Mixed-income housing and community space created through $78 million RAD development
(Baltimore, MD - November 14, 2018) — The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) joined its private-sector partner, The Community Builders (TCB), public officials, residents and community members to celebrate the grand opening of City View at McCulloh Apartments, formerly McCulloh Homes Extension. The revitalized development, which was transformed under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (RAD), offers 350 modern, high-quality apartments across two buildings for seniors and residents with disabilities.
“HABC’s commitment to provide affordable housing opportunities and improve the quality of life for our residents is enhanced by our collaborations with dedicated, capable partners like TCB,” said Janet Abrahams, HABC executive director. “Our partnership with TCB to redevelop McCulloh Homes Extension along with the 170-unit Monument East venture in East Baltimore are examples of our creative leveraging of HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program to bring millions of private resources to Baltimore City to improve housing conditions for residents.”
The former public housing development, which was built in 1971, was in need of a major renovation. Renovations at the new City View includes upgraded kitchens with Energy Star appliances, bathrooms, insulated aluminum windows and luxury vinyl plank flooring. In addition, the building’s heating, air conditioning and hot water systems were replaced and upgraded.
“Our partnership with the HABC, Maryland’s Community Development Authority, private lenders and investors, and, most importantly, the residents of City View at McCulloh has enabled us to transform dilapidated public housing into comfortable, safe, and stable apartment homes,” said Jacqueline Alexander, TCB development director. “With Marshall Gardens soon to break ground as the first phase of the redevelopment of Pedestal Gardens, TCB’s longstanding commitment to work side-by-side with our neighbors in Central West Baltimore for a better future for all, is well underway.”
RAD provides Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) with access to more stable funding to make needed improvements and preserve public housing sites. Since the program’s inception, 100,000 units of affordable public housing across the country have been preserved.
“At HUD, we believe creating affordable housing in communities can never be the job of just one sector, it has to be public, private and nonprofit partners working together,” said Joe DeFelice, regional administrator of HUD’s Mid-Atlantic region. “The Rental Assistance Demonstration program has harnessed the power of partnerships to transform City View at McCulloh Apartments into affordable housing that families can be proud to call home. Congratulations to all.”
City View at McCulloh includes 44 fully-accessible and 27 near-accessible apartments for residents with disabilities. The first floors of each building were connected by a walkway to create an enlarged entryway with an entrance desk and sitting areas. The buildings also offer amenities, such as laundry rooms, a fitness center, community room, computer room, craft room, a large auditorium, and private exterior plazas, for resident use.
“Baltimore’s population is second-to-none in demonstrating extraordinary resilience and determination, housing stability is an essential platform from which to provide additional opportunity and a level playing field to help all of our residents fulfill their full potential,” said Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young.
"Partners like TCB understand that there is no magic wand, community redevelopment is a collaborative, iterative process that occurs block-by-block with support from City agencies, best-in-class service providers and neighborhood groups, all of which are in full force right here in the 11th District. Today wouldn't have been possible without TCB's continued commitment to work with the residents of City View at McCulloh Homes, every step of the way,” added City Councilman Eric Costello.
The Housing Authority of Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, AGM Financial Services/Bellwether Enterprise, and Stratford Capital Group provided significant funding for City View at McCulloh.
"The State of Maryland was proud to partner with The Community Builders, Inc., and Baltimore City to provide financing for City View at McCulloh to transform older, public housing stock into modern, energy efficient, affordable homes," said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. "Governor Hogan recognizes that affordable rental housing development is often a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization and positive economic growth, and under his leadership, our agency has helped create or preserve more than 15,000 affordable units statewide."
About the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC): HABC was established in 1937 to provide federally-funded public housing programs and related services for Baltimore's low-income residents. The agency’s mission is to create and provide quality affordable housing opportunities in sustainable neighborhoods for the people it serves. HABC is one of the largest public housing authorities in the country, serving over 19,500 households through public housing, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (RAD), and other rental assistance programs. For more information, visit www.habc.baltimorehousing.org.
About The Community Builders, Inc.
The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB) is one of America's leading nonprofit real estate developers and owners. Our mission is to build and sustain strong communities where people of all incomes can achieve their full potential. We realize our mission by developing, financing and operating high-quality housing and implementing neighborhood-based models that drive economic opportunity for our residents. Since 1964, we have constructed or preserved hundreds of affordable and mixed-income housing developments and secured billions of dollars in project financing from public and private sources. Today, we own or manage 11,000 apartments in 14 states. We are headquartered in Boston with regional hubs in Albany, Manhattan, Cincinnati, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
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