National Sponsors of NAHMA’s 2015 Communities of Quality® Awards Program
Sponsored by HD Supply Multifamily Solutions and Navigate Affordable Housing Partners.
NAHMA Names 2015’s Best Multifamily Affordable Housing Communities
For the 23rd 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 2015 COQ Awards were presented at NAHMA’s annual winter meeting, March 6-8, in Washington, D.C.
“This year, we had 50 entrants, representing a noteworthy increase over last year, which proves 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, CPO, SHCM, NAHP-e, said.
NAHMA congratulates the winners:
- Exemplary Family Development: Village at Lakeview Apartments, Edgewood, Md.; Management Company: Housing Management Resources; Owner: Silver Street Development Group; AHMA: Mid-Atlantic AHMA
- Exemplary Development for the Elderly: Rogers Hall, Lowell, Mass.; Management Company: Peabody Properties Inc.; Owner: Rogers Hall Corporation; AHMA: NEAHMA
- Exemplary Development for Residents with Special Needs: Lilburn Terrace Apartments, Lilburn, Ga.; Management Company: Mansermar Inc.; Owner: Lawrenceville Handicapped Housing Inc. d/b/a Lilburn Terrace; AHMA: SAHMA
- Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property: Silver Leaf Terrace, Leominster, Mass.; Management Company: Housing Management Resources; Owner: Silver Street Development Group; AHMA: NEAHMA
About the Sponsors
About HD Supply Multifamily Solutions: With 30,000-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 650 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 www.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.
Village at Lakeview Apartments
Exemplary Family Development | Edgewood, Md.
Village at Lakeview Apartments serves 497 residents across 223 garden-style units in Edgewood, Maryland. A key component of the community’s success is the close relationship between managers and residents, with a team skilled in recognizing and resolving resident issues as they relate to the housing environment. Programming includes a six-week summer camp for school-age children, an annual family fair, monthly food giveaways, a library on wheels program, and free weekly legal services.
A sophisticated security system with cameras, video and voice technology, and 24-hour real-time monitoring by an outside provider helps keep the community safe. Off-duty police officers provide on-site security when the management office is closed. Police calls have dropped consistently over three years and crime at the Village has become almost nonexistent.
Rogers Hall
Exemplary Development for the Elderly | Lowell, Mass.
Rogers Hall is a 60-unit HUD Section 202 elderly housing community in Lowell, Massachusetts. An on-site resident service coordinator ensures seniors have a high-quality living environment with social and physical activities tailored to their needs. Monthly programming includes health clinics, nutrition programs, exercise and wellness classes, birthday parties, intergenerational programming with a local elementary school, social clubs, Tai Chi, and educational seminars.
Rogers Hall’s 62 residents, many of whom have lived there for 10 to 25 years, describe themselves as family. The community recently celebrated a resident’s 100th birthday with a large party attended by family, friends, neighbors, community members, and elected officials.
Lilburn Terrace Apartments
Exemplary Development for Residents with Special Needs | Lilburn, Ga.
Lilburn Terrace is a nonprofit 40-unit Section 811 PRAC three-story high-rise designed for individuals 18 and older who are physically disabled or mobility impaired. Staff focus on enhancing residents’ lives through community outreach that has brought in volunteers and donations to address resident needs creatively. Unit interiors have been updated with new blinds, closet doors, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, flooring, and coordinated paint. Landscaping features seasonal flowers and benches throughout the property, with a shaded front entrance seating area. The mayor of the City of Lilburn is a regular visitor and community supporter.
Silver Leaf Terrace
Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property | Leominster, Mass.
Silver Leaf Terrace, formerly known as Litchfield Terrace, was once the financially and physically distressed housing of last resort in Leominster, Massachusetts. Deteriorated units and persistent criminal activity left residents fearful for their families’ safety. An $8.625 million revitalization transformed both the physical property and community culture, delivering a new management office, community room with kitchenette, and computer lab with free internet access. All 216 apartment homes received new appliances and fixtures, a new playground was constructed, and three common laundry areas were upgraded.
A state-of-the-art video and voice surveillance system now provides 24-hour real-time monitoring. Since the renovation, the community has seen a 98% decrease in reported incidents and a 70% decrease in arrests according to local police. The diverse resident population has become a tight-knit community with strong educational programming for children and adults alike.