NEW YORK CITY — Locally based brokerage firm Ariel Property Advisors has negotiated the sale of a partial interest in three affordable housing buildings totaling 163 units in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg and Brownsville neighborhoods. The percentage was not disclosed, but the interest fetched a price of $9.3 million. Victor Sozio and Shimon Shkury of Ariel Property Advisors represented the seller, Dunn Development Corp, in the deal. The buyer was a partnership between The Community Preservation Corp., The Community Development Trust, Monadnock Development, Red Stone Equity Partners and the Black Developers Network Triboro.
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. — Housing Trust Group (HTG) has broken ground on University Station, a $100 million mixed-use development, in a public-private partnership with the City of Hollywood. The project will comprise 216 units of workforce housing, a 635-space parking garage, retail space and new home for Barry University College of Nursing and Health Services. All of University Station’s apartments will be reserved for individuals and families at various income thresholds, including 22, 30, 40, 60, 70 and 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), with rents ranging from $374 to $1,634. The three-building development will be situated on 2.5 acres of city-owned land next to the future Broward Commuter Rail (BCR) South Station. Funding sources include LIHTC equity from Raymond James and debt from Bank of America and National Housing Trust Fund. The State of Florida and Broward County also contributed debt and civic funds for the project. The development team includes Corwil Architects and general contractor ANF Group Inc. HSQ Group will serve as the civil engineer, BNI Engineers will serve as the structural engineer and RPJ Inc. Consulting Engineers will serve as the MEP engineer. B. Pila Design Studio will handle interior design, and Witkin Hults + …
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Beechwood Carolinas, a subsidiary of The Beechwood Organization, has received approval from the Town of Chapel Hill to develop a 43-acre residential district on the city’s south side. Known as South Creek by Beechwood, the development will include market-rate and affordable housing apartments and townhomes, for-sale condominiums, 21,000 to 52,000 square feet of commercial and retail space and open gathering areas. Total housing units will total 815 residences, a vast majority of which will be condominiums. The development will be situated along the 15-501 corridor at 4511 S. Columbia St., about two miles south of University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Council members unanimously approved the site’s rezoning in early June. Beechwood Carolinas plans to break ground in late 2024 and anticipates first occupancy in 2025. The developer’s project partners include architectural firm FMK Architects and Lee Bowman of Legion Land & Development.
ARLINGTON, VA. — Walker & Dunlop has arranged a $46.6 million HUD 221(d)(4) loan for the conversion of Park Shirlington, a 294-unit multifamily property in Arlington, from a market-rate community to an affordable housing property. Rents are now restricted at the property to households earning 60 percent of the area median income through at least 2053. The borrower is Standard Communities, a multifamily owner with headquarters offices in Los Angeles and New York City. In addition to HUD and Walker & Dunlop, Standard Communities’ capital partners on the conversion project include Virginia Housing, AEGON USA Realty Advisors LLC and Arlington County’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund. Chris Rumul of Walker & Dunlop led the HUD LIHTC financing transaction, which covers $34 million in renovation costs that include interior and exterior work and the construction of a new community center.
NEW YORK CITY — National Equity Fund (NEF), a Chicago-based lender in the affordable housing space, has provided a $12.5 million loan for the refinancing of a portfolio of five workforce housing buildings totaling 56 units in Brooklyn. Known as The Jefferson MacDonough Portfolio, the properties are located in the Bedford Stuyvesant area and house a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The borrower was Iris Holdings Group, a national owner-operator.
MINNEAPOLIS — Lupe Development Partners and Wall Cos. are moving forward with the development of Snelling Yards, a campus of both senior living and affordable housing. The latest plans call for a 90-unit affordable housing community with mostly three- and four-bedroom units. The project is a joint venture with Ecumen, whose adjacent affordable seniors housing development, The Hillock, is now fully leased. Once the affordable housing building is completed, the two properties will be joined by a green common space and outdoor playground. Lupe and Wall received $900,000 in funding through Hennepin County’s Affordable Housing Incentive Fund. The project site is a former City of Minneapolis Public Works storage area. Construction is expected to begin next year.
ROCHESTER, MINN. — Kraus-Anderson has completed construction of Bryk on Broadway, a 180-unit affordable housing community in Rochester’s Destination Medical Center (DMC) district. Local developers, led by Dirk Erickson, own the property. Designed by ISG architects, the project features 7,500 square feet of commercial and retail space on the ground floor as well as 140 climate-controlled parking stalls. Of the 180 units, 54 are restricted to those who earn up to 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), 18 are restricted at 60 percent of AMI and 108 are reserved for 80 percent of AMI. The top floor features a speakeasy-inspired lounge with views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, storage units, bike storage and landscaped areas. In 2021, the Rochester City Council approved $2.2 million in tax-increment financing to help with project costs. The developers also received $2.2 million in DMC infrastructure funds in the form of a forgivable loan.
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. — Ability Housing has announced plans for Villages of New Augustine, a 92-unit affordable housing community to be located at the intersection of North Volusia and Chapin streets in St. Augustine. Upon completion, the development will feature 20 one-bedroom, 36 two-bedroom and 36 three-bedroom apartments across four buildings. Rental prices will be determined by household income, with 80 percent of units reserved for residents earning 60 percent of area median income (AMI) or less and 10 percent each available for residents earning at or below 33 and 50 percent of AMI thresholds. Amenities at the property will include a community center with a computer lab, library and flexible workspaces and a playground, pavilion, 149 parking spaces and a dedicated walking trail. Construction on the $25 million project is scheduled to begin this summer. Funding has been secured through state, local and private sources including the Florida Housing Corp., the National Equity Fund and Bank of America.
NEW YORK CITY — A partnership between locally based developer Slate Property Group and nonprofit RiseBoro Community Partnership has begun construction on a $146 million affordable housing project in the Brownsville area of Brooklyn. The unit mix will consist of 130 supportive housing residences for formerly homeless young adults and families; 34 residences that will be reserved for renters earning 60 percent or less of the area median income (AMI); 51 apartments that will be restricted for households earning 50 percent or less of AMI; and one superintendent’s unit. Units will come in studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, and the building will also house a 3,800-square-foot community center and 1,600 square feet of ground-floor retail space, as well as a fitness center, rooftop terrace, classroom spaces, children’s play area and a community room. Aufgang Architects designed the project, and SD Builders & Construction is serving as the general contractor. Completion is slated for summer 2025.
SOMERVILLE, MASS. — The Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) has broken ground on Phase I of Clarendon Hill, a multifamily redevelopment project in the northern Boston suburb of Somerville that will add 168 affordable housing units to the local supply. The entire development, which is located on Powder House Boulevard, will ultimately consist of 591 units. Phase I will feature 41 one-bedroom apartments, 121 two-bedroom residences and six three-bedroom units that will be reserved for residents earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income. Bank of America provided construction financing for the project, which is being developed in partnership with the Somerville Community Corp. and the Somerville Housing Authority. Phase I is slated for a fall 2024 completion. Clarendon Hill was originally built in 1948 as a residence for veterans returning from WWII. MassHousing also provided financing to fund renovations and preserve the property’s affordability status.