National Sponsors of NAHMA’s 2014 Communities of Quality® Awards Program
Sponsored by HD Supply Multifamily Solutions and Navigate Affordable Housing Partners.
NAHMA Announces 2014 National Communities of Quality Award Winners
For the 22nd consecutive year, the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) announces the winners of its annual Communities of Quality (COQ) Awards program. These awards honor the best multifamily affordable housing communities across the country.
Entrants are judged on how they manage the physical, financial, and social conditions of their properties, and on how well they convey their success in offering the highest quality of life for their residents.
The 2014 COQ Awards were presented at NAHMA’s annual Federal Affairs Issues Meeting, March 8-10, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
“This year, we had more than 30 entrants, all of which prove that the Communities of Quality Awards program continues to thrive and to be a point of pride for all the contenders. There is no other award that focuses so comprehensively on the everyday life and management expertise of affordable housing properties,” NAHMA President Ken Pagano, SHCM, NAHP-e, said.
NAHMA congratulates the winners:
- Exemplary Family Development: Canterbury Place, Roslindale, Mass.
- Exemplary Development for the Elderly: Little Neck Village, Marion, Mass.; Owner: EAF Little Neck Village LLC; Management Company: Peabody Properties Inc.; AHMA: NEAHMA
- Exemplary Development for Special Needs: Pear Tree Place I, II and III, Yakima, Wash.; Owner: Next Step Housing; Management Company: Next Step Housing; AHMA: AHMA of Washington
- Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property: Blackstone Terrace, Woonsocket, R.I.; Owner: Atlantic Development Corp.; Management Company: Housing Management Resources Inc.; AHMA: NEAHMA
About the Sponsors
About HD Supply Multifamily Solutions: With 22,000-plus items and free, next-day delivery on most items to most areas, HD Supply Multifamily Solutions is your source for maintenance supplies, fabrication, installation, and renovation services. Over 500 account representatives serve more than 130 markets, providing personalized service backed by the strength of a national company. To order, call 1-800-431-3000 or visit hdsupplysolutions.com.
About Navigate Affordable Housing Partners: As a Joint Venture Partner with the Jefferson County Housing Authority in Birmingham, Alabama, Navigate is HUD’s Section 8 PBCA for Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, and Connecticut. With a strong reputation for customer service and training, Navigate oversees a portfolio of more than 70,000 units and has a history of developing, owning, and managing HUD-assisted properties in Alabama. For further information, visit www.navigatehousing.com.
Canterbury Place
Exemplary Family Development | Roslindale, Mass.
Canterbury Place was built before Section 8 or elderly housing programs existed, so its founding residents were mostly elderly and middle-aged singles and couples. Today, its 238 apartments are home to a growing population of single-parent and custodial grandparent households with children and teens, as well as young professionals. As the resident population has shifted younger, on-site activities and services have evolved to address those needs, not just for entertainment but to help residents learn, grow, and prepare for a successful future. The community offers a community center and computer room, various sports, an after-school program, and educational opportunities, among other programs and activities.
Little Neck Village
Exemplary Development for the Elderly | Marion, Mass.
In 1978, a 12-unit affordable housing development was created for seniors in Marion, Massachusetts. More than three decades later, the property was physically obsolete and in need of significant capital improvements. In 2008, EA Fish Developers partnered with Peabody Properties Inc. and the Town of Marion to redevelop the site as a modern low-income senior community. Along with substantial improvements to individual apartments and grounds, Little Neck Village’s supportive services and coordinated social and physical activities provide residents with an affordable aging-in-place model that serves as an alternative to more costly assisted-living facilities.
Pear Tree Place I, II and III
Exemplary Development for Special Needs | Yakima, Wash.
Pear Tree Place comprises 62 apartment homes developed across three phases over seven years in Yakima, Washington. Residents include people in long-term sobriety from substance abuse, the previously homeless, and those with developmental disabilities. Next Step Housing provides a comprehensive service-enriched approach, including case management, wheelchair-accessible living spaces, and partnerships with Yakima’s Department of Developmental Disabilities and Department of Social and Health Services. All three phases were financed through creative collaboration among public, private, and nonprofit funders, with each phase designed to address the unique needs of its target populations from initial design through to ongoing service delivery.
Blackstone Terrace
Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property | Woonsocket, R.I.
Blackstone Terrace, formerly Woonsocket Village, is a 122-unit property that had earned a reputation for both physical deterioration and criminal activity. It was the housing of last resort in the area, with families forced to live in deteriorated 35-year-old buildings while crime left residents fearful for their safety. A $4.5 million revitalization produced both a financial and physical transformation, as well as a notable improvement in the property’s standing in the broader community. Blackstone Terrace now provides safe, cost-effective affordable housing for families with incomes below 60% of median income, with the Section 8 contract enabling service to residents at even lower income levels.