McDowell Completes Phase 2 of Affordable Senior Housing Project
This is the county's first affordable development in more than two decades.
McDowell Housing Partners completed the second 160-unit phase of Ekos Cadenza, an affordable senior housing community taking shape in Naples, Fla.
The first phase of the project, which also comprised 160 units, opened in October 2024. The multiphase development is delivering the first affordable senior housing units to Collier County in more than 20 years. Collier County Community Land Trust, Inc., served as the local non-profit partner to MHP, a national investor and developer of affordable housing.
Located at 8369 Rattlesnake Hammock Road, Ekos Cadenza is an income- and rent-restricted community with 19 apartments reserved for seniors earning at or below 30 percent the Area Median Income and 119 units designated for seniors at 60 percent AMI. Rents range from $529 to $1,406. The area has seen escalating rents at market-rate multifamily communities and assisted living facilities, making the demand for affordable senior housing overwhelming, according to MHP President Chris Shear.
Property details
The five-story, elevator-serviced building has studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging in size from 527 square feet to 1,007 square feet. The residences have spacious kitchens with granite countertops and tile backsplashes. Other features include upgraded LVP flooring throughout the units, walk-in closets and washer/dryer hookups.
Amenities include a swimming pool, outdoor wet bar, fitness center, game room, media center, pickleball court and clubhouse. Numerous services and programs are provided to the residents including on-site healthcare services from the Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida and a daily meal administered by Collier County.
Active affordable developer
The opening of the second phase of Ekos Cadenza comes about a month after MHP completed Phase I of Ekos at Arbor Park, a 136-unit affordable senior housing community in North Port, Fla. Also fully affordable and age restricted, the North Port property provides housing for residents over the age of 55, earning between 20 and 70 percent of AMI. The property is located at 1320 Citizens Parkway in Sarasota County.
Ekos at Arbor Park has 76 one-bedroom and 60 two-bedroom units ranging between 700 and 947 square feet. Upon completion, the master-planned community will have three buildings and nearly 8,000 square feet of commercial space across 4 acres. The second phase will have 66 affordable units.
READ ALSO: National Affordable Housing Report – May 2025
In February, MHP completed the first phase of Southpointe Vista, a $122 million, 332-unit affordable housing development in Goulds, Fla. It is the firm’s first project in Miami-Dade County. The 10-story building is located at 21255 SW 117th Court, about 27 miles southwest of downtown Miami. The property has one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for residents earning 30, 60 or 70 percent of AMI.
Construction is underway on the second phase, which will have 208 affordable units in a 12-story building. The project is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2026.
MHP, which has six offices across the U.S. including one in Miami, was founded in 2019. The firm works closely with local governments and community stakeholders to provide affordable housing for families and seniors. MHP has already secured funding for 22 new affordable communities totaling more than 3,100 units across Florida and Texas.
