TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — Housing Trust Group has completed Lafayette Gardens, a $21 million affordable housing community located in the Woodland Drives neighborhood of Tallahassee. Comprising 5.8 acres, the property features 96 units in single- and multi-bedroom layouts. The project team included architectural firm FK Architecture, general contractor Hennessy Construction Services, interior designer Stiles Interiors and landscape architect Wood + Partners. Community amenities include a clubhouse, pool, playground, media center, fitness center, bike/walk trail and a dog park. Chase Bank provided a $15 million construction loan for the project, Raymond James provided $16.1 million in 9 percent low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) equity and Walker & Dunlop provided a $4.8 million Freddie Mac loan.
Affordable Housing
INDIANAPOLIS — Co-developers HVAF of Indiana Inc. and Woda Cooper Cos. Inc. have completed Proctor Place, a $12.6 million affordable housing community in Indianapolis. The 61-unit property is located at 240 N. Warman Ave. and is available for residents who earn 30 to 80 percent of the area median income. The Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority provided housing tax credits for the project, and the City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development provided a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) to support the development. Indianapolis Housing Agency provided project-based vouchers for 15 units to be set aside for homeless veterans. Other financial partners include Fallbrook Opportunity Zone Fund II LLC, Fifth Third Bank and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust. HVAF will oversee supportive services at the property. Woda Construction Inc. was the general contractor and Woda Cooper’s management arm will oversee day-to-day operations.
LANSING, ILL. — Skender, in conjunction with joint venture partner Ashlaur Construction, has completed construction of Torrence Place in Lansing, a southern suburb of Chicago. Developed by Full Circle Communities, the three-story affordable housing project features 48 accessible and adaptable units mainly intended for veterans and people with disabilities. The building also includes a 3,600-square-foot health clinic and pharmacy that will be operated by Christian Community Health Center. Resident amenities include a community lounge, library, computer lab, onsite laundry, storage lockers, a fitness center and onsite supportive services. The project team also included architect Cordogan Clark & Associates and CAGE Civil Engineering.
LAWRENCE, MASS. — MassHousing has provided $25.9 million in financing for an affordable housing redevelopment project in Lawrence, a northern suburb of Boston. The project will convert a 177-year-old structure that originally housed a stone mill into a complex with one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Of the 86 units, 11 will be rented to households earning 30 percent or less of the area median income (AMI); 58 will be reserved for renters earning up to 60 percent of AMI; and the other 17 will be rented at market rates. WinnCos. is the developer of the project. The financing package comprised a $4.6 million tax-exempt permanent loan, a $20.4 million bridge loan and $900,000 from the Capital Magnet Fund, an initiative designed to attract private capital to affordable housing projects in economically distressed areas.
TEANECK, N.J. — The Alpert Group, along with its nonprofit partner Geriatric Services Inc., has begun construction on a 40-unit affordable seniors housing community in the Northern New Jersey community of Teaneck. The site of the five-story building, which will primarily offer one-bedroom units for renters over age 62 that meet certain income requirements, currently houses a vacant municipal facility. Completion is slated for late 2023.
ORLANDO, FLA. — One Stop Housing has purchased the Ambassador Hotel, a 155-room hotel located at 929 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando, from Sammy Investments Orlando for $7.1 million. The buyer plans to convert the hotel into an affordable housing community. When completed, the property will feature a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Construction is scheduled to begin this year. Glen Jaffee of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller and procured the buyer in the $7.1 million acquisition. The Orlando City Council approved zoning for the Ambassador Hotel to be redeveloped into an affordable housing community in late July. Once complete, the community will become the eighth hotel conversion for One Stop Housing.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Hunt Capital Partners has provided $14.1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity for Saison North, a 116-unit affordable housing project in Austin. The complex will consist of eight one-bedroom, 44 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom units that will be reserved for households earning up to 30, 50 and 60 percent of the area median income, as well as 34 market-rate units. Amenities will include a fitness center, business center, leasing office and a clubhouse. The developer of the project is O-SDA Industries. Bank OZK has provided a $19.5 million construction loan for Saison North, with J.P. Morgan Chase providing a $12.9 million permanent loan. Other pieces of financing were originated by the Austin Housing Finance Corp. ($6.2 million), Travis County ($2.4 million) and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corp. ($375,000). Completion is slated for May 2024.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Annex Group has plans to develop Union at Tryon, a 200-unit affordable housing community located at 614 Rocco Road in Charlotte. Situated on more than seven acres, the $44 million property will feature studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that will target households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). Amenities will include a community center, business center, fitness center, playground, walking trails, outdoor grilling area and community gardens. Annex Group’s partners on the project include architect KTGY, civil engineer Tarr Group and LIHTC consultant Shelter Investments Development Corp. Financial partners include Merchants Capital, which directly provided a $31 million construction loan and a $20.8 million Freddie Mac loan; tax credit equity partner Aegon Asset Management, which provided $18 million in equity; and INLIVIAN (Charlotte’s housing authority) that issued $20.8 million in bonds. The Annex Group is providing property management services for Union at Tryon, which is expected to open in spring 2025.
Cushman & Wakefield Brokers $25.7M Sale of Two Affordable Seniors Apartment Properties in Richmond
by John Nelson
RICHMOND, VA. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the sale of Guardian Place, a 236-unit affordable seniors housing portfolio spanning two buildings located at 1620 N. Hamilton St. in Richmond. Fairfield Residential purchased the properties, known as Guardian Place I (121 units) and Guardian Place II (115 units), for $25.7 million. Jorge Rosa and T.J. Liberto of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, United Methodists Family Services, in the transaction. The Guardian Place communities are age-restricted assets that are encumbered with affordability covenants under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Amenities include parking, outdoor seating areas, a library, exercise room, community garden and a TV lounge.
GARLAND, TEXAS — Locally based developer Palladium USA has completed a 122-unit mixed-income seniors housing project in Garland, a northeastern suburb of Dallas. Designed by HEDK Architects, the development will consist of 92 units that will be reserved for renters aged 62 and above who earn 60 percent or less of the area median income. The remaining 30 units will be rented at market rates. Amenities will include a fitness center, computer lab, library and a theater. A grand opening ceremony will take place on Nov. 10.