NEW HAVEN, CONN. — A partnership between two affordable housing development and management companies, Community Preservation Partners (CPP) and Beacon Communities, has acquired the 104-unit Brewery Square Apartments in New Haven. The new ownership plans to invest about $43 million in the rehabilitation of the two-building complex, which was originally constructed in 1896 as a brewery and converted to housing in the 1980s. The partnership will upgrade units’ appliances, bathrooms, countertops, windows and floors, as well as enhance the landscaping and security systems. Renovations will serve to extend the affordability status of the property, which houses 41 one-bedroom units, 55 two-bedroom residences and six three-bedroom units. The renovation will transition 84 of the 104 units into the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, with affordability levels ranging from 30 to 80 percent of the area median income.
NEW YORK CITY — The New York City Planning Commission has approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX), a rezoning initiative that could ultimately facilitate the creation of as many as 9,700 new residences across a 42-block section of Midtown Manhattan. The MSMX plan covers four areas centered around Herald and Greeley Square, located between West 23rd and West 40th streets, as well as Fifth and Eighth avenues. The area today is largely defined by commercial and industrial uses, with current land-use rules restricting new housing development. Midtown South is currently home to more than 7,000 businesses, 135,000 jobs and various public transportation hubs, but the neighborhood has struggled to rebound in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic as hybrid work schedules have become more entrenched. In addition to these commercial vacancies, the submarket is subject to restrictive zoning rules that limit opportunities for New Yorkers to live near their jobs. “For far too long, outdated zoning policies have limited the potential of this well-resourced area to help address New York City’s urgent housing needs,” says Rachel Fee, executive director of the New York Housing Conference, nonprofit affordable housing policy and advocacy organization. “In the midst of a dire housing crisis, …
DECATUR, GA. — A partnership between Decatur Housing and Preserving Affordable Housing Inc. (PAHI) has officially opened Phase I of Village at Legacy, an affordable housing development in the east Atlanta suburb of Decatur. The partnership also officially broke ground on Phase II. Leasing and move-in activity at Phase I of Village at Legacy is expected to begin in August, with construction on Phase II targeted for completion in spring 2026. Village at Legacy is situated on six acres within Legacy Park, a 77-acre site that once housed the United Methodist Children’s Home. The project represents the first ground-up affordable housing development in Decatur in decades. Phase I is a $27.9 million apartment community comprising 66 units, 40 of which Decatur Housing is supporting with project-based vouchers under its new Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with HUD. The $21.5 million second phase will also comprise 66 units, 20 of which will have project-based vouchers. Decatur Housing was awarded Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to support both phases of Village at Legacy. The City of Decatur and the Decatur Housing Authority are providing additional capital. Other capital partners include Hudson Housing Capital, Advantage …
NEW YORK CITY — Merchants Capital has arranged $231 million in financing for Eastchester Gardens, an 877-unit affordable housing community in The Bronx. The 10-building development was originally constructed in 1950 and is home to nearly 2,000 people. The bulk of the financing consists of a $221.7 million, 30-year Freddie Mac CME permanent loan, proceeds of which will be used to fund capital improvements and preserve affordability of all units for renters earning 60 percent or less of the are median income. Capital improvements will include upgrades to heating, cooling, plumbing, lighting and electrical systems, as well as new flooring, kitchens and bathrooms and upgrades to common areas and outdoor spaces. In addition, Eastchester Gardens will be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, enabling the use of federal historic tax credits to support the property’s revitalization. The project team includes MDG Design + Construction, Infinite Horizons, Wavecrest Management and the New York City Housing Authority. Construction is underway and expected to be complete in 2028.
NAPLES, FLA. — McDowell Housing Partners (MHP) has completed the construction of Ekos Cadenza, a 160-unit affordable seniors housing community in Naples. This marks MHP’s second phase of development at the site. The first phase, which also comprises 160 units of affordable housing for seniors, opened in October 2024. Totaling five stories, Ekos Cadenza features studio, one- and two-bedroom residences ranging from 527 to 1,007 square feet. Amenities include a swimming pool, wet bar, fitness center, game room, media center, pickleball court and clubhouse. The Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida will provide onsite healthcare services to residents, with Collier County administering a daily meal program. Nineteen apartments will be reserved for seniors earning at or below 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), and 119 units will be reserved for seniors earning at or below 60 percent of AMI. Monthly rents will range from $529 to $1,406.
