She’s continuing to lead the charge in serving her community!
In 2023, construction on a new mixed-income housing complex named after activist and educator Dr. Opal Lee began in Fort Worth, Texas, NBCDFW news reports. Plans for “The Opal” were first announced in June 2021 to honor the elder matriarch known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” For decades, Lee fought to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, and that effort finally came to fruition in 2021. Now, Lee will have a housing complex named in her honor, an endeavor she says is near and dear to her heart.
“You ever live in a shotgun house? Take a rifle, you can shoot through the front door right through the back. Never touches anything. I have lived in some of that. I have lived in Butler Place, where it was decent housing compared to what I have lived in before. So I’m ecstatic they’re going to [build] wonderful places to live, as well as work,” Lee previously told reporters.
The new housing community boasts more than 300 units, with half of the units available at market rate and the other half dedicated to those earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). “The Opal” also reserves 5% of the units for households earning 50% or less of the AMI. There has been a greater need for affordable housing in Fort Worth, and this is the start of that. In addition to providing a solution for lower-income families in the area, the community is also centrally located in an area teeming with businesses.
“This is such a great location for jobs. Instead of having people travel up and down 35, they can live where they work. It’s a great place for schools. By having a mixed-income approach, we can serve those market rate tenants as well as those that need an affordable or workforce unit,” explained Mary-Margaret Lemons, president of Fort Worth Housing Solutions.
“The Opal” is currently leasing with a grand opening slated for January 30th.
“I think The Opal is going to be, as the young people say, ‘the bomb!’ Oh, just think of the people who will have decent houses,” said Lee.
Cover photo: New Affordable Housing Community Named After Activist Opal Lee to Open in Fort Worth, TX/Photo credit: Fort Worth Housing Solutions