Member News

Affordable Housing Finance announced that developments by Pennrose Properties, BRIDGE Housing, Dominium, The Community Builders, Homes for America, and Volunteers of America are some of their readers’ top choices.

NH&RA members are key development and funding partners in the Choice Neighborhood grants that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded in Atlanta, Kansas City, Memphis, and Sacramento.

Ballard Spahr announced that Christopher D. Bell, a real estate attorney whose broad transactional experience includes more than 10 years at Fannie Mae, has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office.

Governor Charlie Baker has appointed Ms. Margaret F. Wagner and Mr. Ping Yin Chai to the MassHousing Board, filling two vacancies on the nine-member governing body that oversees the Commonwealth’s quasi-public affordable housing bank.

Michael Rubinger announced he will end his tenure as president and CEO of the Local Initiative Support Coalition in June 2016. In a parallel statement, the LISC Board of Directors announced plans to form a search committee to plan for succession.

La Fonte Nesbitt joins Love Funding’s Washington, D.C. office as Vice President and General Counsel after serving as a real estate partner at the law firm of Holland & Knight for almost 20 years.

Love Funding announced the closing of three loans totaling $8.59 million to refinance the debt on a group of age-restricted, Section 8 apartments in Haslett, Michigan.

The year 2015 marks 25 years since The Michaels Organization’s founder and CEO Michael J. Levitt first created a scholarship program for residents of the affordable housing communities that his companies own and manage. To celebrate this milestone, The Michaels Organization has kicked off its “I Am A Michaels Scholar” campaign, which tells the stories of some of these resident scholars, both in print and on video.

Boston Capital is investing in the construction of two communities that will provide affordable housing for residents making 60% of the area median income. The communities will be developed by Affirmed Housing, using tax credit equity from the low-income housing tax credit program.

Rockport Mortgage Corporation provided $17 million for the acquisition and substantial rehabilitation of a low- and moderate-income housing community in Knoxville, Tennessee. Through the HUD 221(d)(4) program, the complex debt structure includes the 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), short-term tax-exempt bonds, and multiple tranche financing.

Michael J. Dirrane has been appointed by Governor Baker as Chairman of the MassHousing Board of Directors. It is the second time Mr. Dirrane has led the nine-member Board that governs the affordable housing agency.

City Real Estate Advisors, Inc. (CREA) announced that Richard Shea has joined the organization as senior vice president of acquisitions. Shea will be responsible for identifying, structuring and closing affordable housing equity opportunities throughout the California.