An affordable housing complex in Irving has received a multimillion-dollar makeover.
Britain Way, located near Lane Street and O'Connor Boulevard, got a major face-lift as the result of a public-private partnership.
Deepak Sulakhe, OM Housing president and CEO, said the project took three years.
"This part of town has not seen any development in the last several years, so we felt like the focus was to preserve affordable housing," he said.
The building received a gold LEED certification, one of the most eco-friendly certifications available.
"You see the savings being used in productive ways," he said. "They can take that $30, $40 that they save and start putting it towards a college education and into their first home."
Sulakhe's other objective was to bring residents together. The current pool and kid playground areas used to be a muddy field.
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Richii Connally, who moved in last December, said she couldn't be happier.
"It's perfect, because it was perfect for me, and that's why I came," she said. "It helps me with school and then, of course, with the working out, easy to maneuver."
Sulakhe said he's focusing on pushing the value of education for the students living at Britain Way by providing facilities and programs to prepare them for higher education. Don Williams, Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce director of business and visitors services said apartment complex has become the jewel of the neighborhood.
"This is just a tremendous asset for our community," he said.
The mayor and other city and business leaders celebrated the apartment's grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday evening.
