Partner Thanks
Partner Thanks
"I awoke this morning with a devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s been a busy holiday season at Cook Inlet Housing Authority with the Grand Opening of Tyonek Terrace during Thanksgiving week, the last few residents moving into the Mountain View Village homes in early December and the Mountain View Village Grand Opening scheduled for Wednesday December 15 (see related story in this issue of the newsletter).
With both of CIHA’s newest properties' official openings during the holidays we thought it appropriate to center the grand opening events on the themes of thankfulness and giving.
With those themes in mind, we think it’s most appropriate to express our overwhelming thanks to the partners who have, through their generous gifts to our organization, helped us make these incredible new communities a reality.
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is responsible for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) awards which resulted in $8.7 million in development equity for Tyonek Terrace and Mountain View. In addition, through AHFC Senior Citizens Housing Development Fund Grant Program and the Supplemental Grant Program, another $1.9 million came to CIHA for development of these two properties. Finally, $1.3 million in mortgage loans provided additional assistance in the development of Mountain View Village.
CIHA owes special thanks to AHFC’s CEO/Executive Director, Dan Fauske, who has been a great friend to CIHA as both a funder and a mentor. CIHA would also like to acknowledge Barbara Baker and Mark Romick who actually administer the LIHTC and grant programs which funded these and other CIHA properties. AHFC contributes more than $100 million annually to Alaska’s state revenues through cash transfers, capital projects and debt-service payments.
First National Bank Alaska (FNBA) and Wells Fargo have also been exceptional partners to CIHA in the development of these and other CIHA properties. Dawn Coursey of FNBA sponsored CIHA’s successful Federal Home Loan Bank grant application which brought more than $300,000 to the Tyonek Terrace development. Judith Crotty of Wells Fargo sponsored the Federal Home Loan Bank application which brought $234,000 in development funds to CIHA’s Mountain View homeownership units. Wells Fargo also provided a $2.3 million line of credit for acquisition - pending permanent financing receipt for Mountain View - and they provided a $200,000, 2% interest loan.
Venture Development - with their design/build team of Neeser Construction and Koonce Pfeffer Bettis have been working with CIHA for over 10 years. This Mark Pfeffer/Jerry Neeser Development Company is managed by Howard Levine with Bob O’Neill on point for the Tyonek Terrace project.
Neeser Construction, an important player in the local building industry since 1969, has played an important role in construction of two of CIHA’s latest developments, including Tyonek Terrace. Neeser has also proven its worth more than once in helping CIHA to work through some of the surprises that are inevitable in any construction project. Thanks to Jerry Neeser, Neil Bhargava & Mark Haas. Neeser consistently produces quality results, consistently provides innovative ideas and finishes projects on time. And a special thanks to Jerry for his very generous donation of an absolutely exquisite piece of Alaska Native Art which is now on display in the Tyonek Terrace great room. Let us know if you’re interested in touring Tyonek Terrace so you can see the new art for yourself.
Koonce Pfeffer Bettis has been CIHA’s primary design partner for over ten years. They have designed Tyonek Terrace, Kenaitze Pointe, Strawberry Village Cottages, Chickaloon Landing and Knik Corners. Their innovative and thoughtful designs have resulted in award winning senior housing projects for CIHA. Many Thanks again to Mark Pfeffer, Jeff Koonce, Mike Prozeralik and Deanna Wlad. Special thanks to Mark Pfeffer for his generous donation of a significant piece of Alaska Native Art which is now on display at Kenaitze Pointe.
John Hagmeier, one of Anchorage’s most exclusive residential home-builders, is a new partner to CIHA with the development of Mountain View Village. John recently completed construction on 12 - 1,500 square foot rent-to-own homes in Mountain View …the nicest, most unique affordable housing Anchorage has ever seen. John has always taken pride in offering insightful planning and design as well as quality craftsmanship in his high end custom homes. With this neighborhood revitalization effort, John has applied what he’s learned through more than 25 years in the construction industry and, to demonstrate his appreciation for the support the Anchorage community has shown him through the years, has built well designed, well crafted affordable homes in one of Anchorage’s oldest neighborhoods.
Thanks to Mayor Begich and Mary Jane Michael for leadership in promoting revitalization initiatives in Mountain View; the Rasmuson Foundation and HUD for federal EDI funds ($966,645); and Jim Hill, of James Hill Architects; Mark Ritz & Ivan DeWitt of DAR-CON, Inc., the Architect and Contractor for the rehabilitation of CIHA’s 4-plex properties in Mountain View.
A final thanks to CIRI and the Cook Inlet Housing Authority Board of Commissioners: Michael Boling, Debra Morris, Barbara Donatelli, Gloria O’Neill and our newest member Penny Carty. With their confidence, vision and support we provided 181 new homes for elders and families in just over two years bringing our rental portfolio to almost 450 units:
- Our Centennial Village elder campus has grown from 215 units to 308;
- Our total portfolio has grown from 267 units to 448 adding 88 units of new family housing.
- A 68% increase in affordable housing for our community.
- And on the horizon, we are planning a second phase for Mountain View to add 47 rental units and 10 home ownership units; as well as our investment in the Brother Francis Shelter and our plans for new developments in the Creekside Towncenter and Airport Heights areas.
Our partners understand our mission and care about our clients. They are community minded. They have passion for doing a good job. They care about the quality and effectiveness of their work - for the long term.
Bottom line - they add value for our clients and our community. We are very proud to work with our partners, honored to thank them and look forward to all the great things we will accomplish together in the coming year.