Construction is scheduled to start next month on two low-income housing projects in western Madison County.

The $16 million project, collectively known as Gateway Apartments, includes two separate builds:

• the 23-unit Tyrone Echols Apartments on a plot bounded by Meridocia Avenue and Calhoun and Logan streets in Venice;

• the 55-unit John W. Hamm III Apartments at Market Street and Wayne Lanter, Alton and Ewing avenues in Madison.

The project is a partnership between private and public groups. Madison County Housing Authority will operate it.

The buildings replace two public housing projects — the Gareshe Homes on the Madison site and Viola Jones Homes in Venice. The structures will be razed once utilities are moved, said Housing Authority Executive Director John Hamm, who is also mayor of Madison.

Construction is expected to finish by December 2012.

The County Housing Authority also recently finished Market Avenue Homes. The project includes five single-family rental homes built across the street from the proposed Hamm Apartments. Funding came through a $750,000 Illinois Housing Development Authority grant.

The 78-unit Meachum Apartments opened in Venice in August.

Madison County Community Development Administrator Cheryl Jouett praised the construction.

"This is a perfect opportunity to provide housing that's affordable in communities that really, really need it," she said.

Contact reporter Scott Cousins at 618-344-0264, ext. 113