Affordable Housing

Marine-Drive-Apartments-Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Chicago-based multifamily developer and manager The Habitat Co. has received approval from the Buffalo Common Council for a $400 million affordable housing redevelopment project. The site at 205 Marine Drive currently houses a seven-building, 616-unit waterfront apartment complex that was originally constructed as affordable housing in 1952. The development team, which includes Duvernay + Brooks and the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, plans to convert the property into a 700-unit affordable housing complex. Phase I of the redevelopment includes construction of a mix of new towers on the surface parking lot adjacent to its current buildings. The initial phase will feature low-, mid- and high-rise buildings, a parking garage and commercial space. Construction is expected to begin in late 2024. With approval for planned unit development now secured, the development team is focused on getting final design approval from the city and filing financing applications with the state of New York by the end of 2023. Full completion of the redevelopment is slated for 2029. Financing for the project included Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Equity, tax credits from the New York State Brownfield program and debt from the New York State Housing Finance Agency.

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Sangre-de-Cristo-Apts-Santa-Fe-NM

SANTA FE, N.M. — Community Preservation Partners (CPP) has entered the Santa Fe market with the acquisition and planned renovation of two multifamily communities — Sangre De Cristo Apartments and Santa Fe Apartments. Once renovated, the two communities will be restricted to households earning 60 percent or less of the area median gross income and will continue to benefit from project-based rental assistance. Located at 255 Camino Alire, Santa Fe Apartments features 64 units and was built in 1968. Sangre De Cristo Apartments, located at 1801 Espinacitas St., offers 164 units. Both communities offer one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts, with Sangre De Cristo also offering four-bedroom units. Renovation costs are estimated at $96,700 per unit. CPP’s total investment for both properties is approximately $93.7 million, which includes the combined purchase price of $41.8 million. CPP expects to complete renovations by December 2024. Project partners include the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, US Bank and KeyBank.

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John Ducey Walker & Dunlop agency financing affordable housing

There are a variety of ways to build affordable housing, but implementing these strategies has become an increasingly difficult proposition in 2023. Affordable housing projects seem to face challenges on every front. Generally affordable housing developers will: Despite intensifying renter demand for new units, developers are struggling to make their projects financially feasible, says John Ducey, chief production officer in the affordable lending group at Walker & Dunlop. “Affordable housing developers are facing some of the toughest headwinds I’ve seen in more than 20 years in the industry,” Ducey says. “That means developers are forced  to work harder than ever to structure deals that stretch scarce housing subsidies and maximize agency financing.” Challenging Conditions One impediment to affordable housing efforts is reduced future rent levels, related to area median income (AMI) caps the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) imposed recently on LIHTC properties in many markets in the United States. The unexpectedly restrictive caps forced developers to slash revenue projections, scuttling some transactions and forcing many loan applicants to renegotiate or seek alternative financing to salvage deals. On the expense side, inflation and the labor crunch continue to drive up costs for new construction, renovation of older affordable …

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Aloha-la-Halewiliko-Honolulu-HI

HONOLULU — EAH Housing has broken ground on Aloha Iā Halewilikō, a 140-unit affordable seniors housing community in the Aiea neighborhood of Honolulu. The City and County of Honolulu are providing the land for the development. Other partners on the $62 million project include Hawai‘i Housing Finance & Development Corp. (HHFDC), the Bank of Hawai‘i and U.S. Bank. The development has been in planning stages for five years and is scheduled for completion in 2025. Located in a residential neighborhood adjacent to ‘Aiea Public Library on the former site of  ‘Aiea Sugar Mill, Aloha Iā Halewilikō fulfills a part of the ‘Aiea Town Center Master Plan. The project is within walking distance to public transportation. A total of 13 units will be set aside for households with incomes at or below 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), 75 units for households with incomes at or below 50 percent of AMI, and 51 units for households with incomes at or below 60 percent of AMI. EAH is partnering with Lanakila Pacific, a local nonprofit services organization, which will provide access to its Meals on Wheels program. In Hawai‘i, EAH Housing currently manages 23 properties with over 2,700 units. The …

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Tompkins-Terrace-Beacon-New-York

BEACON, N.Y. — KeyBank has provided $41.2 million in financing for Tompkins Terrace, a 193-unit affordable housing complex in Beacon, about 65 north of Manhattan. The financing consists of $17.1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity and a $24.1 million Fannie Mae permanent loan. The borrower, New York City-based Related Affordable, will use the proceeds to acquire the property, fund capital improvements and preserve the affordability status. Tompkins Terrace was originally built on 16.3 acres in 1973 and last renovated in 2008. Units are reserved for households earning 50 to 60 percent or less of the area median income.

