The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) awarded $1,250,000 in Low Income Tax Credits for The Apartments at College Avenue in Lancaster, Pa. The new 64-apartment affordable housing community, developed by HDC MidAtlantic, is Phase One of a larger plan to redevelop the former UPMC/St. Joseph’s hospital site into a mixed-use site.
“We are thrilled to have the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s support in building more affordable housing in the City of Lancaster,” said Dana Hanchin, President and CEO of HDC. “The Apartments at College Avenue is a transformational development that will add much needed multi-family affordable housing to the city, which has not occurred in several decades. We are looking forward to continued collaboration with our many trusted partners to build this community at the West End of College Avenue.”
Support for this development has come from various stakeholders in the City of Lancaster including the Mayor’s Office, City Council, the Lancaster City Planning Commission, the Lancaster County Planning Commission, and numerous community organizations. This development received $850,000 in city HOME funds. Neighbors have expressed overwhelming support for more affordable housing.
Additionally, The Apartments at College Avenue has received significant contributions from two local foundations: The Steinman Foundation committed $1.5 million, and United Disabilities Services Foundation committed $750,000 toward costs for the first phase of this development.
Phase One of the Apartments at College Avenue will include 48 one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-bedroom apartments. Approximately 12 of those apartments will comply with Americans with Disabilities Act design standards.
“As a resident and member of the HDC board, I feel that [with this development], we are reaching our goals,” said Edwin Martinez Feliciano, HDC board member and resident at Duke Manor Apartments. “By providing more affordable housing for new residents, we are also providing new opportunities for them.”
This community will service households with incomes estimated to range between $12,000 and $40,000 annually, with rent between $200 and $800 a month depending on apartment size.
Amenities will include professional on-site property management, 24/7 on-call maintenance, a fully-funded robust resident services program, on-site laundry, a spacious community room, and parking at no cost to residents.
Construction is expected to begin in late spring or early summer 2022.
HDC is partnering with Baltimore-based firm, Washington Place Equities (WPE), for the larger redevelopment of the former UPMC/St. Joseph’s hospital site. Total combined investment is expected to be $90 million for all phases. HDC is the developer and owner of all affordable housing components on the site. The total cost of Phase One is approximately $15.4 million.
PHFA also awarded $1,197,172 in Low Income Tax Credits to HDC MidAtlantic and partner Alliance for Building Communities, Inc. (ABC) for development of 1528 West, a 49-apartment community in Allentown. This affordable housing community will be designed for seniors 55+ with an established preference for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD.)
Every voice matters. At HDC, we are committed to raising up resident voices and opening doors so that residents can actively participate in the democratic process, speak out on issues important to them and their communities, and communicate how policies affect their everyday lives. We believe it is important to make the time and space to listen, and to support resident leaders in effectively using their voices. We support resident advocacy opportunities through our Resident Academy of Leadership & Inspiration, Voter Registration Drives, and holding constituent meetings and tours with elected officials.
Allentown, PA
Fredericksburg, PA
Lancaster, PA
Finding a place to live that meets one’s basic needs and budget can feel like a never-ending challenge. The complexity of lower-income families and individuals extend far beyond simply finding a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to call home. At HDC, we are committed to being an ally in speaking to issues, programs, and policies that improve quality of life of our residents. Issues that we know are important to our residents include:
We know we can’t solve the affordable housing challenge alone. We need champions to help change the conversation around what home means and why it matters. We are committed to educating elected officials to understand the needs and challenges of their constituents. We are here to provide solutions that work and offer affordable housing expertise that demonstrates the impact policy decisions have on lower-income families, seniors and those with disabilities. We work closely with and participate in alliances and coalitions to educate and advance shared policy priorities. Our advocacy partners include:
Wendy Smith serves as the Vice President of Property Management, responsible for the overall strategic direction for HDC’s management portfolio and the organization’s largest staff team. Previously, Wendy served as Asset and Operations Manager for a leading real estate firm based in New York City which owned over 11,000 affordable homes. Since 2008, Wendy has held roles in regional level operations for commercial and for-profit housing agencies. Wendy holds a degree in International Studies.
