Washington Hotline - 03/20/2009 (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
Card Check Legislation Introduced in House and Senate
Mark-to-Market Addressed at House Hearing
Affordable Housing Takes a Front Row Seat at the Pillars Awards
NAHB Comments on the CRA Question and Answer Revision
Attend the Legislative Conference — Get the Latest Info on Multifamily Issues
RESPA REFORM — Public Comment Due April 9th
Tell Us What You Think — Comments, Suggestions, Successes
New HUD Appointments and Multifamily Resources
Calendar: Conferences and Events

Affordable Housing Takes a Front Row Seat at the Pillars Awards

Affordable housing projects were in the spotlight this year, receiving two major Mulitifamily Pillars awards at the conference in San Diego this week.

The NRP Group, Multifamily Development Firm of the Year Award

The Multifamily Development Firm of the Year Award was presented to The NRP Group, an industry leader in property management, affordable housing, and community outreach. NRP's partnership with the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) on three affordable housing developments produced more than 1,352 units in San Antonio alone in 2008.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, NRP reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify available multifamily community rental units for victims. Funding was approved for both affordable and market-rate multifamily housing in what is now the Beechgrove Subdivision just outside New Orleans. NRP was the first affordable developer to complete a project of this kind.

View the press release here.
MVE & Partners, Irvington Terrace, Multifamily Community of the Year Award

Irvington Terrace, designed by MVE & Partners, Inc., a California-based architectural firm, was named Multifamily Community of the Year at the Pillars of the Industry Awards by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The winning community, which also was named the winner in the Best Affordable Apartment category, was selected by the judges from the winners of all 17 builder-category awards.

“Irvington Terrace clearly demonstrates that affordability does not rule out good design and functionality,” said Steve Patterson, Chair of NAHB’s Multifamily Leadership Board. “With affordability becoming increasingly important in this troubled economy, it’s encouraging to know that affordable rentals also can be beautiful.”

Irvington Terrace incorporates modernist design within a village-square community environment. The development forms a block-long perimeter of flat-roofed affordable rental apartments, each with separate entrances and porches, placed alongside market-rate for-sale town houses.

The 108,000 square-foot development sits atop a partially underground parking garage, disguised under front stoops to maintain the neighborhood’s sense of scale. The rental units are clustered around two landscaped courtyards and are adjacent to public amenities for residents including meeting spaces, laundry facilities and classroom space. The three-story buildings fit 40 units into each acre, and the design has no ‘backside’ – an architectural choice that enhances neighborhood security by providing views of the street in all directions.

Irvington Terrace showcases innovational use of affordable materials by strategically massing the units together and selecting a variety of earth tones to accentuate the California Mission style architecture. In this setting, the use of plaster construction gives the appearance of concrete or stone, creating an upscale look with an affordable price tag. Each unit is accented with trellises and pergolas, providing an attractive symmetry with its neighboring market-rate for-sale homes.

View the full list of winners here.

For more information, e-mail Erin Grant, or call her at 800-368-5242.