Ever since the city of Brookhaven approved the construction of the Mill Creek subdivision on South First Street in July 2019, potential homebuyers have been itching to be allowed to apply.

Coming in one month ahead of schedule, prospective home owners can begin the application process by calling Envolve Property Management at 901-435-7795.

The project was submitted to the city as the Concerted Community Revitalization Plan from Southport Financial as a 48-home subdivision to be built at an estimated cost of $9.6 million.

“We want to see high-quality housing in this particular area, and this housing will be built at or above local ordinances,” Southport Partner Scott Seckinger said at the time.

Mill Creek is not subsidized housing. The development is considered workforce housing, also called affordable housing, because the homes can be lease-to-purchase. Target tenants are people who work, pay their own bills and their own rent. Background and credit checks will be performed, as potential tenants must qualify just as qualifying for a mortgage.

A benefit of the plan is that once a tenant qualifies to live in Mill Creek, they won’t be disqualified if their family’s income goes up.

“It’s good for people … to make more each year,” Seckinger said. “No one is encouraged to stay at the same income level to live there.”

City Building Inspector David Fearn made inspections on every step of construction as the houses were going up, he said.

In the summer of 2020, Seckinger said the project had not been hampered by COVID-19 and was progressing on schedule with a target end date of April 2021.

“Our hope is that the end product will provide the citizens of Brookhaven an ultra-high-quality, energy-efficient, safe and affordable community to raise their families,” Seckinger said.