NEW YORK CITY — The New York City Council’s subcommittee on zoning and franchises and its committee on land use have approved a proposal to invest $5 billion in affordable housing and related infrastructure, an initiative that paves the way for the development of about 80,000 new rental units over the next 15 years. Known as the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the program would fund new housing development and infrastructure upgrades at existing properties across the city’s five boroughs, which have a combined rental vacancy rate of 1.4 percent, according to city officials. Of the $5 billion total price tag, 20 percent ($1 billion) will be provided by the state, subject to budgetary approvals processes. Additionally, the City of New York is committing $1 billion for housing capital, as well as $2 billion for projects that will support investments in sewer and flood infrastructure, as well as street improvements and upgrades to open spaces. Finally, the city plans to spend $1 billion in expense funding over 10 years in flood monitoring, neighborhood planning, tenant protection, voucher assistance and combatting source-of-income discrimination. The proposal exceeds all the housing created from rezonings during the 12 years of the Bloomberg administration …
FULLERTON, CALIF. — Sundt Construction has broken ground on the redevelopment of two residence halls on the California State University, Fullerton campus. The project will replace the Jewel Plummer and Cobb Residence Halls, which were the first residence halls built on campus in 1979. The new 175,000-square-foot facility will offer 500 beds in two-bedroom units with bed-to-bath parity for residents; two-bedroom apartments for staff; and one-bedroom units for residence advisors. The project will also include shared amenity space on the ground floor, an updated connection to the university’s arboretum and an 82-space parking lot. A timeline for the development was not announced.
CHICAGO — Essex Realty Group has arranged the $4.3 million sale of a 23-unit, value-add apartment building in Chicago’s Buena Park neighborhood. The property at 821 W. Montrose Ave. is one of the last untouched vintage buildings in the neighborhood, according to Essex. The asset features one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts along with a shared green space and six surface parking spaces. Brian Karmowski of Essex represented the seller, while Matt Feo and Abe Eilian of Essex represented the buyer. The property sold above the listing price.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — California-based developer BR Cos. will build 800 Grand, a $250 million multifamily project at the southwest corner of Eighth Street and Grand Boulevard in downtown Kansas City. The 25-story high-rise building will consist of 300 apartments and 24,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Information on floor plans and the amenity package was not announced. Hoefer Welker designed 800 Grand, and Clark Construction and JE Dunn are serving as the general contractors for the tower. Tentative groundbreaking and completion dates were not announced, but the development has been in the works for more than a year. “Kansas City has the right environment and connectivity through smart public investment in public parks and transportation expansions to attract private investment,” said Ryan Sullivan, chief development officer of BR Cos. BR Cos., which maintains an office in Kansas City, has also partnered with local real estate agency Aristocrat Realty on the development. Founded in 2011, BR Cos. currently has 200 employees on staff and focuses on several business lines throughout the United States and Mexico, including real estate, construction, finance and energy. — Taylor Williams
NEW YORK CITY — Locally based developer The Moinian Group has topped out 7 Platt Street, a 37-story apartment tower in Manhattan’s Financial District. The 170,000-square-foot building will house 250 units in studio, one- and two-bedroom configurations, as well as some penthouses. Indoor amenities will include a fitness center, library, coworking pods, lounge spaces, private dining spaces with outdoor terrace access, a gaming area, rooftop deck, golf putting area and a communal entertainment kitchen. Residents will have access to outdoor amenities such as a rooftop sundeck and garden lounge, movie lounge area with accompanying seating, barbecues, dining areas, outdoor fitness equipment, an outdoor coworking space and a golf putting area. The design team includes Rockwell Group and Hill West Architects, and AECOM Tishman is serving as the project’s general contractor. Completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. Vertical construction began in January.
BOSTON — MassHousing has provided $25 million in financing for the consolidation and renovation of two affordable housing properties in Boston. The borrower, Affordable Housing & Services Collaborative Inc., will combine the 46-unit Columbia West Apartments and the 45-unit Uphams Corner Market in the city’s Dorchester neighborhood into a 91-unit property that will be known as Columbia Uphams Apartments. The properties were built in 2005 and 1926, respectively. The financing includes $3.9 million in permanent debt, a $20 million construction loan and $1.1 million in subordinate financing. Planned improvements include upgrades to building envelopes via new windows and doors, as well as new roofs, HVAC systems, appliances, faucets, showerheads, toilets, lighting and security systems. Units will also receive new kitchen and bathroom cabinets, countertops and flooring, and elevator systems will be modernized.
KENMORE, WASH. — Weidner Apartment Homes has completed the sale of Heron View, a multifamily property in Kenmore, to Wright Investment Properties for $19.9 million, or $276,042 per unit. Philip Assouad, Giovanni Napoli, Ryan Harmon, Nick Ruggiero and Anthony Palladino of Institutional Property Advisors, a division of Marcus & Millichap, represented the seller and procured the buyer in the deal. Built in 1987, Heron View features three residential buildings and a leasing office surrounding a central parking lot. The community offers 72 one- and two-bedroom apartments, averaging 797 square feet, with white appliances, laminate countertops, washers/dryers and wood-burning fireplaces.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — Emergent Properties and RNGD have broken ground on The Lewter District, a $50 million adaptive reuse project in downtown Huntsville. Situated on 1.5 acres, the mixed-use development is a conversion and restoration of the historic Lewter Hardware Co. store that closed in 2022 after nearly a century of operation. Phase I of the development will feature 14 luxury residences along Washington Street called Lewter District Townhomes. Sanders Pace Architecture designed the residential community, which is expected to be completed by late 2025. Phase II comprises a renovation of the original hardware store building. The restored building will house farm-to-table restaurant Brick & Tin on the ground level and outdoor patio spaces as well as offices for RNGD on the second floor. Phase III calls for a ground-up, five-story office building. National law firm Maybard Nexsen has committed to occupying the top two floors of the office building, which will also feature ground-level retail space. EskewDumezRipple is the architect for the second and third phases of The Lewter District. Phases I and II are underway and Phase III is slated to break ground before the end of the year.
ATLANTA — FCP has sold Villas at Princeton Lakes, a 210-unit apartment community located at 751 Fairburn Road SW in west Atlanta. A partnership between Monday Properties and RSN Property Group purchased the garden-style complex for $36.8 million. Travis Presnell and James Wilber of Cushman & Wakefield represented FCP in the transaction. Built in 2004, Villas at Princeton Lakes offers a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. FCP had originally purchased the community in late 2020 for $30 million, including the assumption of an existing mortgage, and implemented upgrades to the property’s common areas and exteriors.
SAN DIEGO — The University of California San Diego has completed the Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood, a 1.4 million-square-foot development offering 2,000 beds of housing for undergraduate students. The project, which comprises five buildings, was developed on a site formerly occupied by a surface parking lot. Units, including 48 beds reserved for resident advisors, are offered at below market-rate rents. Shared amenities include a 490-seat auditorium; large community areas, including retail and dining space; a food hall; conference center with four hotel rooms; fitness center; meditation pavilion; tea house; and academic and administration space. The property also features terraced parking gardens offering 1,200 spaces for residents, faculty and daily visitors. The project’s design-build team included architect HKS, design-builder Kitchell, associate architect EYRC and landscape architect SWA.