Affordable housing developments in city receive state tax credits

Lincoln- Lemington project moves forward

A Hill District housing development that will include 40 new affordable units to be marketed to artists was one of several city projects to be awarded low- income state tax credits.

And in the East End, an affordable housing project for seniors took a step forward on Thursday.

In the Hill District, the New Granada Square Apartments on Thursday received 9% low- income housing tax credits totaling $ 1.17 million from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

The credits will leverage about $ 11 million in equity for the project, according to the Hill Community Development Corp. and CHN Housing Partners of Cleveland, partners in the $ 13.4 million development.

“Introducing new apartment housing to the commercial core of the Hill District will be a significant economic and social engine that will drive development of the remaining Centre Avenue corridor,” said Marimba Milliones, Hill CDC president and chief executive.

The New Granada development includes 27 one- bedroom and 13 two- bedroom units, of which four are accessible.

They are part of a $ 55 million redevelopment initiative anchored by the New Granada Theater on Centre Avenue, a legendary jazz club being rehabbed by the Hill CDC.

Other affordable housing projects in the city that received PHFA tax credits include:

• North Negley Residences, Garfield, 45 units, also recognized for innovation in design for adaptive reuse of a historic building.

• Larimer/ East Liberty CNI Phase 4, Larimer, 35 units in the former Larimer School.

• Flats on Forward, Squirrel Hill, 43 units.

• City’s Edge, 70 units, Uptown. Meanwhile, in the East End of the city, the defunct Lemington Home for the Aged is set to spring back to life as affordable housing for seniors under a plan approved by the Urban Redevelopment Authority board Thursday.

The board approved a $ 650,000 loan to Redo 1625 LP from the URA’s Housing Opportunity Fund rental gap program to support the transformation of the old nursing home into 54 one- bedroom units for seniors.

The building, at 1625 Lincoln Ave. in the Lincoln- Lemington- Belmar section of the city, has been vacant since the nursing home declared bankruptcy in 2005.

The mixed- use development, “coupling housing and health,” is to include replacement of all major building systems and additional on- site parking, according to the city.

Construction is expected to begin in the fall and take about 14 months.

Redo 1625 LP is a partnership between Ralph A. Falbo Inc. and AWK Development Inc.