Florence to Celebrate Groundbreaking for 64 Affordable Apartment Homes on October 28, 2026

The Paces Foundation, Soho Housing Partners and the Housing Authority of Florence to mark $20.5 million redevelopment of Oakland Place

FLORENCE, SC, UNITED STATES, October 23, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Paces Preservation Partners, a strategic partnership between The Paces Foundation and Soho Housing Partners, and the Housing Authority of Florence invite media and the public to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Dr. Iola Jones affordable housing community, which will replace Oakland Place.

WHO
Among the speakers will be:
Mayor Lethonia Barnes of Florence
Dr. Al Bradley, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Florence
Alexis Pierre, Soho Housing Partners Vice President of Development
Scotty Davis, City Manager, City of Florence
Representative Terry Alexander, SC House District 59
Board of Commissioners Chairman Calvin Robinson, Housing Authority of Florence

WHAT:
Celebration of groundbreaking for 64 new apartment homes for families
Photo and video opportunity. Lunch provided.

WHERE:
Dr. Iola Jones Park/Oakland Place
608 E Maxwell St
Florence, SC 29506

WHEN:
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 11:00 am

The event is free to the public. Please go to https://pp.events/iola to register.

Paces Preservation Partners is set to begin demolition and new construction on a $20.5 million multifamily affordable housing community on 6.6 acres in North Florence. Oakland Place was originally built in 1972 and requires a complete makeover due to old plumbing and electrical as well as building materials that may contain asbestos.

The four new residential buildings will contain one- to four-bedroom floorplans and will feature modern, energy-efficient appliances and central HVAC. Exterior amenities will include a community building, equipped business center, exercise facility, covered pavilion suitable for picnics and grilling and a fully equipped playground. All units are reserved for residents who earn 60% of the area median household income or less. Financing is being provided by Berkadia (Freddie Mac), Advantage Capital, and J.P. Morgan Chase in partnership with the Housing Authority of Florence. Completion date for Oakland Place is projected to be January 2028.

About Soho Housing Partners
Leveraging more than 40 years of housing and capital markets experience, Soho Housing Partners, LLC was founded by Steve Bien and Kevin DiQuattro to develop, construct, and preserve multi-housing with a concentration on affordable housing developments. Soho’s significant structuring, financial, and technical expertise affords the ability to find value in even the most complex transactions and unique development opportunities.

About The Paces Foundation
Founded in 1991, The Paces Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and services for low-income neighbors. The housing for both seniors and families is built to green certification standards to ease utility and maintenance costs for residents and has a low impact on the environment. The foundation contributed millions of dollars to the economy through professional services and building trades and is Section 3 compliant. The Paces Foundation has owned, preserved or developed more than 3,500 units across the Southeast. Visit www.pacesfoundation.org.

About the Housing Authority of Florence
Housing Authority of Florence manages affordable housing for Cheraw and McColl Housing Authorities in Florence, Chesterfield and Dillon South Carolina. All four housing authorities offer low-income families, seniors and veterans the opportunity to rent an affordable residence, whether apartments or single-family homes. To learn more, visit https://www.hafsc.org/about-us.

Amy Sigal
The Paces Foundation
+1 678-467-0253
amy@pacesfoundation.org
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