An architectural rendering shows an elevation drawing of an eight-plex to be built in an apartment complex on Orchard Home Drive in west Medford.

Two apartment complexes broke ground in Medford last week, opening the door to more badly needed low-income housing.

Together, they represent the largest housing project ever by the Jackson County Housing Authority.

At two locations, one near South Medford High and the other near North Medford High, the project will provide 192 apartments, with a combination of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.

“We will complete construction by the end of 2024,” said Ryan Haynes, director of real estate development for the Housing Authority, which manages 2,000 units in Jackson County.

Haynes said the Housing Authority originally wanted to build the apartment complexes at different times, but the loss of 2,500 residences in the 2020 Almeda Fire sped everything up to address the severe housing shortage in the valley.

The $75 million Medford apartment buildings are being built by Adroit Construction.

The 96-unit Orchard Meadows apartments will be located on Orchard Home Drive and Cunningham Avenue in west Medford. A new intersection will be built at Cunningham to accommodate the buildings.

Haynes said Medford is upgrading a water line to the Orchard Meadows apartments to ensure adequate supply.

“The city is providing a portion of the work that needs to be done,” he said.

Prescott Gardens, also with 96 units, will be located on Keene Way, just south of Roberts Road.

Adroit has erected fencing around the project areas while construction is underway.

Each apartment complex will have a combination of two- and three-story buildings, with the first-floor units designed to be easily converted to accommodate those with disabilities. The walk-up apartment complexes won’t have elevators.

Haynes said construction will be staggered slightly to help the construction flow.

The majority of the financing has been secured through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

While the Housing Authority will manage the apartments, Key Bank owns a majority interest in the properties.

Medford City Council last year approved grants totaling $400,000 to help show local support for the project. This is the latest effort by the council to encourage development in the city to deal with the local housing shortage.

Because of the regulations involved in federal financing for these type of projects, it typically costs more to build than conventional construction.

The apartments will be built to last 60 years, so construction standards are higher than for a typical building.

The units will be available to those earning 60% of area median income, which is about $45,840 for a family of four.

Based on today’s area median income, the rents would be about $800 for a one-bedroom, $960 for a two-bedroom and $1,100 for a three-bedroom. By the time the apartments open in two years, rents will be based on 60% of area median income in 2024. The only units that won’t be available at the lower rents are those occupied by the property managers.

Haynes said the Housing Authority will begin accepting lease applications just before the projects are finished. He expects all 192 units will be leased out because of high demand.

Haynes said there is a backlog of potential renters looking for low-income housing in the valley.

Both apartment complexes are about a block away from a bus stop. They will each have a playground and a community room with a kitchen. Parking will be available on surface lots.

As with other units it manages, Haynes said, the Housing Authority will oversee the upkeep on its apartment complexes.