Hammond, LA —Today, the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) celebrated the opening of a new multifamily development, called The Burrow, in Hammond, Louisiana. LHC awarded over $6 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, over $9 million in Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds (MRB), and over $6 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). "Providing access to safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing provides immediate and long-term fiscal benefits to the state and localities and is directly linked to the success and vitality of its community," said LHC Executive Director Joshua G. Hollins.
The Burrow represents both affordable and workforce housing for families and includes 4 two-story buildings, comprised of 64 units that can house up to 200-300 residents. Of the 64 units, 4 units are designated as Permanent Supportive Housing, which combines deeply affordable rental housing with voluntary, flexible and individualized community-based services. It assists people with the most severe and complex disabilities to live successfully in the community and reduce chronic homelessness. This site was specifically chosen because of its commercial and industrial use. Residents of The Burrow will be located in close proximity to retail shopping and a supermarket, and will also have amenities, such as a clubhouse, fitness center, business center and outdoor courtyard space.
The Burrow includes FORTIFIED Gold Construction and other disaster-resilient construction methods. It is Enterprise Green rated, and there are backup generators capable of powering all units in case of a power outage. "The primary hope for The Burrow and the surrounding community is to provide an affordable, resilient, and safe housing option that addresses the challenges posed by historic flooding and storms. By implementing FORTIFIED Gold and Enterprise Green standards, this development aims to mitigate potential damages caused by severe weather events, ensuring that the residents have a secure place to call home even in the face of adverse conditions. Additionally, the resilience could inspire and serve as a model for other developments in the community, encouraging the adoption of similar standards and contributing to the overall safety and well-being of the area," says Cullen Reeves, who is one of the developers and owner of The Burrow. At the grand opening, LHC presented an Enterprise Green Communities and Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED Gold plaque to the developers and owners of The Burrow.
When building this development, the LHC kept in mind the quality of life, and the resiliency resources used during construction. "We seek opportunities and challenge our partners to consider not just how we provide housing developments, but how we better the human experience in developing. That means considering access to grocery stores and quality food options, transit, education, and workforce development," says Hollins. “Knowing that Louisiana is no stranger to disasters, we must think ahead and build with resiliency in mind so that our families can be better prepared.”
Through its partnership with the Louisiana Office of Community Development (OCD), CDBG-DR funds were allocated to the state following the Great Floods of 2016. The “Piggyback Program,” created in response to this disaster, allows the use of CDBG-DR, leveraged with LIHTC and other sources for new construction development or acquisition/rehabilitation of multifamily affordable housing units. "The Great Flood of 2016 destroyed thousands of affordable rental units across the state, including units right here in Hammond," said OCD Director Pat Forbes. "With our partners at the Louisiana Housing Corporation, we are now building resilient developments like The Burros with housing that's built to be resilient in future storms."
Developers, Rosemark Real Estate with Stewart Rutledge and Keyridge Ventures with Cullen Reeves, worked closely alongside LHC on this project. Architecture done by McCarty Architects, PA, and Winters Construction, LLC was the contractor. The project was a collaboration between LHC, the Louisiana Office of Community Development, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Working with LHC was a collaborative effort aimed at securing the necessary financial resources for the project and ensuring that everything was in place for a successful execution. The process involved close communication, coordination, and compliance with the organization's requirements and guidelines. By partnering with LHC, the development was able to benefit from the Agency's extensive experience and knowledge in running these types of programs. The final product was a direct result of the LHC's vision for these various funding sources," adds Reeves.
For more information, visit The Burrow website or call: (985) 224-0733