CHICAGO — The NHP Foundation (NHPF) has completed a major renovation of the Edwin C. Berry Manor Apartments in Chicago. The Section 8 seniors housing property is located at 737 E. 69th St. The rehabilitation project was made possible by a financial partnership between HUD, Merchants Capital, Illinois Housing Development Authority, National Affordable Housing Trust and UnitedHealth Group. The 57-unit community, built in 1991, marks the fourth property that NHPF has acquired or built in Chicago in the last five years and the first specifically for seniors. The units are fully leased. The project team included Weese Langley Weese, Burling Builders Inc., Solis Construction and baso ltd. Operation Pathways, a subsidiary of NHPF, will provide social and enrichment services to the residents. An onsite resident services coordinator will work with residents to support aging well in their independent living spaces.
HOLYOKE, MASS. — WinnDevelopment has broken ground on a $55.3 million affordable seniors housing project in the western Massachusetts city of Holyoke. The project will convert a historic mill complex into 88 affordable apartment homes for seniors ages 55 and older. The redevelopment of the Appleton Mill property in downtown Holyoke will create new loft-style apartments in three interconnected, 111-year-old industrial buildings that were once home to the Farr Alpaca Co. and have been vacant for decades. In addition, WinnDevelopment will construct a new community building and connect it to the residential space via a closed skybridge spanning nearby railroad tracks. All 88 apartments will be reserved for low- and moderate-income seniors, with 12 units reserved for households earning below 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), 63 for those below 60 percent of AMI, and 13 for households below 80 percent of AMI. Delivery is slated for spring 2025.
WINDSOR, MASS. — MassHousing has provided $7.5 million in financing for Prospect Estates, a 25-unit multifamily property located in the western Massachusetts community of Windsor. The borrower, Affordable Housing & Services Collaborative, will use the proceeds to acquire and renovate the property. NEI General Contracting will handle renovations, which will include upgrades to kitchens and bathrooms, as well as building systems and exterior components. The development team will also preserve historic elements of the original structures, such as windows and wood flooring, and add a management office.
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How to Clear Affordable Housing’s Construction Financing Hurdle
Developers are finding it tougher than ever to finance affordable housing. And often, the biggest hurdle for the sector’s borrowers involves construction — either obtaining that initial loan at a manageable cost or qualifying for take-out financing after a protracted construction period — which has strained resources and delivery schedules for a number of developments. Limitations on rent increases make the industry especially vulnerable to rising costs, and expenses today have risen precipitously across the board. Rents have also grown, but not on pace with construction and operating costs driven up by inflation, wage pressures, soaring insurance premiums and a series of interest rate hikes, observes Tracy Peters, a senior managing director on Lument’s affordable housing production team. “Borrowers are squeezed by a number of things in this marketplace,” Peters says. “The fed funds rate climbing 5 percent over the last two years means the interest rates on construction loans have basically come up 5 percent or more over that time. Now folks who had budgeted for a much lower interest rate — if they are still in construction mode — are trying to figure out how to deal with these higher interest rates.” At the same time, the …
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL. — Housing Trust Group (HTG) has opened Crescent Place, an $18.2 million affordable housing community in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. The community marks HTG’s entry into the Illinois market. HTG developed the property in partnership with nonprofit developer Turnstone Development Corp. Crescent Place offers 40 units that are reserved for residents who earn up to 60 percent of the area median income. Monthly rents range from $621 to $1,489, while units range from 646 to 880 square feet. Amenities at the four-story development include a community room, library, computer café, fitness room, resident garden, outdoor patio, tenant storage compartments, bicycle storage and 80 outdoor parking spaces. Funding for Crescent Place included a $10.9 million construction loan and a $1.6 million permanent loan from BMO Harris Bank; $12.1 million in 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity from National Equity Fund; $4 million from the COVID-19 Affordable Housing Grant Program provided by the Illinois Housing Development Authority; and a $110,214 ComEd grant for building according to Energy Star efficient standards. The project team included general contractor Henry Bros Co., civil engineer Groundwork, landscape architect Krogstad Land Design, architect UrbanWorks Architecture, interior designer Frosolone Interiors, …
