Tag Archive for: affordable housing

Bryan Lenzo Honored in Columbus Business First’s HR Impact Awards

Yesterday, Bryan Lenzo, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Wallick Communities, was one of 20 local human resource professionals honored at Columbus Business First’s HR Impact Awards.

We congratulate Bryan, whose incredible leadership, in tandem with the entire Wallick Human Resources team, has positively supported the development of a data-driven approach and enhanced a people-first culture.

Read about Bryan’s approach to his career and leadership here.

Falcon Woods Apartments Receive Community’s Choice Award

On Tuesday, May 16, Wallick Communities was delighted to attend the 2022 Community’s Choice Awards in Holland, Michigan. Falcon Woods Apartments, a Wallick community, received the Best of the Best Award in the “Apartment Complex” category. These awards were voted upon by the public and recognize the best businesses and organizations in the area.

Wallick’s incredible Community Manager, Laquesha Bailey-Smith, attended this gala and received the award.

We thank Holland Sentinel for hosting these awards – and thank you to Laquesha and the entire Falcon Woods team for your outstanding care and dedication to the residents we serve!

Wallick Closes on Fenner Ridge Apartments

In mid-2020, Wallick received Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) to finance Fenner Ridge Apartments located in Hillsboro, OH.

In December, Fenner Ridge reached another milestone: its closing. Initial work at the site has begun, and construction will continue through December 2022.

Fenner Ridge is a new affordable property for families in Highland County. The community will include 56 units in three walk-up buildings and offer one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Wallick Acquires Three Affordable Communities

Wallick Communities recently acquired three affordable apartment communities: Salem Acres, Findlay Commons, and Cooper Crossing Apartments.

  • Salem Acres Apartments offers 2- and 3-bedroom apartment homes for families in Salem, Ohio. The community has 45 apartments and serves families through the Section 8 program.
  • Findlay Commons offers 2- and 3-bedroom garden and townhome apartments for families in historic Findlay, Ohio. The community has 50 apartments and serves families through the Section 8 program.
  • Cooper Crossing offers 2- and 3-bedroom garden and townhome apartments for families in South Point, Ohio. The community has 44 apartments and serves families through the Section 8 program.

Not only do these acquisitions grow Wallick’s already large presence in Ohio, but also expand its mission to open doors to homes, opportunities, and hope. The company is beyond words to welcome the new associates and residents to the Wallick family.

Mayor Rita Ali Tours Parkwood Commons

The mayor of Peoria, IL, Dr. Rita Ali, visited Parkwood Commons on October 6, one of Wallick Communities’ five affordable apartment communities in Peoria. Led by Jonathan Stonebraker, Wallick’s assistant regional vice president, Mayor Ali toured several apartment units and the community’s clubhouse, including a community room, on-site laundry facility, computer center, kitchenette, and management offices.

Currently, the State of Illinois lacks nearly 300,000 affordable rental homes. Parkwood Commons is one of the only affordable apartment communities for large families in Peoria, as the community offers 5-bedroom units. With Parkwood Commons’ rehabilitation, Wallick’s investment in the City of Peoria is now $70 million. It includes the recent restoration of 478 other apartment homes at Parkview Estates, Hurlburt House, Schlarman House, and Reservoir Estates.

Parkwood was built in the early 1970s, and until Wallick acquired the community, there had not been any physical updates or renovations since its construction. After nearly two years of work, Wallick completed its $19.4 million rehabilitation of Parkwood Commons in May of 2021.

Now, Parkwood has 100 total units spread across 50 buildings with two, three, four, and five-bedroom apartments. Significant rehab work was done in each apartment, including new plumbing; energy-efficient windows and doors; low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets; new kitchen cabinets and appliances; new light fixtures and ceiling fans in the living room and dining rooms; new water heaters; new hard-wired fire detection units in all areas; and new central HVAC.

Wallick Awarded Funds for Two New Communities

Wallick Communities received two separate awards to fund Summergrove Apartments in Bowling Green, OH and Oak View at Siler City in Siler City, North Carolina.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency awarded Wallick Communities $3,000,000 (2021 Bond Gap Financing Award) in Ohio Housing Trust Funds to finance the construction of Summergrove Apartments, which will provide a high-quality, safe housing option for the local workforce within Wood County. Summergrove will have one, two, and three-bedroom apartments – a total of 96 units.

