1940's Vintage Tindall Heights Renewed as Tindall Senior Towers Emerges

Ribbon cutting ceremony: Johnny C. Walker, III Chairman, Macon-Bibb County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners cuts the ribbon for Tindall Senior Towers along with federal, state and local partners.

For many World War II and the 1940's seem a very distant memory but fast forwarding seventy years to today the old Tindall Heights public housing development built in the 40's is transitioning to something more and that more was readily visible in the recent ribbon cutting ceremony at Tindall Senior Towers near Mercer University in Macon as HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett recognized the achievement reading from a congratulatory letter from HUD Secretary Ben Carson while adding her own heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to the Macon Housing Authority, community leaders and partners for providing quality affordable housing for senior residents as part of a larger strategy to transform the community. A crowd of over 150 attendees listened intently and celebrated this historic occasion as Cleveland-Leggett, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Mayor Reichert, Johnny Walker III, chairman of the housing authority board and Mike Austin, Macon Housing Authority Executive Director provided historical prospective and congratulations.

Many senior residents were also present for the event to include Emma Jackson who recently moved into a new apartment in Tindall Senior Towers this Spring.

"It's been a world of difference and I enjoy the spaciousness and going out and meeting the neighbors," said Jackson.

"No amount of words can explain the extraordinary effort and achievement we witnessed here today as senior residents are enjoying Tindall Senior Towers wonderful housing and amenities", said Cleveland-Leggett. "This is truly an example of what can be achieved with public and private collaboration to provide affordable housing to those we mutually serve but also as part of comprehensive and well thought out effort to transform a community."

All 76 senior resident units in the $14.7 million new Tindall Seniors Towers are occupied. Construction is underway on the second phase of the renamed Tindall Fields and once the multifamily housing is completed construction should begin by the end of the year on the phase three. Total costs associated with the historic redevelopment is estimated at $45 million.

The goal is to have the entire housing project which will house a total of 270 residents finished by late 2020.

Tindall Heights was Macon's first public housing development for black families and was considered modern by standards then but over the next seventy years became outdated. The new housing based on the master plan calls for more open space and better amenities and an 8.5-acre commercial development that would provide shopping and potential job opportunities for residents, too.

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