Shovels finally hit the dirt in Waverly this week as officials and residents celebrated a long‑awaited milestone: the ceremonial groundbreaking for Cherry Hill, a new affordable‑housing complex meant to replace public housing wiped out by the catastrophic 2021 flood. The plan calls for rebuilding about 62 units on higher ground, with rents capped at no more than one‑third of a household's income. Construction is projected to take roughly 18 months, and applications will open closer to the project's completion.
According to WKRN, the Franklin Housing Authority and the Waverly Housing Authority joined city leaders and residents at the site to officially kick off the Cherry Hill build. Derwin Jackson, president and CEO of the Franklin Housing Authority, said, "This public housing authority lost 62 units, and families were displaced out of 70 units," stressing that the ultimate goal is to bring those families back into town. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told the station that six of the people killed in the 2021 flood had been living in affordable housing, a detail officials said weighed heavily in the decision to rebuild on higher ground.
What the 2021 Flood Took
The August 2021 flash flood overwhelmed Trace Creek and nearby tributaries, dumping record rainfall on parts of western Middle Tennessee and tearing through Waverly. The disaster left at least 19 people dead and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes across Humphreys County, according to Wikipedia.
What Cherry Hill Will Deliver
The Cherry Hill development is designed to rebuild the lost public‑housing footprint with roughly 62 units, placed on higher ground and structured to keep monthly rent affordable for low‑income families. Officials say rents will be capped at no more than one‑third of a family's income and that the buildout should take about 18 months to complete, with applications opening closer to the project's finish, as reported by WKRN. The Franklin and Waverly housing authorities say the project is meant to restore stability for households displaced by the flood and to ease pressure on a housing market that was already tight before 2021.
Timeline and Sign‑Ups
City and housing officials estimate that site work and vertical construction will take roughly a year and a half, with phased move‑ins expected as buildings are finished. Applications for units will not open immediately, but officials say they will release details and eligibility rules closer to completion so prospective tenants can apply ahead of final move‑ins. Local advocates have welcomed the timeline while warning that shorter‑term supports remain critical for families who are still displaced.
"Housing was a struggle prior to the flood, and then the flood just compounded that issue," community leader Buddy Frazier said at the ceremony. Derwin Jackson, whose biography appears on the Franklin Housing Authority's site, emphasized that the effort is about more than putting up new buildings; it is about helping neighbors rebuild their lives. For more information and updates on applications, the Franklin Housing Authority is directing residents to its news page and local channels for notices. Contact details are available at Franklin Housing Authority.
