Date: September 23, 2004

Three developments presented Excellence in Affordable Housing Awards

Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell presented three Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing for developments in Kansas City, Joplin and Hillsdale (St. Louis) during an award luncheon, Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Governor’s Conference on Housing held in Kansas City.

This year’s award winners include Hillsdale Revitalization in St. Louis County; Frisco Station Apartments in Joplin, Mo.; and Columbia Square Apartments in Columbia, Mo.

“The recipients of the Governor’s Awards were chosen for their tireless dedication to furthering the cause of affordable housing for the people of Missouri,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell. “All three of these efforts show what can be done to reinvigorate a community, a downtown area, and a neighborhood.”

Hillsdale Revitalization involved an innovative partnership between the public, private and non-profit sectors to restore and renew the small community of Hillsdale, an old inner ring suburb just outside the City of St. Louis. Several years ago the late Buzz Westfall, St. Louis County Executive, called then County Councilman Charley Dooley, County Community Director Phil Minden and Hillsdale Chairman Dorothy Moore, to begin to brainstorm and work together to revitalize Hillsdale. Much of the housing stock was abandoned and neglected and many empty lots dotted the landscape.

St. Louis County asked the St. Louis Equity Fund to get involved in the Hillsdale revitalization effort. Together with The Meyer Company, St. Louis Equity Fund proposed to develop 15 single family homes using Rental Housing Tax Credits. Sensing a need to gather more momentum and synergy, the St. Louis Equity Fund reached out to Habitat for Humanity of St. Louis, which had been working in neighboring Wellston, and asked them to look at building in Hillsdale. Habitat for Humanity jumped at the opportunity and used Affordable Housing Assistance Program credits to build 14 new single family homes with the help of the future homeowners and lots of volunteers.

Today, the St. Louis Equity Fund is using Rental Housing Credits to build Leschen Place, which consists of another 15 new homes in Hillsdale. Habitat for Humanity is planning to build another 20 homes next year. The Meyer Company with assistance from St. Louis County is building 4 new homes which are priced at over $80,000. Three of these homes have already been sold using conventional financing. This is quite an accomplishment considering that prior to this revitalization effort no home had sold in Hillsdale for over $40,000.

“The transformation taking place in the community of Hillsdale is truly remarkable,” said Lt. Gov. Maxwell. The building of Frisco Station Apartments involved taking a storied, but neglected, landmark in downtown Joplin and converting it to a seniors housing community. The Frisco Building was originally built as a railroad depot in 1913 and was Joplin’s first modern high-rise office building. It served as a depot until 1955 and after years of gradually losing tenants, the building was completely vacant in 1987. By early 2001 the city was considering demolition. Economic Security Corp. of the Southwest Area had tried for years to rehabilitate the property. In 2001, Economic Security Corporation saw an opportunity to partner with a successful private developer, Carlson-Gardner, Inc. of Springfield, Mo., to preserve this local landmark and revitalize downtown while providing greatly needed affordable rental housing for Joplin’s seniors.

The City of Joplin provided a grant for the acquisition of the property. Permanent financing was provided by the city, MHDC and additional equity came from state and federal Rental Housing credits and historic credits. This historic restoration preserved the architectural integrity and beauty of the building while providing 56 modern, safe, and comfortable apartments for seniors.

“The historic rehabilitation and innovative reuse has already returned lost pride to downtown Joplin and it is a cornerstone for downtown revitalization efforts. The Frisco Building has truly come full circle,” said Maxwell. “The same can be said of some of the current residents of the building who were delivered in the doctor’s offices that used to be located in the Frisco Building many years ago.”

Columbia Square Town Homes, a 128-unit rental housing development in Columbia, Mo., was acquired September 2002 by YARCO Companies of Kansas City. Originally built as manufactured housing, these units were delivered to the site in 1971. Columbia Square was plagued with maintenance issues, drug and other criminal activity and a long history of resident and management conflict.

In 2002 Yarco received an allocation of tax-exempt bond financing to facilitate the acquisition and rehabilitation of this property. Columbia Square also received federal and state Rental Housing credits to assure that the rents remain affordable for residents living there. MHDC provided a grant for the purchase of adjacent property and the subsequent construction of a community building for residents.

Since Yarco’s purchase and rehabilitation, the difference in this community is truly remarkable. Comprehensive interior and exterior improvements such as new roofing, siding, windows, carpeting and appliances have made a dramatic difference in the lives of residents. Other site improvements such as decorative and security lighting, a park and play fountain, picnic areas and a new entrance have greatly improved the overall quality of life at Columbia Square.

On-site social services are now available to tenants such as a learning center with a computer lab for children giving them a place to go after school and do their homework. Columbia Square also has an on-site human services coordinator to organize fun and educational activities for the children. Improved management operations and crime reduction efforts have all played a part in providing residents with a better quality of life and a safe place to live as well as fostering a greater sense of community at Columbia Square. In short, where there was no community before, Yarco has helped to create a community that kids are proud to call home.

As a matter of fact, Columbia Square was recently honored by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) as one of the best affordable housing properties in HUD’s portfolio in Missouri.

Yarco isn’t finished working to improve the neighborhood. Earlier this year Yarco received financing and Rental Housing credits to assist in the rehabilitation of Claudell Lane Homes which are adjacent to Columbia Square.

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