PHOENIX — Pennrose, Butler Housing Co., CBC Financing Corp., the City of Phoenix, the Arizona Department of Housing and additional project partners have broken ground on Garfield Housing Phase II, an affordable housing community for low-income seniors in Phoenix’s Garfield neighborhood. The project is located at 1510 E. Portland St. Located adjacent to the Garfield Commons affordable housing community, the second phase will deliver 60 affordable apartments with community amenities and on-site supportive services for seniors age 55 or older. Completion is slated for winter 2024. The four-story, 58,000-square-foot community will include a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments available to residents earning between 20 percent and 60 percent of the area median income. Additionally, the energy-efficient project will meet National Green Building Standards and offer a variety of amenities, including a fitness room, management suite, multi-purpose room, outdoor recreation area with seating, and parking. Bank of America (LIHTC equity and construction loan), Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust (permanent loan) and the City of Phoenix (HOME loan) provided financing for the $28 million project. U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego’s office also arranged $500,000 in Congressional Program Funds for the development.
SANDWICH, MASS. — MassHousing has provided $6.2 million in financing for Shawme Heights Apartments, a 44-unit affordable seniors housing complex located in the Cape Cod town of Sandwich. The borrower, nonprofit owner-operator Sandwich Senior Housing Corp., will use the proceeds to refinance existing debt and fund capital improvements. Specific upgrades will target unit interiors, building exteriors, elevators, common areas and building systems like security, backup electricity and medical alert.
NEW YORK CITY — Merchants Capital has provided $225 million in Freddie Mac financing for seven affordable housing properties in The Bronx. The properties comprise 18 buildings and 983 units that carry a range of income restrictions. The borrower is a joint venture between The Arker Cos., SBV RE Investments LLC and Dabar Development Partners. Proceeds will be used to refinance existing debt, rehabilitate units with building-wide improvement plans and preserve affordability. The scope of work includes kitchen upgrades, plumbing improvements and common area maintenance. Completion is slated for September 2025.
CLEVELAND — The NRP Group has opened The Davis, a 52-unit affordable housing community in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood. NRP partnered with University Hospitals to develop the project, which also includes the UH Community Wellness Center. The project marks NRP’s third “Health and Housing” development. Each of these affordable housing communities was created in partnership with the City of Cleveland. The UH Community Wellness Center offers healthy cooking demonstrations, a Food For Life Market, support for pregnant women and young mothers, programs to combat senior citizen isolation, telehealth services and training in workforce and financial literacy. The Davis is located on the site of the former Harry E. Davis Elementary School, which has sat vacant since 2006. Harry E. Davis was a Cleveland native who served four consecutive terms in the Ohio State House before becoming the first African American member of the Cleveland Civil Service Commission and serving as an Ohio State Senator. The property comprises one-, two- and three-bedroom units along with four-bedroom townhomes. Residents must earn at or below 60 percent of the area median income. Amenities include a community room, fitness center, playground, business center and laundry facilities. RDL Architects served as the architect. Ohio Finance Housing …
ELGIN, ILL. — McShane Construction Co. has completed Hanover Landing, a 40-unit permanent supportive housing community in Elgin. The affordable housing development serves vulnerable populations and individuals with disabilities. UPholdings was the developer. The building rises three stories at 711 E. Chicago St. Units are offered in one-bedroom, one-bathroom floor plans that enable residents to live independently. Amenities include a community lounge, computer room, fitness center, laundry facilities and outdoor space. Services for residents include case management, life skill training and employment assistance. Hanover Township partnered with UPholdings and the Housing Opportunity Development Corp. on the project. Ecker Center for Behavioral Health is the service provider and will operate an onsite clinic. Hooker DeJong served as architect.