Ribbon-cutting celebrates new affordable housing for seniors

The Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority celebrated the opening of Delmar Place Apartments with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 6. Located at 2129 Clinton Parkway, the $4.7 million development adds 32 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors.

Designed to help residents age in place, Delmar Place offers accessibility features well beyond federal requirements. Six units are fully wheelchair-accessible — triple the mandated number — and the building incorporates safety measures for tenants with visual or hearing impairments. Residents will also benefit from supportive services such as transportation, food delivery, recreation opportunities, and on-site technology labs.

Funding for the project came from a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act grant from the Douglas County Commission, $1.4 million from LDCHA reserves and $150,000 from the City of Lawrence Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

County Commission Chair Patrick Kelly praised the collaboration that made Delmar Place possible.

“I’m proud our Board committed ARPA funds in 2022 to make this vision real,” Kelly said during the ceremony. “This project has been a model of partnership with the Housing Authority, the City of Lawrence, Mar Lan Construction, and community members who know that affordable housing is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about dignity, security, and belonging — not for a few years, not for a generation, but forever. That’s an extraordinary legacy of stewardship and care.”

The development advances the goals of the community’s “A Place for Everyone” plan, which calls for more than 1,500 affordable rental units and at least 50 supportive units for adults 55 and older.

Delmar Place stands out for several reasons:

• Permanent affordability: Deed restrictions ensure the apartments remain available to low-income tenants in perpetuity.
• Senior-focused design: Accessible units, features for residents with hearing or vision impairments and supportive services foster independence and connection.
• Smart investment: Built on LDCHA-owned land, the project minimizes costs and preserves funds for future affordable housing.

The complex is named in honor of longtime LDCHA employee Delmar Jackson, who has dedicated two decades to ensuring residents have safe, clean and comfortable homes.

“Naming this place after Delmar is a beautiful reminder that housing is about people — about care, service and community,” Kelly said. “This is what a ‘place for everyone’ looks like.

The building is owned and operated by LDCHA, which has a waiting list of over 40 applicants. Offers for the units will be sent to eligible households, with tenants moving in throughout the first quarter of 2026.