Additionally, the North Carolina Housing Finance Authority awarded Wallick Communities $9.7 million in 9% tax credits to finance the construction of Oak View at Siler City Apartments, Wallick’s first community in the state of North Carolina. To help fund the project further, Wallick also won the RFP issued by Chatham County, NC for land to develop affordable housing in Siler City. Oak View will be a multifamily community with a total of 72 units with one, two, and three-bedroom options.

Thank you to OHFA, NCHFA, and our partners for their unwavering support in the development of these pivotal communities.

$19.7M Rehabilitation Of Parkwood Commons Complex Nears Completion

Wallick Investing $27.7M+ in Communities

Wallick Building $9M Cornerstone Crossing Senior Apartments

Wallick Expands Presence to Iowa

In May, Wallick Communities closed on the acquisition of Wapello Woods Apartments, a 46-unit, Section 8 multi-family community in Ottumwa, IA. Wapello Woods is the company’s first community in Iowa and Wallick has partnered with Young Management Corporation, which will oversee operations at the apartments.

Only a short car trip from the Des Moines River, Wapello Woods has a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments and is nestled on a scenic four acres of land.

Hurricane Maria Victims Find Refuge at Highland Village

In 2017, disaster struck Puerto Rico when Category 5 Hurricane Maria ravaged through the Caribbean island, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. Regarded as the worst natural disaster to affect Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria robbed citizens of food, power, income, and worst of all, their homes.

Earlier this year, Jennifer Dranschak of Kasai North America, an auto manufacturing facility in Upper Sandusky, OH, had an idea to bring those displaced by Hurricane Maria to America. After hearing of Jennifer’s plans, Stephanie Fischer, general manager at Wallick, knew the perfect place for those families to live – Highland Village.

Highland Village is one of Wallick’s affordable apartment communities in Upper Sandusky, OH. Zac Brown, Highland’s community manager, worked diligently through language barriers to prepare and approve move-in applications for six families, who traveled from Puerto Rico to escape Hurricane Maria’s damage. Now, Highland Village is proud to have each of these families as residents.

Words can’t describe how grateful Highland’s newest residents are to have power, clean water, and a roof over their head. Jennifer continues to connect these families to employment opportunities and other resources.

This is one of many examples of how Wallick lives out its mission to open doors to homes, opportunities, and hope. Thank you to Stephanie, Zac, Jennifer and others for doing what you do best – helping others find a place to call home.

Grand Reopening at Cypress Commons after $7 Million Rehab

Wallick Communities has completed a $7 million renovation at Cypress Commons, a 44-unit affordable multifamily housing community in Middletown, OH. A grand reopening celebration was held at the community on October 17.

Renovations at Cypress Commons began in 2017 after the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) awarded Wallick close to $500,000 in 9% low-income housing tax credits. In just over a year, the following improvements were made.

Unit Improvements

  • Kitchen cabinets, countertops & appliances
  • Bathroom vanities, showers and plumbing fixtures
  • Energy efficient central HVAC
  • Carpet & resilient flooring
  • Interior & exterior doors
  • Energy efficient lighting fixtures
  • Energy Star vinyl windows
  • Redesigned units for accessibility

Building & Site Improvements

  • Enlarged playground area w/ seating
  • Community building w/ kitchenette, computer lab, laundry facilities, resident services coordinator office
  • Community patio and landscaping
  • Security cameras and improved site lighting
  • Siding, Energy Star exterior doors, entry lighting

On Wednesday, Wallick welcomed community members, project partners, as well as state, local and federal officials to Cypress Commons to see the community’s transformation. Among those in attendance were:

  • Tom Feusse- CEO, Wallick Communities
  • Nan Cahall- SW Ohio District Director, Office of Senator Rob Portman
  • Ben Thaeler- Deputy District Director, Office of Congressman Warren Davidson
  • Larry Mulligan Jr.- Mayor, City of Middletown
  • Diane Alecusan- Business & Project Administration Manager, Ohio Housing Finance Agency
  • Brian Langmeyer- Vice President of Development, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing
  • Brian Dunlap- CEO/President, RiverHills Bank
  • Julian Littlejohn- Community Manager, Cypress Commons

Once again, hats off to Wallick’s development team for another successful rehab. New kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures may seem like small improvements, but their efforts have changed the lives of the families and seniors that call Cypress Commons home. Also, thank you to project partners OHFA, OCCH, RiverHills Bank, Sol Design & Consulting, Hooker DeJong, Inc. and Resident Resources Network.

