Esperanza En Escalante Grand Opening – 3700 South Calle Polar, Tucson

Gorman & Company, in partnership with the non-profit Esperanza En Escalante held a Grand Opening for their project of the same name (Esperanza En Escalante) on June 14, 2017 for a 44-unit LIHTC development that serves chronically homeless veterans in Tucson and Pima County. The project site, which once stored weapons for the U.S. military during World Wars I and II was deeded to the project by the Federal Government.  The project also includes funding from Pima County, the City of Tucson and the Arizona Department of Housing.  The City of Tucson provided forty Section 8, Project-Based Vouchers  for rental assistance, critical for housing homeless veterans.  The project consists of one bedroom units (complete with washer/dryers), large open space amenities, ramadas with barbecue grills and picnic tables, a multi-purpose community room, with space for case management, counseling, medical services, and employment assistance.  The units will be accessible to the physically disabled and 80% of the units will house older (55+) adult veterans. All utilities will be paid by the property owner.

La Mesita Phase 3 Celebration – 2245 W. Ella Street, Building C, Mesa

A New Leaf and its partner Native American Connections held a Grand Opening on September 21, 2017 for the third phase of La Mesita, a 30-unit LIHTC supportive housing development for chronically homeless individuals and families. La Mesita is a multi-phase LIHTC development located in Mesa’s West Main Street Transit Corridor, which has rents designated at 30% AMI, and rental assistance from a Housing Assistance Payment Agreement with the City of Mesa. A New Leaf will provide individually tailored supportive services to ensure that each household achieves self-sufficiency and self-worth. Services include access to A New Leaf’s child care program, before and after school education program, computer training, workforce development and financial literacy. The project meets LEED Gold standards and project amenities include a multipurpose room, playground, computer lab, child care facility, picnic & BBQ areas, exercise equipment, and outdoor recreational space.

Las Brisas Groundbreaking – Corner of Marea and Rio Seco Street, San Luis

Comite De Bien Estar held a ground-breaking ceremony on July 7, 2017 for Las Brisas Sunset Apartments, a 60-unit LIHTC housing development designed for persons 55 and over with 12 units set aside for chronically homeless individuals and families. The project includes 15 one-bedroom apartments and 45 two-bedroom apartments. Project amenities include a community room, food pantry, picnic area and community garden. Services available at the project include transportation, financial literacy classes, computer training and English as a Second Language. Campesinos Sin Fronteras will provide Health Education and Health Screenings for the residents. WACOG will provide Case Management services for the Chronically Homeless Tenants.   Each building will have solar power that will provide substantial savings in operating costs. 

Mesa Artspace Lofts Groundbreaking – 155 South Hibbert, Mesa

Mesa Artspace Lofts held a ground-breaking ceremony on May 24, 2017 for a new 50-unit LIHTC live/work housing development consisting of lofts designed to accommodate a home business with a preference for working artists.  The project will have 15 units specifically for households with children.  Mesa Artspace Lofts was created to serve the Mesa community with a campus-like development around a central courtyard. The project is expected to help anchor the arts district and attract complementary businesses to the area. The project contains 17 one-bedroom, 18 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom units. The property will include a ground floor commercial space that will be leased to an arts-related organization.  The property has multiple outdoor play areas and is close to parks, transit stops, schools, grocery stores and the Mesa Arts Center. The building contains a library, computer room, BBQ and picnic area, a playground and a lobby that will be used as a gallery for local artists. 

West End Station Groundbreaking – 855 West Congress Street, Tucson

Gorman and Company held a Grand Opening on July 11, 2017 for a  70 unit affordable housing project  located next to the Avenita del Convento Street Car Rail Station in  Tucson’s Mercado Neighborhood.  Being next to both the Sun Link Street Car and SunTrans bus line make this one of Tucson’s most high profile, transit-oriented, affordable housing developments. West End Station will include 70 total units of fully-accessible housing with a mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units, with 21 units set aside for households with children. All common area amenities will be located on the ground floor and will include a large play area, barbecue and picnic area, garden, fitness center, community center,  a disability service center and a kitchen that can serve 30  individuals. The City of Tucson has committed 56 units of Section 8 Project-Based Voucher assistance. The proposed development will target families with children as well as a mix of other populations including 25 units set aside for households at 40% Area Median Income.