CHICAGO — The Community Builders has completed development of Canvas at Leland Plaza, a $44 million affordable housing property in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. The equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) features 63 units with commercial space, outdoor seating and parking. The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is providing funding for 16 of the units through its project-based voucher program, representing an investment of more than $13.3 million over the next 30 years. Amenities at the property include package and bike rooms, storage space, a resident lounge and terrace. Financial partners include the City of Chicago, the CHA, CIBC, Stratford Capital Group, Benefit Chicago and ComEd. DesignBridge was the architect, and Leopardo Cos. and KMW Communities served as general contractors.
Affordable Housing
Northmarq Secures $64.6M in Acquisition Financing for Seven-Property Affordable Housing Portfolio in San Fernando Valley
by Amy Works
VAN NUYS, NORTH HILLS, PANORAMA CITY AND GARDENA, CALIF. — Northmarq has arranged $64.6 million in financing for the acquisition of a 596-unit, seven-property multifamily portfolio in the San Fernando Valley. The borrower is a Moorpark, Calif.-based private owner. Zalmi Klyne of Northmarq’s Los Angeles office secured the 76 percent loan-to-value acquisition financing through numerous correspondent relationships with banks. The fixed-rate transaction was priced in the high 5 percent range and structured with interest-only payments. The portfolio includes:
NEW YORK CITY — Merchants Capital has funded $316 million in financing for the second phase of Alafia, a project in the East New York area of Brooklyn that will add 634 affordable and supportive housing units to the local supply. The borrower is a partnership between RiseBoro Community Partnership Inc., L+M Development Partners and Apex Building Group. The financing package, which includes both construction and permanent debt as well as equity, comprises: Phase II of Alafia will consist of two 14-story residential buildings that will house studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that will be restricted for households earning between 40 and 70 percent of the area median income. A portion of those residences will be specifically reserved for individuals who were either formerly incarcerated or homeless. Amenities will include a fitness center, children’s playroom, community rooms and outdoor courtyards. Phase II will also feature 22,000 square feet of community and retail space. Construction began in December and is expected to be complete in summer 2027.
BROCKTON, MASS. — MassHousing has provided $29.7 million in financing for the construction of a 94-unit affordable housing project in Brockton, a southern suburb of Boston. The borrower, nonprofit owner-operator NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, is redeveloping a former industrial site at 1200 Monticello St. into a five-story building with 31 one-bedroom and 63 two-bedroom units. Of the 94 units, 14 will be restricted to households earning up to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI); 65 apartments will be earmarked for renters earning 60 percent or less of AMI; and 15 residences will be restricted to households earning 80 percent or less of AMI. Amenities will include a fitness center and a community room, and the building will also house 1,473 square feet of commercial space. Utile Inc. and NEI General Contracting are handling design and construction of the project, respectively. Completion is slated for fall 2026.
Advantage Capital Closes Financing for Affordable Housing Development in Charlottesville, Virginia
by John Nelson
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. — Advantage Capital has closed the financing for the second phase of Kindlewood, a $68 million affordable housing redevelopment and expansion in Charlottesville. Phase II, which broke ground last month, will add 100 new units, half of which are replacement units for existing residents and the rest are new affordable housing units. The second phase will also include a new learning center, community center and the headquarters for Piedmont Housing Alliance, a partner in Kindlewood’s development team. National Housing Trust is also a development partner for Kindlewood. The last tranche of financing was $9.6 million in state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) in connection with the Virginia Housing Opportunity Tax Credit (HOTC) program. The development team expects to deliver the second phase in fall 2026.
