Affordable Housing

Lument Affordable Housing Multifamily buildings

    The Section 42 Low-Income Housing Credit program has been America’s primary tool in the effort to construct affordable homes for low- and moderate- income households and ease renter cost burdens since 1986. This public-private partnership has created or preserved more than 3.1 million rental units, accounting for over 30 percent of the nation’s affordable housing stock. Congress is considering legislation that would materially expand and strengthen the tax credit program. In addition to several technical changes to tax credit accounting and rules governing the use of private-activity bond financing, the legislation would authorize increases in credit allocation in 2021 and 2022. The impact of these changes would be substantial, catalyzing construction of more than 100,000 additional units per year over a 10-year period, perhaps trimming the number of rent burdened low-income households by half. Building more affordable housing will represent a significant step toward reducing housing instability and economic inequality in America. But are quantitative gains alone enough? Constructing affordable housing in low-poverty, high-opportunity census tracts is challenging. The following discussion explores some ways in which developers, lenders and credit allocating agencies can increase the level of affordable housing construction in low-poverty, high-opportunity areas (LPHOA) and optimize the …

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Harlem-River-Houses

NEW YORK CITY — Merchants Capital has provided $104 million in financing for Harlem River Houses I and II, a 690-unit affordable housing community located between West 151st and West 153rd streets in Manhattan. The buildings were constructed in the mid-1930s and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The financing structure consists of a straight-to-permanent New York City Housing Development Corp. (NYCHDC) loan crafted by the NYCHDC, Freddie Mac and Merchants Capital. The borrower, a joint venture between the Settlement Housing Fund and West Harlem Group Assistance, will use a portion of the proceeds to fund capital improvements and preserve affordability. Upon completion of the renovation, the property will offer 693 apartments across eight residential buildings that will house more than 1,400 residents Renovations will include upgrades to apartments, common areas and elevators, as well as security and heating systems. Upgrades in units will include new kitchens, bathrooms, floors and appliances, along with updates to windows and building exteriors. Sidewalks, gardens and sculptures within the property grounds will be restored, and new playgrounds, benches and activity spaces will be installed. Additionally, all electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems will be renovated or replaced.

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St-Johns-Manor-Costa-Mesa-CA

COSTA MESA, CALIF. — Avanath Capital Management LLC has acquired St. John’s Manor, a 36-unit affordable seniors housing community in the Orange County city of Costa Mesa, for $11.8 million. Built in 1984 and renovated in 2007, St John’s Manor is currently 100 percent occupied. This acquisition comes on the heels of Avanath’s acquisition of The Overlook at Anaheim Hills, a 261-unit seniors housing community in Anaheim, and The Grove Senior, an 85-unit seniors housing community in Garden Grove. “We entered the Orange County market earlier this year, and plan to continue to be extremely bullish in the region,” says John Williams, president and CIO at Avanath. “Seniors housing is an asset class that remains particularly of interest to us as it has been one of the best performing asset types within our portfolio throughout the pandemic.” Avanath currently owns more than 13,000 units across the United States, 2,550 units of which are age-restricted senior apartments. “There is an increasing need for affordable housing for seniors, especially in high-priced areas of Orange County,” says Williams. “Baby boomers, a large percentage of whom are expected to reach retirement age by 2030, will be looking to downsize and seek quality options that are …

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SAN ANTONIO — New York City-based Dwight Capital has provided a $22.7 million HUD-insured loan for the refinancing of Stablewood Farms, a 252-unit affordable housing community in San Antonio. Built in 2002, the property comprises 16 two- and three-story buildings, five garages, a leasing office and a community center on a 22-acre site. The majority (75 percent) of the units are restricted to households earning 80 percent or less of the area median income (AMI), while 20 percent are reserved for renters earning up to 50 percent of AMI. Josh Sasouness of Dwight Capital originated the loan through HUD’s 223(f) program on behalf of the borrower, locally based nonprofit organization Merced Housing Texas.

