WASHINGTON, D.C. — The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) has provided acquisition and construction funding for Archer Park, a four-story, 190-unit affordable housing project in Washington, D.C.’s Congress Heights neighborhood. The developer, WC Smith, will build the community into the 1200 block of Mississippi Avenue Southeast. The project is being financed utilizing $28.2 million in DCHFA short- and long-term tax exempt bonds and $19.6 million raised through syndication of low income housing tax credits (LIHTCs). Archer Park is Phase I of a two-phase redevelopment project of the former Trenton Terrace apartment complex. Upon completion in summer 2017, Archer Park will feature 24 efficiency units, 95 one-bedroom units and 71 two-bedroom units. The project will be affordable to families whose incomes are at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), with 14 units rented to families earning 30 percent or less of the AMI and 10 reserved as permanent supportive housing. The property will include a 128-space parking garage, solar panels on the roof, a roof terrace, fitness center, business center and a meeting room. Phase II of the project will be a 74-unit townhouse development that will be separately financed for sale.
Affordable Housing
WACO, TEXAS — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has provided a $7.7 million interim loan for Brazos Village Apartments, a 144-unit affordable housing apartment community in Waco. Proceeds from the loan will be used to fund the acquisition and renovation of the property. The project operates under the Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LITHC) program and is within its extended use period requiring that 70 percent of the units be rented to tenants earning no more than 60 percent area median income (AMI) and 30 percent of the units be set aside for tenants earning no more than 50 percent AMI. This project is sponsored by Harmony Housing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable rental housing throughout the United States. John Gilmore IV of KeyBank’s community development lending division arranged the financing.
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — KeyBank has provided $12 million in capital to help develop Niagara City Lofts in Niagara Falls. The adaptive reuse project will convert an existing vacant public high school building, which was built in 1923, into 61 units of workforce housing, affordable housing, market-rate apartments and commercial community space. The project is being funded in partnership with the NYS Housing and Community Renewal Division, NYS Empire State Development Corp. and RBC Tax Credit Equity. Rob Likes and Joe Eicheldinger of KeyBank secured the financing for the borrower.
CHICAGO — National Cooperative Bank (NCB) has provided a $17.9 million loan for capital improvements to Gill Park Cooperative, an affordable housing cooperative. The 260-unit limited equity housing cooperative has operated as a 100 percent Section 8 project. Planned improvements at the co-op include a new plumbing and HVAC system, a redesigned lobby and laundry facilities, as well as a number of exterior improvements. All interior units will also be renovated with new kitchens, floors and wall finishes. Larry Mathe of NCB arranged the financing, in collaboration with the co-op board of directors and managing agent.
Bellwether Enterprise Closes Two Loans for Affordable Housing Properties in Alabama, Georgia
by John Nelson
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. AND THOMASVILLE, GA. — Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC has recently closed two loans totaling $8.4 million for Section 8 apartment communities in Tuscaloosa and Thomasville. The affordable housing properties include the 124-unit Creekwood Village Apartments in Tuscaloosa and the 88-unit Wood Valley Apartments in Thomasville. Creekwood Village, which uses two units for the Boys and Girls Club and a daycare center, was built in 1972 and renovated in 2002 with Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Wood Valley was built in 1974 and renovated in 2003 with LIHTC. Bellwether Enterprise arranged both loans, which featured seven-year terms, through Freddie Mac on behalf of the borrower, LEDIC Realty Co. LLC.
WinnDevelopment to Acquire, Renovate 131-Unit Affordable Housing Property in New Jersey
by Amy Works
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — WinnDevelopment has closed on the financing to acquire and renovate an affordable housing property in Jersey City. The $40.2 million acquisition and rehabilitation project will deliver interior and exterior upgrades to Brunswick Estates, a 131-unit income-restricted community. The townhouse-style property features 14 clusters of buildings with apartments ranging from two to five bedrooms, as well as a central building. The public-private partners in the project include The City of Jersey City, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, Citi Community Capital, The Richman Group Affordable Housing Corp., New Jersey Community Capital, Boston Community Capital and Greater Bergen Community Action Inc. Additionally, New York City-based Dane PCG brokered the deal. WinnDevelopment is the development arm of WinnCompanies.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — KeyBank has provided a $6.1 million construction loan to Harbor Street Lofts LLC, an entity sponsored by the Sutton Real Estate Cos. in partnership with Bentham Foundation. Proceeds of the loan were used toward the acquisition and rehabilitation of a four-story, historic industrial building in Syracuse’s Westside neighborhood. The borrower is transforming the property into a 40-unit mixed-income apartment property. Lynne Callis-Wilson of Key’s Community Development Lending arranged the financing for the borrower.
MINNEAPOLIS — Dougherty Mortgage LLC has closed a $2.4 million HUD loan for the refinancing of a multifamily property in Minneapolis. Vantage Flats is a 37-unit affordable workforce housing property. The building is a transit-oriented project located near the METRO Blue line in South Minneapolis. The property, located at 5341-5359 Minnehaha Ave., was built in 2007 and is comprised of one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans. Amenities include a community room with kitchen, exercise room, bike racks and underground heated parking. Dougherty arranged the 40-year term loan for MDI Limited Partnership #64.
SODUS AND WILLIAMSON, N.Y. — KeyBank has provided a $3.9 million letter of credit to SWIIRD Preservation LLC, an entity owned by CB Emmanuel Realty LLC. Located in Sodus and Williamson, the affordable housing properties total 96 one-bedroom apartments. Ninety-four of the 96 residences will utilize NYC HCR project-based rental assistance vouchers, keeping the units affordable to low-income senior and special needs residents for at least 15 years. Joe Eicheldinger of KeyBank’s Community Development Lending arranged the financing, which was used to rehab the properties.
Housing Trust Group Secures Construction Financing for Affordable Housing Community in Central Florida
by John Nelson
EUSTIS, FLA. — Housing Trust Group (HTG), a real estate developer, has closed on the construction financing for Valencia Grove in Eustis, a town in Central Florida. The $21 million, 144-unit affordable housing community will be situated on the northwest corner of Huffstetler Drive and Kurt Street and will comprise one-, two- and three-bedroom units with rents ranging from $358 to $790 per month, depending on tenants’ income levels. Community amenities will include a clubhouse, playground, volleyball court, outdoor pool, dog park and car wash. The development will also provide free community programs such as literacy training, employment assistance and family support coordination. Construction began in late November and is expected to be completed in 13 months. HTG secured financing from a 4 percent SAIL loan, an ELI GAP loan from Florida Housing Finance Corp, a grant from the city of Eustis, tax credit equity from U.S. Bank Corp and tax-exempted multifamily revenue state bonds from SunTrust.