Affordable Housing

CHICAGO — Merchants Capital has provided more than $54 million of debt and $49 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity financing for the rehabilitation of Island Terrace, a 21-story affordable housing property in Chicago. The building is situated across from the Obama Presidential Center in the city’s Woodlawn neighborhood. Preservation of Affordable Housing Inc. (POAH), the owner and developer, was the borrower. Merchants Capital maximized equity via a structure called “twinning,” which leveraged both 4 percent and 9 percent tax credits issued by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the City of Chicago. The 4 percent and 9 percent equity syndication generated $31.8 million and $17.3 million, respectively, matched by two corresponding HUD-insured permanent loans totaling more than $22 million and two equity bridge loans totaling more than $32 million. Merchants Bank provided $26.5 million for the property acquisition in 2021. Planned renovations for Island Terrace include replacement of the roof, windows, plumbing and electrical systems; a redesigned first floor with a community room and laundry facilities; and updated kitchens and bathrooms throughout the 240 units. Prior to the recapitalization, only 88 of the community’s units carried affordable restrictions. The new financing structure enabled POAH to expand …

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TAMPA, FLA. — Tampa Housing Authority, in partnership with Related Urban Development Group — the affordable and workforce housing arm of Related Group — has broken ground on the second phase of Canopy at West River, a fully affordable housing community in West Tampa. Phase II will comprise one five-story building and one three-story building, located at 1103 W. Main St. and 1102 W. Chestnut St., respectively. Dubbed Tower 3 and Tower 4, the buildings will total 188 units. Tower 3 will offer 158 units in one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, and Tower 4 will feature 30 units in three- and four-bedroom layouts. Amenities at the properties will include a fitness center, business center, community rooms and a courtyard with social spaces. Development funding for the project totals $68.3 million. Sources include the Housing Finance Authority of Hillsborough County, Bank of America, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Co. and the Florida Housing Finance Corp.’s SAIL, ELI and NHTF funds. Phase I of Canopy at West River is scheduled to open in the second quarter of this year, with Phase II expected to be completed in November 2025.

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TYSONS CORNER, VA. — Greystone has provided $39 million in Freddie Mac tax-exempt loan (TEL) unfunded forward financing for the construction of 265 units within a new affordable housing development in Tysons Corner, a city roughly 16 miles west of Washington, D.C. Pharrah Jackson of Greystone originated the financing on behalf of the borrower, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH). Located at 1592 Spring Hill Road, the property is situated within the larger The Exchange at Spring Hill Station development. Upon completion, the community will total 516 units across two, 20-story buildings — Dominion North and Dominion South — and will mark the first multifamily property in Tysons to comprise 100 percent affordable housing units, according to Greystone. In addition to the residential buildings, the project will include a community center condominium owned and managed by Fairfax County. Dominion North, the subject of the financing, will feature 55 one-bedroom units, 146 two-bedroom units and 64 three-bedroom units, with varying affordability restrictions. The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) has also approved and awarded the developer 40 project-based vouchers, which will require that 40 units be leased to residents earning 30 percent or less of the area median income (AMI). …

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ST. LOUIS — BWE has arranged $18.5 million in permanent financing for One Loop Apartments, Broadway Park Apartments and Park Vue Flats in St. Louis. The three workforce housing communities total 247 units across 23 buildings. Dan Baker of BWE secured three loans on behalf of the borrowers, Affinity Capital LLC and a St. Louis-based housing developer. The loans for Broadway Park and One Loop were originated through Fannie Mae’s Sponsor Dedicated Workforce Housing program, which enabled the borrowers to receive a lower interest rate, according to BWE. All three loans feature fixed interest rates with five-year terms and full-term interest-only payments. Having been financed through the Sponsor Dedicated Workforce Housing program, 50 percent of the units in Broadway Park and One Loop will be restricted to residents earning up to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), with 20 percent of the units having a 60 percent AMI requirement. The borrowers will use the financing to pay off existing rehabilitation loans, which were used to substantially upgrade the communities.