Congressman Bill Johnson Visits Wallick’s Corporate Office

After passing up his visit in January due to delays in the spending bill, Congressman Bill Johnson made good on his promise to tour Wallick Communities’ new corporate office last week. A solid supporter of affordable housing, Congressman Johnson represents Ohio’s 6th District in which five of Wallick’s affordable apartment communities are located:

  • Lawrence Village- 70 units
  • Lawrence Manor- 58 units
  • Cambridge Village- 60 units
  • Cambridge Commons- 40 units
  • Berwick Apartments- 49 units

Wallick Communities and Congressman Johnson have built a good relationship over the past few years, ever since Congressman Johnson visited the newly renovated Lawrence Village in 2014. On Friday afternoon, Congressman Johnson toured the company’s headquarters and sat down with CEO Tom Feusse as well as Wallick’s development team to discuss Wallick’s future affordable housing projects.

Before departing, Congressman Johnson praised Wallick’s work in the affordable housing industry and held a Q&A session for the entire corporate office, where he answered some of the industry’s –and country’s– most pressing questions.

Wallick’s Affordable Housing Communities Receive Makeovers

This summer, Wallick celebrated the grand re-openings of three affordable communities, all achieved under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program:

  • Georgetown Senior Apartments – 64 units, Delaware, OH
  • Echo Hill – 40 units, Vanceburg, KY
  • Cutter Apartments – 40 units, Cincinnati, OH

These communities underwent major improvements including brand new kitchens and bathrooms, new windows and roofs, enhancements to their exteriors and interiors and energy savings enhancements.

Additional communities currently being renovated, also under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, include:

  • Cypress Commons – 44 units, Middletown, OH
  • Bedford Village – 40 units, Bedford, KY
  • Locust Ridge – 72 units, Dry Ridge, KY
  • Highpoint – 44 units, Ludlow, KY

These communities are expected to be complete by summer of this year.

Amy Albery and Bill Hinga Represent Wallick Communities at Annual Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition Meeting

At the end of January, Amy Albery, Senior Vice President, Asset Management, and Senior Vice President Bill Hinga represented Wallick Communities at the annual Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC) meeting.

 

The Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition is a trade organization made up of developers, investors, lenders, and for-profit and nonprofit attorneys and accountants, who use legislative outreach and education to advocate for affordable rental housing, financed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit). The Housing Credit is a public-private partnership that addresses the nation’s affordable housing needs. Since 1986, the Housing Credit program has financed nearly 3 million low-income units nationwide for families, seniors, veterans, and those with special needs. Over 128,000 of those units are located in Ohio.

 

On the meeting’s first day, Amy served as a panel member for the session “Promoting the Housing Credit in the New Congress and Administration”. During the discussion, she described the strategy behind Wallick’s grand re-openings of tax credit communities and the efforts used to attract Congressional members to participate in these events. The photo above, shows Amy Albery along with a presentation depicting U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan, of Ohio’s 4th District, at Fostoria Townhomes.

 

“During grand re-opening events, the inclusion of all business partners, who worked together to make these communities a reality, is the most successful way of fully explaining the importance of affordable housing to federal representatives. It’s about creating a story, that ends with a resident settling into their new home.”

 — Amy Albery, SVP of Asset Management

 

The AHTCC annual meeting covered several other relevant topics as well, such as the latest issues impacting tax credit investors, how the outcome of the election could affect the Housing Credit program, and how to handle challenging questions from members of Congress, media and other sources.

If you would like to learn more about the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, please visit www.taxcreditcoalition.org.

Thank you Amy Albery and Bill Hinga for representing Wallick Communities at the AHTCC annual meeting. All of your efforts and dedication toward advocacy are greatly appreciated.