NATCHEZ — The renovation of Susie B. West Apartments is approximately halfway complete, and its 120 affordable housing units should reopen this year.

Tesco Properties purchased the apartments in the summer of 2015, and soon began the renovations.

Susie B. West Apartments manager Tamika Gibson said the company wanted the affordable units to look like their upscale locations.

The renovations include a complete overhaul of the buildings’ interiors, new siding on some buildings, fresh paint on the brick units and redone landscaping.

A date for full completion has not been set, but Gibson said she tentatively expects spring or summer of this year to see a full reopening.

Residents are already moving into the completed buildings, which contain a variety of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.

The administrative offices, community center and laundry facility will also be rejuvenated, and a new fitness center will be installed.

Reshardae Boygents, who lived in the apartments for over a year before they were renovated, is very pleased with the changes.

“They did everything,” Boygents said. “We have granite countertops, new showers, and new appliances.”

Boygents and her 1-year-old son, Brycen, were transferred to the newly renovated apartments from a building currently under renovation.

Boygents said she would never have recommended anyone to move to Susie B. West in the complex’s previous condition, mostly because of the management.

“If something needed work, it might get done, but it might not,” Boygents said.

The new management, she said, has her looking up.

“I’m excited about everything,” Boygents said. “If something’s wrong, (Gibson) is on top of it. Best (manager) we’ve had since we got here.”

Now, Boygents said, she would recommend the apartments without reservation.

Tesco Properties owns or manages approximately 5,500 units in 11 states, including for-profit and not-for-profit locations.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development department subsidizes the Susie B. West Apartments to provide affordable living to low-income Natchezians.

Gibson said 79 of the 120 units are complete or nearly complete.

The complex is made up of 16 buildings. Seven are completely renovated, five are in progress, and four have not been started on yet.

“It’s a turnaround from what they had in the beginning, a big difference,” Gibson said.