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NEW YORK CITY — Soloviev Group has announced plans for two residential towers in Manhattan as a part of the Freedom Plaza mixed-use development, a six-acre, three-block project proposed along the East River in Manhattan. The two high-rise buildings will offer 1,325 residential units, including 513 affordable units. Current plans for Freedom Plaza feature 4.8 acres of publicly accessible green space; a hotel; retail and restaurant space; a museum; the residential towers; and a casino. Local news outlets report that adding affordable housing to the development plans is a move to improve the proposal’s attractiveness amid opposition to the casino component. Soloviev is developing the casino in partnership with global entertainment owner and operator Mohegan. Mohegan is an extension of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut.  The planned affordable housing component of the development will comply with New York City’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing rules, as well as all other applicable affordability guidelines. Nearly 40 percent of the total unit count will be permanently affordable and reserved for residents earning 80 percent or below the area median income. According to Soloviev Group, the proposed project will be among Manhattan’s largest inclusionary housing initiatives. “Affordable housing, specifically the creation of new …

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Frenchtown-Road-Apartments-East-Greenwich-Rhode-Island

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. — Developer Pennrose has broken ground on Frenchtown Road Apartments, a 63-unit affordable housing project in East Greenwich. The four-story building will a house mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments that will be available to residents earning at or below 30 percent and up to 120 percent of the area median income. Residents will have access to resources such as case management, free and low-cost food deliveries, wellness activities, volunteer and employment opportunities and programming to encourage physical activity and community. Cove Homes Inc. will oversee management and support services at the property. Completion is scheduled for next fall.

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Skyline-View-Apts-Layton-UT

LAYTON, UTAH — Community Preservation Partners (CPP) has acquired Skyline View Apartments in Layton. CPP partnered with The Hampstead Cos., as co-owner and co-developer, for the community. CPP’s total development investment is approximately $39.5 million, which includes the $22 million purchase price and an estimated $70,000-per-unit renovation. CPP’s renovation and investment will renew the property’s affordability status for additional 20 years and preserve affordability for residents earning up to 50 percent of area median income. Comprised of eight two-story, garden-style buildings at 443, 448 and 430 N. Fairfield Road, Skyline View Apartments features 112 two-bedroom units, ranging in size from 720 square feet to 768 square feet. The asset was built between 1973 and 1978 and the buildings have not had significant renovations. Extensive renovations to interiors and exteriors will begin immediately with construction slated for completion in August 2024. Major enhancements will include installation of new windows, replacement of outdoor siding, and the addition of packaged terminal air conditioner units. Common amenity upgrades will include new paths of travel for improved accessibility, new tot lots, on-site parking for 123 vehicles, access to storage areas, a community laundry room and basketball court. Apartment upgrades will include new flooring, cabinets, countertops, lighting, …

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GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — Woda Cooper Cos. Inc. has begun construction on Breton Grove, a 90-unit affordable housing community to be built in two phases in Grand Rapids. The groundbreaking event featured an announcement about the new statewide Contractor Assistance Program (CAP), which is spearheaded by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. CAP is aimed at increasing the number of those who are newly trained and employed in the construction workforce and to help contractors and emerging developers increase their capacity for larger contracts and projects. Woda Cooper is working with trained apprentices from the program on the construction of Breton Grove over the next two years. Both phases of the project will be designated for residents who earn 30 to 80 percent of the area median income, with 33 integrated Permanent Supported Housing units for residents facing homelessness. The project will consist of two buildings, each with one- and two-bedroom units. Each building will include a community room with kitchenette and onsite management and supportive service offices. Community Rebuilders, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit, will coordinate the supportive services. Several units will be adapted for those with mobility challenges and/or sight and hearing disabilities. The City of Grand Rapids approved …

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Elevate-Aurora-CO

AURORA, COLO. — KeyBank has provided a total of $36.3 million in financing for the construction of Elevate at Aurora, an affordable apartment community in Aurora. Columbia Ventures is the sponsor, with the Housing Authority of the City of Aurora serving as special limited partner. KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) provided $30 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, including $5.5 million of Colorado State tax credit equity and $292,744 of solar tax credit equity. KeyBank CDLI also provided a $6.3 million equity bridge loan. KeyBank Commercial Mortgage Group placed $31.2 million in private activity bonds through one of its capital markets investors, structured as a construction-to-permanent, tax-exempt loan. Elevate at Aurora will feature 137 apartments in a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units for households earning between 30 percent and 70 percent of area median income. The project will also include construction of a new community service facility that will primarily serve as the Aurora location for CrossPurpose, a nonprofit provider of workforce development services, and Living Hope Community Church, a bilingual church that provides before- and after-school programming. Kortney Brown and Sara Geis of KeyBank CDLI structured the balance sheet financing. Hector Zuniga of …

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