Renovated Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion Unveiled After Four Years of Work

Public-private partnership delivers 248 affordable housing units in St. Croix, boosting the territory’s housing inventory and providing relief to families in need.

“Today we have transformed this pavilion into a beacon of hope and progress for our island,” said Emmanuella Perez-Cassius, director of Resident Wellness and Empowerment at the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion, under the patronage of the housing community's namesake. Ms. Perez-Cassius was speaking at the grand opening of the affordable housing community on Thursday, celebrating what was described as “the power of partnership and collaboration in building and rebuilding our beloved Virgin Islands.”

Started four years ago, the Walter I.M. Hodge renovation and rehabilitation was conducted in phases, with the first 82 units becoming available for occupancy last October. “This has been the most difficult and most rewarding project that I have ever worked on,” said Catherine Levinson, Senior Development Project Manager at MDG Design + Construction. Part of the complexity, she explained, came from managing the significant regulatory obligations to ensure a smooth flow of funding from federal partners including FEMA and HUD, along with coordinating efforts with local agencies including the V.I. Housing Authority and the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority.