AMCAL Serves as Title Sponsor for the California Housing Consortium’s Policy Forum & Housing Hall of Fame Awards

Group shot of Percy Vaz, Dana Mayo, Mary Kaiser and Lux Vaz
AMCAL was proud to serve as the title sponsor for the 2018 California Housing Consortium’s Policy Forum & Housing Hall of Fame Awards in Santa Monica on May 11, 2018. It was wonderful for us to connect with friends and colleagues–old and new. Here was a great moment during the festivities with (L to R): Percy Vaz, Dana Mayo, Mary Kaiser and Lux Vaz.

CHC’s 2018 program featured an interactive federal policy discussion, an insightful look into the Terner Center on Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley’s LIHTC Resident Survey findings, a 2017/2018 California legislative update by two housing champions from the California Assembly and a thoughtful keynote speech from United States Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho.

The day started with a federal policy update from by David Gasson from Boston Capital. David spoke of tax reform, the Omnibus and a Congress in flux, covering what has happened recently and what lies ahead for federal affordable housing policy.

Carolina Reid from the Terner Center on Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley presented findings from their LIHTC Resident Survey, titled ‘Why Affordable Housing Works For Those We Serve.’ She shared how LIHTC promotes housing stability, economic mobility and improved educational outcomes for children.

This year’s honorees were:

Public Sector – U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, Assemblymember Richard Bloom, Assemblymember David Chiu

Non-Profit Sector – Cesar Covarrubias, The Kennedy Commission

For-Profit Sector – Michael Costa, Highridge Costa Companies

Lifetime Achievement – Mary Murtagh, EAH Housing

Thanks to all who attended and congratulations to those who were honored.

New York Times mentions AMCAL’s Meridian community in affordable housing article

Meridan apartments exterior building
New York Times reporter Emily Badger featured information in her recent article about the national affordable housing crisis. AMCAL’s Meridian community in Koreatown in Los Angeles received a mention.

SAN FRANCISCO — For $1,200 a month, Patricia Torres and her family were renting a bedroom, a share of time in the bathroom, one vegetable drawer and one shelf in the fridge, and two cupboards over the stove. They rented not so much a home as a fraction of one.

Karen Calderon had even less: a single room in a homeless shelter where she was not allowed so much as a hot plate to cook for her family.

The article originally appeared in the New York Times. Visit that news site to read the entire article.

AMCAL’s Los Angeles – Florence Project is Featured

Artist's rendering of Florence Apartments

In unincorporated Florence, AMCAL Multi-Housing Company has proposed redeveloping a County library as part of a mixed-use affordable housing complex.

The project, slated for a one-acre site at 1600-1616 E. Florence Avenue, would create a five-story building featuring 116 units of senior affordable housing, as well as a replacement library at its ground floor.

VTBS Architects is designing the building, which would rise one block west of the Blue Line’s Florence Station.

The $51-million project is seeking approximately $7 million in County funding.

Read more of the article in Urbanize.la.

AMCAL Receives 40th Anniversary Commendation from the City of Los Angeles

Photo of the City of Los Angeles Commendation to AMCAL on the company's 40th anniversary in 2018

AMCAL is happy to have received a special commendation from City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on AMCAL’s 40th Anniversary. It reads:

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, I am pleased to extend congratulations to Percy and Lux Vaz, upon the 40th anniversary of AMCAL. With recognition of the various contributions made to Affordable, Student and Market Rate over the past 40 years. I commend your strong work ethic to service and to always placing the community first.

 

AMCAL Secures #7 Spot on List of Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers of 2017

Exterior photo of Meridian apartments

Rising to the 7th spot in this year’s Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers as ranked by Affordable Housing Finance Magazine, AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. boosts its 47th spot ranking from last year.

Read more here.

It still looks to be a glass-half-empty kind of year for affordable housing developers, writes Deputy Editor Donna Kimura, in her recent article “Cautious Optimism” in the April/May 2018 issue of Affordable Housing Finance magazine. Kimura goes on to write: They anticipate a better but tough road ahead in 2018. Even with the uncertainty of tax reform behind them, more than 48% of recently surveyed developers expect housing finance conditions to worsen by the end of the year. About 31% say conditions will improve, and 20% say they’ll be about the same.

Read more here.

AMCAL Secures Financing for Two Developments

Artist's rendering of apartment building

AMCAL Multi-Housing and AMTEX Multi-Housing have taken big steps toward developing workforce housing communities in Santa Ana, Calif., and Austin, Texas.

William Hezmalhalch Architects Designed by William Hezmalhalch Architects, First Street Apartments in Santa Ana, Calif., is scheduled to be completed by developer AMCAL Multi-Housing in September 2019.

In partnership with the city of Santa Ana, AMCAL Multi-Housing announced that it closed financing on a new 69-unit apartment community in Santa Ana. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is serving as the equity investor as well as the construction and permanent lender for the project. Construction will commence at the site in May with the demolition work of an existing deteriorating office building.

Read more about this here.

AMCAL Receives Prominent “Powering the Future” Award

Photo of a group of people including Percy Vaz, CEO of AMCAL

AMCAL received the prominent “Powering the Future” Award on March 24 at Sacramento’s Power Inn Alliance 24th annual award luncheon for its Sacramento student housing project “The Crossings.”
This award is given to the person, persons and/or company who played the most significant role in changing the direction of the district by creating a vision to move the area forward.

It could be given to a catalyst project, a significant investment to one of the Alliance’s key tenets. This year, it was given to AMCAL Equity, LLC’s CEO Percy Vaz.

City of Sacramento: In 2008, the Alliance and the City began work on a Specific Plan that would become the designated Sacramento Center for Innovation (SCI). That plan was ratified by City Council in 2013 and the City has been working with the Alliance and community leaders to bring its vision to life.

AMCAL: AMCAL, one of the nation’s most successful multi-family developers, understood the impact and opportunity in bringing The Crossings student housing project to life. AMCAL’s vast experience in quality design and construction, and their commitment to excellence makes them an ideal partner on this catalytic development within the SCI. Coleraine Capital: Coleraine Capital was the initial real estate partner in identifying The Crossings site, near the Ramona Avenue road extension project. They saw the potential in creating a much-needed niche student housing project, with a focus on amenities and innovation.

The luncheon highlighted important area updates, and guests heard from Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Councilmember Eric Guerra, and Keynote Speaker, Bill Gaines, as he talked about the Importance of Manufacturing in the Community and the Role of the Workforce. Community award winners were announced, as well: 2018 Powering the Future Award – The Crossings and Ramona Ave Extension (City of Sacramento, AMCAL, and Coleraine Capital) 2018 Power Partner Award – Procter & Gamble 2018 Tom Burress Community Service Award – The Cannabis Planning and Development ad hoc subcommittee (Burnie Lenau, Lawnman, Inc; Dennis Shanahan, Shanahan’s Auto Body; Mike O’Brien, Mark III Construction; and Bernardo Hubbard, Jackson Properties)

Under Construction – Ramona Avenue Extension in Sacramento Will Link AMCAL’s Student Housing Community to Sac State

Groundbreaking ceremony photo for the start of construction of the Ramona Avenue extension in Sacramento

On Thursday, April 5, Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Councilmember Jeff Harris, Councilmember Eric Guerra, Assembly member Kevin McCarty, and community partners broke ground for the Romona Avenue Extension Project.

This project, along with the upcoming work on Folsom Boulevard, will enhance safety for all modes of transportation — especially for those commuting to and from Sacramento State University. Construction will begin Spring 2018 and is anticipated to be completed by September 2018.

This project not only enhances safety along Folsom Boulevard, but will also connect to a 225-unit student housing project, The Crossings. The housing community will provide 750 beds to serve the students of Sacramento State.

Additionally, the Crossings is being constructed within the 240-acre Sacramento Center for Innovation Specific Plan, an area that is designated to foster the exchange of technical knowledge and expertise between students, faculty and innovative businesses and technology companies.

Read more about the project here.

Long Beach — A place for everyone to call home

Grand opening ceremony photo

Long Beach is thriving. From new jobs and booming construction to important infrastructure improvements and new investment opportunities, the city is undoubtedly growing. And with this growth comes the need for ensuring economic inclusion and a broader range of housing types that serve the needs of all our residents. Working families, seniors, veterans, students, and individuals with disabilities all deserve a safe, comfortable, and affordable place to call home in our city.

Over the past several years, housing burdens have become increasingly urgent nationwide, particularly in California, where rising costs and limited supply are taking their toll on lower- and middle-income families alike. A 2017 report on rental rates found a housing vacancy rate of 4.6 percent and a 4.1 percent increase in median rents citywide.

Read more here.