Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. held a festive celebration, complete with horse-drawn tours and carolers in Victorian costumes from Morgan County High School choir, on December 16, 2025, to mark the opening of Prior Farms, an $18.5 million 40-unit single-family rental community located at 1001 Harrow Street, Madison, GA. Co-developer is Parallel Housing, Inc.
Representatives from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (GA DCA) and U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance joinedofficials fromthe City of Madison, including Mayor Fred Perriman, to participate in the celebration with the co-developers and other invited guests.
“Madison families and employees continue to benefit from strong housing partners like Woda Cooper and Parallel Housing, who are committed to creating quality, affordable homes for our residents,” said Madison Mayor Fred Perriman. “Prior Farms represents another step forward to ensuring working families have options to live and thrive here.”
He added, “What makes Prior Farms especially unique is that it expands efforts into single-family homes—where the city truly lacks quality, affordable options. Developments like Prior Farms help address Georgia’s critical need by providing well-designed, energy-efficient homes. We are also grateful for Madison’s GICH Housing Team, who listen to our citizens’ needs and help guide efforts like this to ensure we meet real community priorities.”
Prior Farms includes four one-bedroom homes, 20 two-bedroom homes, and 16 three-bedroom homes. All homes are single-level buildings with covered front porches and backyard patios with storage units. All have washer/dryers in units. There are homes designed with features for renters with mobility and sight/hearing disabilities. Thirty-six affordable single-family homes are reserved for renters with household incomes up to 60 percent of area median income. Four homes are offered at market rate without income restrictions.
Prior Farms is the second phase of Carmichael Commons, a 50-unit multifamily townhome community located in an adjacent parcel that Woda Cooper and Parallel Housing opened earlier this year.
Prior Farms has a stand-alone community center with a community room with kitchenette, a computer room, a mail center, plus an onsite management/maintenance center. There is also an outdoor gazebo with grills and a children’s playground.
“Prior Farms delivers an excellent housing option that offers Madison area families seeking affordable housing. Its single family homes offer space, including front and back yards, and amenities suited for singles, families with children, and those with disabilities,” said Tommy Lowmon, Senior Vice President – Development for Woda Cooper Companies.
Primary financing for Prior Farms was supported through federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by the GA DCA. “The completion of Prior Farms, the second phase of Carmichal Commons, highlights the importance of strategic investments in affordable housing,” said Denise Farrior, Division Director of the Housing Finance Development Division at DCA. “This development reflects how the Housing Tax Credit program expands housing opportunities and strengthens communities like Madison through effective public and private collaboration. DCA is proud to support partners who help create quality homes for Georgia residents.”
U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, a subsidiary of U.S. Bank, purchased both the federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to provide equity financing for Prior Farms. It also provided a construction loan.
“We’re honored to support Prior Farms as an equity investor and lender, working with Woda Cooper Companies and Parallel Housing to create another 40 homes in Madison, Georgia,” said John Lisella, Affordable Housing Business Development Officer, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, the community development financing division of U.S. Bank. “This is a great example of our how our financing solutions help our clients expand access to affordable housing and build a foundation of financial stability for future residents.”
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust (CRBT) provided a permanent mortgage for Prior Farms. “Our mission as a lender is focused on supporting neighborhoods and communities like Madison as they support a range of housing choices for their residents. We are pleased to work with our longtime partners Woda Cooper Companies, and their co-developer Parallel Housing, to provide mortgage financing for Prior Farms,” said Michael J. Goerdt, Vice President, Specialty Finance Group, CRBT.
Architect for Prior Farms was Pimsler Hoss Architects, Inc. with civil engineering by Crescent View Engineering, LLC. Woda Construction, Inc. is the general contractor. Leasing and property management is performed by Woda Management & Real Estate. For more information, call 762-662-5390 or visit www.wodagroup.com.
About Parallel Housing, Inc.
Parallel Housing, Inc. is a nonprofit developer based in Athens, GA, and dedicated to the development of sustainable, affordable multifamily housing for seniors and families. Founded in 2002, Parallel Housing currently has twenty-five properties operating or in development in Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina, Iowa, and Ohio.
About Woda Cooper Companies, Inc.
Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. and its affiliates specialize in the development, design, construction, and management of high-quality affordable multi-family communities, senior communities, and single-family homes. The company was founded in 1990 and now has operations in 18 states and a portfolio of 465 communities and 18,000 units operating or under construction. Green building is standard with certifications including Passive House, Zero Energy Ready Homes, LEED, Enterprise Green, EarthCraft, and ENERGY STAR. Woda Cooper Companies has offices in Savannah, GA; Indianapolis, IN; Shelbyville, KY; Baltimore, MD; Mackinaw City, MI; Columbus, OH; and Norfolk, VA. This year Affordable Housing Finance magazine ranked Woda Cooper Companies 10th in nation among Developers and 21st among Owners.