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Christian Manor

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — Greystone has provided a $17.5 million HUD-insured loan for the redevelopment of Christian Manor Apartments, a 200-unit affordable seniors housing community located in West Palm Beach. Jon Morales of Greystone arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower, Phase Housing Corp. Inc. Located in Palm Beach County, Christian Manor includes four, three-story buildings that offer studio and one-bedroom units. Originally built in 1972, the property will provide affordable housing for low-income, which is classified as below 60 percent of area median income, and “extremely low-income” seniors (below 28 percent AMI) over 62 years of age. The project team worked with HUD and the West Palm Beach Housing Authority to obtain project-based rental assistance for over half of the residents who, although eligible, were previously not receiving this support. The expected construction cost for the redevelopment of the property is $38.7 million. Along with the funding from Greystone, the project also received 4 percent Low-Income Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, and secondary debt consisting of a Florida State Apartment Incentive Loan and Florida Extremely Low-Income funds. The non-recourse loan carries a 40-year term at a low, fixed interest rate. Paul Ponte of Phase Housing Corp. Inc., Jason …

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SUN PRAIRIE, WIS. — Developer Roers Cos. has selected McShane Construction Co. to build The Wildwood at Main, a 172-unit affordable housing community in Sun Prairie, a northeast suburb of Madison. The two-building property will be constructed atop an underground parking garage. Amenities will include a clubroom, fitness room, playground and outdoor grill area. Korb + Associates is the architect. The project was designed to achieve Wisconsin Green Built Home certification. Completion is slated for August 2023. Income restrictions for units were not provided.

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Senior-Living-on-Washington-Ogden-UT

OGDEN, UTAH —Canterbury Partners LLC has completed work on Senior Living on Washington, an affordable seniors housing community in Ogden, approximately 35 miles north of Salt Lake City. Partners on the project include R & O Construction, Think Architecture, The Richman Group Affordable Housing Corp., JP Morgan Chase Community Development Bank, Rocky Mountain Community Reinvestment Corp. and the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund. Senior Living on Washington is a 100 percent affordable housing project for seniors over age 62. EMG Management will be the operator. The number of units was not disclosed.

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Crown Bay Group purchased The Park at Netherley

By Steve Firestone, Crown Bay Group Why would anyone choose investing in an aging workforce housing property over razing it to make room for Class A apartments? Are these challenging properties worth the risk? Making this choice may not be right for everyone, but the returns can be unbelievably rewarding. The secret recipe for transforming Class B and C properties to benefit the community, local residents and your bottom line isn’t complicated. The key is entering into each deal with a genuine interest and desire to do what is right and what matters to the residents who call this property home. The age-old saying — by doing good, you will do well — still holds true today. There is an overwhelming demand for Class B and C assets. While a large portion of new development over the past decade has been Class A luxury, the Class A market makes up only 20 percent of the total rental market. New construction of affordable, market-rate units is just not financially feasible today. Consequently, meaningful workforce supply has rarely been added this past decade. Despite the pervasive need for workforce housing, the supply has decreased with older units being demolished to make room …

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MINNEAPOLIS — Red Lake Nation and design firm Cuningham have completed Mino-bimaadiziwin Affordable Housing, a 110-unit affordable housing development located in the American Cultural Corridor of Minneapolis. Mino-bimaadiziwin means “living the good life” in Ojibwe. The nearly $42 million project provides housing to Red Lake Ojibwe Band members and other local Native American residents. It is the first housing project developed by a tribal government in a major city, according to Sam Olbekson, founder and CEO of Full Circle Indigenous Planning + Design LLC as well as a Cuningham consultant. The six-story development features a Red Lake Nation embassy and healthcare clinic in addition to the housing units. Project funding came from the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and 15 other sources. The project was built on a site that formerly served as a temporary navigation center for unsheltered residents in response to an encampment of over 300 people called the Wall of Forgotten Natives. The Cuningham team collaborated closely with the Red Lake Ojibwe community members on the property’s design.

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Disney affordable housing

ORLANDO, FLA. — Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Wendover Housing Partners and Universal Parks & Resorts, a part of Comcast NBCUniversal, have plans to develop Universal’s Housing for Tomorrow initiative, a new approach aimed at helping address the shortage of affordable housing in Orlando. Universal pledged 20 acres of land in Orlando’s tourist corridor to be used for 1,000 units of affordable and mixed-income housing. The company selected Wendover Housing Partners to develop and manage the community. Named Catchlight Crossings, community amenities will include onsite, tuition-free preschool; onsite medical offices; a transportation center for buses, ridesharing and employer shuttles; a 16,000-square-foot retail area; community event space; technology cafés; a makerspace for hobbies, activities and educational events; community gardens; bike and walking paths; neighborhood food pantry; fitness center; game room; playground; two resort style pools; and grilling gazebo. The development plans were submitted to the Orange County Planning and Development department this week.

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