DETROIT — KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) has provided $43.6 million in construction loans and arranged $7.6 million in permanent loans for the acquisition and rehabilitation of Lee Plaza in Detroit. The 15-story, Art Deco historical landmark will be transformed into housing for seniors and families. The property will include 182 units, of which 117 units will be restricted to individuals 55 years or older and 65 units available to families. All tenants are required to earn at or below 60 percent of the area median income. The project, which was acquired by the city and subdivided into three separate condo units, will be completed in three phases. KeyBank’s financing covers the first two phases — floors 2-5 and floors 6-10. The project received additional funding through historic tax credit equity totaling $46.7 million as well as low-income housing tax credit equity from other banks. The City of Detroit provided $27.7 million in soft financing and Invest Detroit and the Michigan State Housing and Development Agency also contributed to the project. The borrowers and developers, Ethos Development and The Roxbury Group, are Detroit-based real estate development firms. Kory Clark and Kyle Kolesar of KeyBank CDLI structured the financing.
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CALIF. — Community HousingWorks (CHW) has acquired NOVO Apartments in Rowland Heights and will convert the market-rate property into affordable housing. Northmarq arranged the $38.3 million sale as well as a $24.9 million fixed-rate, Freddie Mac acquisition loan for CHW. Stratford Partners Real Estate was the seller. NOVO was constructed in 1974. Additional financing details for the conversion were not disclosed, but CHW often uses its own equity and 4 percent low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) to fund developments, according to nonprofit directory GuideStar. Rowland Heights is about 23 miles east of Los Angeles. Rent restrictions were not disclosed. Northmarq’s Westlake Village Multifamily Investment Sales team, led by Vince Norris, Mike Smith, Jim Fisher and Tommy Yates, represented Stratford Partners in the transaction. Northmarq’s Newport Beach Debt & Equity team, led by Scott Botsford, Joe Giordani and Brendan Golding, arranged the loan for CHW.
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — USA Properties Fund has started construction on Terracina at Wildhawk, an affordable housing community located at 9750 Gerber Road in Sacramento. Terracina at Wildhawk will offer 145 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with completion slated for summer 2026. Residents must meet income requirements, earning 30 percent to 70 percent of the median income for Sacramento County. Apartments will feature energy-efficient appliances and light fixtures, ceiling fans and low-flow faucets, showers and toilets. Amenities will include a community room, fitness center, swimming pool, dog park and EV (electric vehicle) charging stations. The property will also feature a $3.3 million photovoltaic solar system that will help offset electrical use for residents. Terracina at Wildhawk will include LifeSTEPS, a social services provider that offers a range of services for residents from health living and financial planning classes to programs for children. The $67.9 million development is being funded by a public-private partnership that includes the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), Sacramento County, JPMorgan Chase and WNC Inc. Sacramento County contributed $1.5 million to offset impact fees for the project, and SHRA provided a $9.2 million loan and bond issuance.
Five years after the world shut down, the national multifamily market is still on a roller coaster ride. After the highs of 2021 quickly turned into the lows of 2023, the dust settled in 2024. Today, the market has begun to reactivate while continuing to grapple with the aftereffects of the run-up. While national multifamily transactions soared 22 percent in 2024, Atlanta transaction volume was flat year-over-year as the investment community shifted a favorable view of Atlanta toward ambivalence. Perceptions surrounding new supply and non-paying tenants contributed to the city falling out of vogue with some investors, but Atlanta is a resilient market. With new deliveries having peaked in 2024 and property-level fundamentals rapidly turning the corner, Atlanta may be beaten up, but the light at the end of the tunnel is coming into focus: Atlanta is still a long-term winner. Days of peak supply are over While Atlanta experienced a record 24,000 units delivered in 2024, that figure represents just 4 percent of its total inventory. When compared to other Sun Belt markets like Charlotte (10 percent of total inventory delivered in 2024), Nashville (8 percent) and Dallas (5 percent), the number doesn’t seem as jarring. Looking ahead to …
CHICAGO — Related Midwest has opened three new residential buildings in Phase 3B of Roosevelt Square, the developer’s 67-acre multi-phase redevelopment project on Chicago’s Near West Side. Developed in partnership with the Chicago Department of Housing and Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), the latest phase adds 207 mixed-income apartment units — including 75 public housing, 40 affordable and 92 market-rate units — and 10,000 square feet of retail space to the former ABLA Homes site. The new buildings, located at 1002 S. Racine Ave., 1257 W. Roosevelt Road and 1357 W. Roosevelt Road, offer a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The additions build on earlier phases, with nearly 900 mixed-income units completed since 2006. The Chicago Department of Housing invested $17 million in tax-increment financing and $2.5 million in donation tax credits. The City of Chicago issued $76.3 million in tax-exempt bonds, which generated $5.3 million in 4 percent low-income housing tax credits. In total, the redevelopment received approximately $101 million in public investment and financial support. Designed by Chicago-based DesignBridge, the six-story twin buildings at 1257 and 1357 W. Roosevelt each offer 70 units ranging from 556 to 1,191 square feet. Market-rate rents start at $1,650. Amenities …