authority project on Dec. 6 with starting with 34 units at the housing authority’s Hayes Street property followed by Urban Court which began in February.

The work is part of a 15-phase, $50 million program to renovate and upgrade all of Vicksburg Housing Authority’s 430 housing units as the housing authority converts its properties from public housing to Section 8 under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration Program. This program requires the housing to be brought up to HUD standards.

Funding for the project included low income tax credit financing, historic tax credits on the property, funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank, money from the Mississippi Home Corp. Housing Trust Fund and $2.4 million in capital improvements money VHA kept in as reserve in anticipation of being part of the RAD.

The renovations include new roof shingles, vinyl tile flooring, raised panel doors, three paint colors on the interiors, cabinets with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, nickel plated handles and fixtures, new air conditioning with new thermostats, repairs to sheetrock, ceramic tile and enamel coating on the tubs, windows, new doors and screen doors, new wall outlets and covers.