Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning continues to shine long after the end of his professional career. Mourning’s non-profit organization, AM Affordable Housing, teamed up with Miami-based Housing Trust Group to build Astoria on 9th, a 120-unit affordable senior housing complex in Bradenton, Florida.
The complex was opened in May, and according to Business Observer, it cost $37.4 million to build. This project was launched with the growing demand among older adults for affordable housing in mind.
“There’s a shortage of 7 million affordable housing [units] across our country,” Mourning said. “This shortage disproportionately affects certain groups: our seniors, people with disabilities, people of color [and] people that are serving our armed forces.”
To reside in Astoria on 9th, one must be at least 55 years old and earn at or below 22%, 30% or 60% of the area median income. The lowest rent is just $322 a month, while the highest is $1,316. While the rent is low, it’s by no means a shabby place to live.
The five-story building at 2244 Ninth St. W. consists of both one and two-bedroom apartments that range from 635 to over 900 square feet. The amenities in the complex include a clubhouse, a dog park, a fitness center, and a cyber cafe with a kitchen and bar. There are programs for residents, such as adult literacy training, and they are also provided with assistance for daily activities.
This is an incredible gesture, and this isn’t the first time that these two organizations have teamed up. Mourning has helped develop 10 affordable housing complexes with the Housing Trust Group since 2006. It’s commendable how he has strived to give back to the community.
Mourning played 15 seasons in the NBA after being selected with the second pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets and earned about $147 million in salaries, according to Spotrac. The 55-year-old, who won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, has focused on philanthropic ventures for much of his life.
Most notably, Mourning founded the Mourning Family Foundation with his ex-wife, Tracy, all the way back in 1997. They have raised over $25 million to support various youth development programs.
Mourning, who now has a net worth of $70 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, has done all this good work while battling some major health issues of his own. He nearly retired in 2003 due to a life-threatening kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Fortunately, a kidney transplant ensured he was able to carry on.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the last serious health battle that Mourning had to fight. He was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer, but did manage to overcome it in 2024. Mourning has now become an advocate for prostate cancer awareness and encourages men to get checked for silent killers such as prostate and colon cancer.