CHICAGO — Evergreen Real Estate Group and nonprofit Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) have completed Encuentro Square Apartments in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. The duo developed the project in partnership with the Chicago Department of Housing, the Department of Planning and Development and the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). The $67.5 million development comprises two buildings at the western terminus of The 606 trail, an area that has experienced housing costs soar in recent years. The units are designated for families and individuals with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income. Managed by Evergreen, Encuentro Square is nearly fully leased. In Spanish, “encuentro” means the act of coming together. Leopardo Cos. and All Construction were the general contractors. Designed by Canopy, the buildings feature rounded corners with orange paneling. The orange panels are meant to mimic the migration pattern of the monarch butterfly. Floor plans range from one- to three-bedroom units. Fifty-five of the homes benefit from long-term project-based rental assistance administered by the CHA, of which 44 are family-sized units with at least two bedrooms. Amenities include a community room, teaching kitchen, children’s playroom, private courtyard, resident lounges, laundry rooms and bike storage. A new …
C&C Development Breaks Ground on 54-Unit Affordable Housing Complex in Buena Park, California
by Amy Works
BUENA PARK, CALIF. — C&C Development and Riverside Charitable Corp. have broken ground on Lincoln Avenue Apartments, an affordable housing community in Buena Park. Consisting of four three-story buildings, Lincoln Avenue Apartments will offer 54 apartments for families and veterans in need. The project will include five units for student families, 11 units for veterans and 13 permanent supportive housing units for families and individuals with special needs. Units will range in size from approximately 500 square feet to 900 square feet and will be both ADA-accessible and adaptable. Additionally, units will incorporate sustainable design elements and practices, such as drought-tolerant landscaping and the installation of energy-efficient HVAC systems, water heaters and appliances. Onsite amenities will include a community room, laundry room, children’s tot lot, teen outdoor fitness area and a barbecue pavilion. Additionally, LifeSTEPS will offer onsite programming for adult education and after-school activities for children. Funding for the project was provided by several entities, including the City of Buena Park and CalOptima Health, which is providing an $8 million grant to support housing for Medi-Cal members.
USA Properties Fund Completes $104M Affordable Housing Community in Rocklin, California
by Amy Works
ROCKLIN, CALIF. — USA Properties Fund has completed Terracina at Whitney Ranch, an affordable housing property in Rocklin. USA Properties Fund developed the $104 million apartment community without local or state subsides, relying only on tax credits. Bank of America is the construction and tax credit lender on the project, while Citi Community Capital is the permanent lender. Located at 801 University Ave., Terracina at Whitney Ranch offers 288 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with energy-efficient appliances and light fixtures, ceiling fans and low-flow faucets, showers and toilets. Rents for one-bedroom units range from approximately $592 to $1,374 per month, based on household income, while three-bedroom apartments range from $781 to $2,007 per month. Apartments are reserved for residents who earn 30 percent to 70 percent of the median income for Placer County, Calif. Onsite amenities include a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse with a community room, fitness room, swimming pool, courtyard with seating, tot-lot play area, a dog park and EV charging stations, as well as laundry facilities. Additionally, the community includes an outdoor fitness area with workout equipment.
ST. LOUIS — LEDG Capital has begun a $5.5 million renovation of Ridge Crest Apartments, an 84-unit affordable housing community in the Marine Villa neighborhood of St. Louis. The project will preserve the apartments as affordable housing for the next 30 years. The 12-month renovation effort will update all units at the 60-year-old community, address the capital needs of its three buildings, improve amenities and strengthen security at the property. The project will also continue to support an ongoing program of supportive services, after-school enrichment and community events. The Industrial Development Authority of the City of St. Louis provided private activity bonds to support the renovation effort, while the Missouri Housing Development Commission approved Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development approved a new project-based Section 8 contract. Citibank NA served as the primary lender, and Walker & Dunlop Inc. was the equity partner. Interior scope upgrades will include new cabinets and countertops, vinyl plank flooring, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, appliances, interior paint, new HVAC and water heating systems, new LED lighting fixtures and mobility upgrades to five units. The exterior scope of work will include reroofing all buildings, replacing gutters and downspouts, repairing …
CHICAGO — Habitat has completed the lease-up of OC Living Phase I, the first residential building within the $200 million Ogden Commons community in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. Located at 1325 S. Washtenaw Ave., the building features 92 units, 90 percent of which are affordable, including 37 Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) units. Simultaneously, Habitat has closed financing and finalized a 75-year ground lease for OC Living Phase II at nearby 1312 S. Talman Ave. The $38 million building is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026, delivering an additional 75 units with 76 percent of them reserved as affordable housing, including 30 CHA-designated residences. Site preparation is underway. Amenities will include a children’s tot lot, bike racks, walking path, package room, resident lounge, fitness center and bike room. A planned third phase of OC Living is expected to feature townhome and multi-flat units, which will feature larger units designed for families. Habitat intends to break ground on Phase III in the second half of 2026 or early 2027. Once completed, Ogden Commons will feature 120,000 square feet of commercial and retail space with more than 350 mixed-income housing units. Designed by Habitat, along with Sinai Chicago and the …