Renaissance and Delaney Villages

King Kennedy Estate was constructed in two sections: the south family units and high rise in 1970 and the north family units and high rise in 1971. There were originally a total of 1,188 units constructed on 35 acres of land. Of this total, 486 units were built for families and 702 units were built to house elderly residents in the high rises.

In the early 1990’s, CMHA recognized the need to revitalize this property using a holistic approach. The Housing Authority developed a master plan with input from residents to reclaim the development with architectural renovations and social services programs. Utilizing MROP Funds, the first phase of construction began at King Kennedy with the renovation of 90 units.

This renovation project created Renaissance Village which included careful site planning and the use of high quality materials to transform a section of King Kennedy from a drab and uninviting space to a bright and pleasant village atmosphere. The improvements included individual apartment access for security and privacy, improved façade treatments, weather resistant windows, comprehensive landscaping and amenities for children, including the installation of new play equipment.

In 1993, CMHA applied for and received a $50,000,000 HOPE VI Grant for the renovation of the remaining 126 units at King Kennedy South, the high-rise facility and for the renovation of units at nearby Outhwaite Homes Estate. Immediate renovations were undertaken at King Kennedy South for the remaining 126 units at a cost of $10.6 million dollars. The renovations were completed in 1997 and the newly renovated buildings were named Delaney Village by the residents to honor Ralph Delaney, who was shot and killed at this site while delivering food to residents in the early 1990’s.

Like the design for Renaissance Village, Delaney Village also incorporated defensible space design principles so that each apartment and townhouse would have its own private entrance way. Both Renaissance and Delaney Village are now characterized by beautiful landscaping, security lighting and fencing which serve the dual purpose of discouraging non-residents and criminal elements from trespassing, while enhancing the aesthetics of the neighborhood.