Canton Breaks Ground on Tanner Place

CANTON — Construction is underway to bring a new public housing community with 70 units to Shipp Street in Canton.

Canton leaders and city staff, as well as members of the Canton Housing Authority and the community, gathered at 1 Shipp St. near downtown Canton Aug. 7 to break ground on Tanner Place.

Tanner Place is the new community coming to Shipp Street, which is being redeveloped. Thirty nine units there were demolished, and will be replaced with the 70 new units.

When it’s completed, residents in the 31 units at Jefferson Circle will be transferred to Tanner Place.

The namesake of this new neighborhood, former Canton City Councilmember Pat Tanner, thanked her family, church and everyone who came to celebrate the neighborhood’s groundbreaking.

“I don’t do things to be recognized, but it is a blessing when people recognize and appreciate the things you do, so thank you all for coming out and being a part of this celebration,” Tanner said.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2025. The total development cost has been projected to be about $24 million.

“The project is funded by Low Income Housing Tax Credits and there will also be HUD-funded project-based vouchers applied to the resident rents to make them more affordable,” said CHA Executive Director Jacquelyn Loberg.

The 70 units will include 16 one-bedroom units, 19 two-bedroom units, 28 three-bedroom units, and seven four-bedroom units. This is a one-for-one replacement of the current unit mix at Shipp Street and Jefferson Circle, according to the city.

Amenities for the development will include a laundry room, covered pavilion with picnic and barbecue facilities and an equipped computer center, Loberg said.

“Today is a great day for a groundbreaking on the first new public housing in the city of Canton in nearly 50 years,” Canton Mayor Bill Grant said. “Everyone who has worked on this project deserves a round of applause and we couldn’t be more excited to get this project kickstarted.”

He added that he hopes this will be the first of many new Canton housing projects that are “attainable for all of our residents of all backgrounds.”