Boaz Ventures co-founder Joey Azar credits local knowledge in finding the site for an apartment complex focusing on the need for student housing near University of Alabama in Huntsville.

He drove by the site on Holmes Avenue almost daily on the way to check on the progress of the Arcadia mixed-use development on Wynn and Bradford his company is involved with.

Azar, who grew up in Huntsville, knew members of the Trinity Presbyterian Church on the site that bordered the UAH campus. He knew the church was declining in attendance and would eventually close its doors.

“I was in the right place at the right time and heard about them proceeding with that,” he said. “I was able to get it under contract and earned their trust.”

Azar said the church’s members wanted to see the right thing happen to the property.