Hunt Companies, Boulevard Group, Albany Housing Authority (AHA), and Pennrose celebrated the groundbreaking of the Albany Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Phase I conversion. This first of several phases will renovate four outdated public housing communities in downtown Albany, Georgia. The initiative builds on AHA’s work to redevelop its entire public housing portfolio, which began in 2015 with approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and will continue over the next two years. 

Phase I of the rehabilitation includes planned improvements for McIntosh Homes, a 125-unit family community; O.B. Hines, a 56-unit family community; Thronateeska Homes, a 32-unit family community; and Golden Age Apartments, a 66-unit senior living community. Renovations will focus primarily on the interior modernization of the buildings, including new HVACs, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, fixtures, and other improvements. 

Speakers at the event included Dr. William Myles, Chief Executive Officer, Albany Housing Authority; Bo Dorough, Mayor, City of Albany; Denise Leggett, HUD Regional Administrator - Region IV, U.S. Housing & Urban Development; Freddie Powell Sims, Senator, District 12, Georgia State Senate; CaMia Hopson, Representative, District 153, Georgia House of Representatives; Frank Wilson, Chairman, Albany Housing Authority Board; Mignon Givens, Resident, Albany Housing Authority; James Brooks, President, Boulevard Group; Steven Bauhan, EVP Affordable Housing Group, Bank OZK; and R.J. Briscione, Sr. Director, Social Determinants of Health & Execution, Aetna. 

Residents will be temporarily relocated to other vacant units in the AHA portfolio while the residential buildings are under construction. Residents will also be given the opportunity to select which AHA property they prefer and if they would like to permanently relocate or maintain the right to return to their revitalized home.     

“We are overwhelmingly enthused about the transformation of this community, said Dr. William F. Myles, Chief Executive Officer at Albany Housing Authority. “We consider it an honor to partner with such great entities in bringing this plan together. The residents of AHA will have an opportunity to receive a better quality of life because these efforts and we are so grateful to finally see this vision come to fruition.”

AHA will retain ownership of the residential communities. AHA named Hunt and Boulevard Group as developer for the project in 2013. Pennrose will provide development services through a strategic alliance with Hunt. Phase 1 will use 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to convert the four properties to Project-Based Rental Assistance via HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program (RAD), which was created by the Obama Administration as a tool to help housing authorities make improvements and ensure lasting affordability.

Notable funding for the project includes $9,876,481 in Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity, $6,714,508 in Georgia Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity raised via Hunt Capital Partners’ multi-investor fund HCP Fund 31, a $3.5 million DCA HOME Loan, and $500,000 AHA Loan. 

“We’re excited to work with the housing authority on this transformative initiative to provide significant housing upgrades for more than 270 local seniors and families,” said Mark Straub, Regional Vice President at Pennrose. “The renovations will improve the overall quality of life for residents and ensure lasting durability of the units.” 

Pennrose is executing the development project on behalf of Hunt at Boulevard Group and is active throughout the Southeastern region of the United States and has in-depth experience executing RAD projects throughout the country. Most recently, Pennrose completed the Kingsport portfolio RAD conversion in Tennessee with the Kingsport Housing & Redevelopment Authority. Pennrose is also working with the New York City Housing Authority to repair and upgrade 1,315 family and senior affordable units in Brooklyn.

“Hunt is pleased to partner with the Albany Housing Authority and deliver the improvements needed for the residents of this community,” said Sinclair Cooper, Executive Vice President at Hunt.  “As one of the largest RAD developers in the U.S., we know what a difference this program has made in the lives of the people who live here.” 

Envolve Client Services Group (formerly LEDIC), an affiliate of Hunt, will act as the property manager.