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ORLANDO, FLA. — Berkadia has secured $118.5 million in financing for the construction of 52 at Park, a 300-unit affordable housing development located in Orlando. The financing includes a $73.5 million construction loan and $45 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity. Chris McGraw and Tim Leonhard of Berkadia arranged the financing on behalf of the borrower, Lincoln Avenue Communities. 52 at Park will feature eight buildings comprising a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units reserved for households earning 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). Amenities will include a business center, clubhouse, fitness center, pool, laundry room and a game room. The target delivery date was not disclosed.

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PITTSBURGH — New Jersey-based Tryko Partners has begun leasing Cedarwood Homes, an age-restricted affordable housing project located at the site of the former Fairywood School in Pittsburgh. The majority (39) of the one-bedroom units are reserved for renters earning 60 percent or less of the area median income. Merchants Capital provided $11 million in project financing, and The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency awarded 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to the developer to fund the project. Construction began last summer.

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Juniper-Square_Glendale-Ariz

GLENDALE, ARIZ. — Dominium is scheduled to break ground on two affordable housing communities in Glendale, roughly 10 miles northwest of Phoenix. Totaling 605 units, the apartment communities will be reserved for individuals earning 60 percent or less of the area median income (AMI). Juniper Square, a seniors housing community, will comprise 287,468 square feet and 221 apartments in one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans. Amenities at the property will include a pool, courtyard, fire pits, a clubroom, fitness center, theater and salon. 67 Flats will span 875,141 square feet with 384 apartments in one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Amenities at the community will include a pool, playground, soccer field, courtyard, clubroom and fitness center. Juniper Square and 67 Flats are scheduled to open in the spring and summer of 2026, respectively. W.D. Construction, a joint venture between Weis Builders and Dominium Construction and Architectural Services, will serve as the general contractor. 

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NEW YORK CITY — Merchants Capital has provided a $348 million Fannie Mae loan for the rehabilitation of Reid Park Rock, an affordable housing development in Brooklyn that houses approximately 3,500 people across 87 buildings. The financing complements a $635.6 million Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) initiative from the New York City Housing Authority. The sponsor, a partnership between BRP Cos., Fairstead and Urbane, will not only execute the renovations but also deliver enhanced social services programs and handle property management responsibilities.

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GREEN BAY, WIS. — Associated Bank has provided $14.3 million in construction financing for Bay City Lofts, an affordable housing project in Green Bay. The financing package included a $6.3 million construction loan and $8 million of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity. The bank also sponsored a $600,000 Affordable Housing Project (AHP) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. Capital partners included federal LIHTC syndicator CREA, permanent lender IFF and the City of Green Bay. Located at 2510 University Ave., Bay City Lofts will feature 48 units, of which 40 will be designated as affordable for families earning 30 to 60 percent of the area median income. Gorman & Co. LLC and Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan are the developers. The four-story building will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Construction is underway, with completion slated for late 2024. Lutheran Social Services will provide supportive services for residents. Gorman is serving as the co-developer, general contractor and property manager. Bryan Schreiter of Associated Bank’s commercial real estate division managed the loan closing. Stefanie Bachrach of Associated Community Development LLC, the bank’s community development corporation, managed the equity investment closing.

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Palladium-Houston-Ella

HOUSTON — Dallas-based multifamily developer Palladium USA will develop a $35 million affordable housing project in northeast Houston. Palladium Houston Ella will be a three-story, 146-unit building that will house one-, two- and three-bedroom units. About 78 percent (115) of the units will be reserved for renters earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income, and the remainder will be rented at market rates. Amenities will include a pool, fitness center, conference center, dog park, computer lounge, kid’s play area and a clubroom. Palladium USA is developing the project in partnership with the Harris County Housing Finance Corp. HEDK Architects is designing the property, and Brownstone Construction is serving as the general contractor.

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