Conversion of former children's home in Alexandria to start in March

By Billy Gunn

Sidney Gremillion, a local developer working with Atlanta developer Roger Landry, explains plans to incorporate the long-closed Masonic Home for Children in Alexandria (background) into Mason Estates, a development that will include 169 apartments. The project will involve refurbishment of the main building and construction of new buildings. / Leandro Huebner/lhuebner@thetowntalk.com

After sitting empty for almost 20 years, the former Masonic Home for Children in Alexandria is scheduled to undergo a $17 million conversion starting in March to 169 high-end apartments.
The gated community to be known as Mason Estates will be completed in 2013, the developer said.
Roger Landry, an Atlanta developer originally from Lake Charles, said Mason Estates would include 25 loft apartments with high ceilings, and that the monthly rental on the units will average $850 to $900. All the units will have electric fireplaces, washers and dryers, and there will be a swimming pool for residents, he said.
The land and buildings in which orphaned children once were housed and taught is at the corner of Masonic and Horseshoe drives, near the South Traffic Circle. Plans call for demolition of the boys and girls dormitory buildings. The building that housed the infirmary will become the leasing office.
"This development will breathe new life into the Masonic corridor that we hope will spur new development activity in the area," Landry said. "By providing a solid anchor at the south end of Masonic, we hope to create a new front door for the southern entrance into Alexandria."On Feb. 28, Landry is scheduled to officially purchase some of the property and buildings at the site. Current owners Ray and Judi Proctor of Woodworth will retain the land that fronts Masonic Drive for possible commercial development.Landry would not disclose the price of the land and buildings, including the three-story main building that will be refurbished and turned into the 25 loft apartments. He said six more buildings would be built for the remaining apartments.
Landry applied for and received tax credits for the development, and the loan is backed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A Dallas lender is loaning the money for the property purchase and construction.
"The development team is working closely with the state's division of Historic Preservation to ensure that many of the historic elements remain intact throughout the rehabilitation process," Landry said in a news release.1 2 Next