New York, NY According to Preservation Development Partners, a joint venture of developers Francine Kellman, Brian Raddock, Donald Capoccia, Joseph Ferrara and Brandon Baron, the firm has made the acquisition and launched the rehabilitation of The Leggett Avenue Properties, a portfolio of five multifamily apartment complexes in the Bronx and Brooklyn.
The portfolio comprises 324 apartments which include 2 studios, 132 one bedrooms, 145 two bedrooms and 41 three bedrooms. Also, there are 4 superintendent units, 2 commercial spaces and 2 antenna leases.
All of the properties are fully occupied and currently benefit from Project Based Section 8 Contracts (HAP Contracts). The Section 8 Contract, which subsidizes tenants’ rental payments, will be renewed and will protect the apartments against conversion to market rate housing for at least the next 20 years. All units will be set-aside for tenants earning no more than 60% of “AMI” (Area Median Income).
In addition, Preservation Development Partners will invest more than $12 million, or approximately $40,000 per unit, to complete a major rehabilitation of the buildings. The new owner will repair and install of new roofs, trash compactors, flooring, and facades. Individual units will be upgraded with new kitchens, including new cabinets, counter tops, and stainless steel sinks. The bathrooms will have new toilets, sinks, vanities, and shower bodies installed.
Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2017.
Francine Kellman, PDP principal, said, “All rehabilitation work will be done with the tenants still in place, avoiding any unnecessary relocation costs that are typically associated with work of this caliber. Upon completion of the scheduled rehabilitation work the project will provide comparable or better quality housing than other housing in the market area.”
Brian Raddock, PDP principal, said, “The purchase and rehabilitation of the Leggett Avenue Properties through the use of tax-credit equity and the benefit of Section 8 subsidies will eliminate the risk of 324 affordable housing units in Bronx County and Kings County, NY from converting to market rate units. With a limited supply of affordable housing in the New York City area and very high demand for housing in general in the region, this project will provide a long-term benefit to the community.”
The Leggett Avenue Properties’ acquisition by Preservation Development Partners was financed with tax-exempt bonds, credit enhanced by Freddie Mac through its LIHTC Mod Rehab program. The project will also be capitalized with equity from an investor in the project’s “4%” low income housing tax credits.
The seller was not disclosed.
The portfolio includes five apartment complexes:
Leggett:
972 Leggett Avenue, Bronx
Sharon:
820 Jackson Avenue, Bronx
Woodycrest:
60-68 West 162nd Street, Bronx
953 Anderson Avenue, Bronx
951 Woodycrest Avenue, Bronx
Clarkson:
286-290 East 91st Street, Brooklyn
Winthrop:
185 East 92nd Street, Brooklyn