2002 Governor’s Awards for Excellence
in Affordable Housing Recipients
Announced
Cohen-Esrey Housing Partners and Preservation of Affordable Housing,
Inc., were presented the 2002 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in
Affordable Housing by Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell at an awards luncheon March
27. Both were instrumental in revitalizing neighborhoods and saving
precious affordable housing units for use by Missourians. The luncheon
culminated the 2002 Governor’s Conference on Housing held in Columbia
that attracted almost 500 housing professionals.
Cohen-Esrey received the Private Sector award for Maple Avenue
Apartments in Independence. Located in the Truman Landmark District, the
Maple Avenue Apartments development included 10 buildings that were
rehabilitated to provide 64 units of affordable housing and a new
management office.
Maple Avenue Apartments is a classic example of public and private
partners working together to improve a neighborhood. The City of
Independence supported the project with technical assistance, financial
assistance and improved infrastructure. Missouri Housing Development
Commission and equity partners invested in this unique project and the
federal Department of the Interior had input in the final plan. The
restoration financing included state and federal Housing Tax Credits,
state and federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits, the Midtown Truman
Road Corridor Redevelopment tax abatement program and federal HOME
funds.
The $5.2 million rehabilitation project took almost two years of
planning and about 18 months to complete the actual restoration. The
city moved the utility lines underground, replaced the sidewalks and
curbs and added distinctive decorative lighting to the Landmark
District.
“What had previously been one of the worst streets in the Landmark
District, has now become one of the most attractive areas in older
Independence,” said Lt. Gov. Maxwell. “An area known for an assortment
of environmental and social problems with many marginal rental
properties, residents and visitors to the Truman National Historic
Landmark District can now walk through a neighborhood that once again
looks like the one in which President Harry Truman was so proud to
walk.”
Preservation of Affordable Housing, formerly known as the National
Equity Fund Properties, Inc., won the Non-Profit Sector award. The
organization is a national non-profit organization founded by some of
the nation’s most seasoned housing finance practitioners.
Specializing in “at-risk” properties, the organization worked during the
last three years to transfer and rehabilitate 15 project-based Section 8
properties in 11 different Missouri towns. Through the use of the
Affordable Housing Assistance Tax Credit, tax-exempt bond financing and
state and federal Housing Tax Credits, 1,600 affordable apartments were
renewed physically and preserved as long-term affordable rental housing
in Missouri.
“This collaborative effort has shown us that our vital housing resources
must be protected and preserved one property at a time by organizations
such as Preservation of Affordable Housing,” said Missouri’s lieutenant
governor.
The late Governor Mel Carnahan initiated the annual Governor’s
Conference on Housing in 1995 to provide an opportunity for individuals
and organizations involved in affordable housing to meet and discuss
current issues in their field. The Governor’s Conference on Housing has
proven to be a successful forum for exchanging ideas and information and
for encouraging innovation in affordable housing.
At that time, Governor Carnahan also began the tradition of honoring
outstanding contributions to furthering affordable housing in the
public, private and non-profit sectors in Missouri.
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Before Rehabilitation
Country Club Village Apartments, Springfield
After
Country Club Village Apartments, Springfield
Before Rehabilitation
Maple Avenue Apartments, Independence
After
Maple Avenue Apartments, Independence |
