GREENVILLE, SC – Two former outdated apartment complexes off White Horse Road officially started a new chapter Thursday morning as community members welcomed 38 new affordable units at Vista West III.
The ceremony yesterday was about more than bricks and mortar, said Mario Brown, CEO of Affordable Upstate, who owns Vista West III and oversaw the redevelopment of the property with support from Lowe’s.
“This started with a vision to change how people look at affordable housing,” Brown said. “For too long, our community has accepted substandard housing as the norm. That is changing. We are leading that change.”
This was a project that started in July 2024 when Affordable Upstate purchased a two-story building at 100 Lily Street that had 14 units, and an L-shaped, two-story structure that had 24 at 2001 West Parker Road.
The goal was to restore them and combine them into one community instead of demolishing the units and building something new, and much more expensive for residents. This was the company’s third acquisition on Lily Street and gives them a significant competitive advantage, with the entire Vista West portfolio on Lily Street and West Parker Road being 160 units.
Vista West III underwent a full “gut” renovation by essentially turning a tired 1970s-era complex into a “like-new” community, Brown said. Everything from the plumbing and electrical systems to the windows and fixtures were replaced or upgraded.
The renovation includes interiors (new appliances, finishes, and energy-efficient systems), improved insulation and windows for lower utility costs, repaired structure and roofing, refreshed exteriors and landscaping, and added amenities for safety and comfort. By upgrading all 38 units at once (rather than a building-half at a time), the project also gained efficiency and presented a fully improved community.