By JOHN HOWELL -- City and state officials celebrated a ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of upgrades and renovations to the 53-unit Greenwood Terrace housing development for low-income seniors on Post Road.
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U.S. Senator Jack Reed got a phone call yesterday afternoon as he was seated between and Mayor Scott Avedisian and Barbara Fields, Executive Director of RIHousing. Each was a speaker at a ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of upgrades and renovations to the 53-unit Greenwood Terrace housing development for low-income seniors on Post Road built in 1978.
The call would have gone unnoticed since Reed didn’t leave his seat or take the call. The ceremony proceeded as planned, with Reed giving a rosier picture of funding for low-income housing than when he visited the complex in the midst of construction during the summer. At that time he said President Trump’s budget cuts would result in major losses to programs aimed at addressing affordable housing. He reported, through bipartisan efforts, Congress has been able to restore $8.9 billion in funding.
“We’re going to work together,” he vowed. Reed said after the ceremony additional funding is required to meet the need, but at least for the time being the housing assistance program could continue.
The primary source of funding for the Greenwood Terrace renovations is a $4.385 million permanent taxable loan insured through the U.S. Treasury-HUD Federal Financing Bank (“FFB”) HFA Multifamily Risk Sharing Loan Financing Initiative. Risk Share provides credit enhancement for mortgages of multifamily housing projects whose loans are underwritten, processed and serviced by housing finance agencies like RIHousing. HUD and the housing finance agency share in the risk of the mortgage.
The improvements cost about $850,000.
This development marks the seventh time RIHousing has financed preservation of an existing development through the FFB Risk Sharing program. Fields said five more state projects are planned.
Fields was especially complementary of Reed, saying, “He never says no to these events where the rubber hits the road.” Speaking to tenants who gathered for the event, Fields added that the program to provide energy-efficient, respectable housing is “about you in this room.” She let it be known that even a high level government call hadn’t pulled Reed away from the ceremony, as he is that committed to his constituents. Later, it was learned the Secretary of Defense was the caller.
Avedisian said the impact of the renovations reaches beyond the 53 lives directly affected, “it ripples out to their families.” He cited the city’s recent upgraded bond rating, surplus and developments including increased service at Green Airport and construction at City Centre Warwick.
“We can do all those things, but if we’re not working for our residents it doesn’t matter,” he said.
Under the FFB program, RIHousing is able to provide reduced interest rates for the preservation of affordable multifamily apartments. The low interest rates and affordability of the units are locked in for the length of the loan term, which is 40 years for Greenwood Terrace.
“Greenwood Terrace is the latest example of the collaborative relationship between RIHousing and Property Advisory Group/Cathedral Development Group,” John B. Bentz, President of Property Advisory Group, the property manager said in a statement. “Our work will not only enhance these units for the current residents, but will also ensure they are preserved for years to come.”
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Justanidiot
More housing for poor people who will elect scotty for mayor over our fine mayer corrente. #sad
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Justanidiot,
Thank you for your kind words.
As far as the elderly vote, I have many differences with Mayor Avedisian in regards to our senior citizens. I believe that by the time the 2018 election comes around you will see a much larger number of seniors supporting me.
Stay tuned.
Happy Thanksgiving Justanidiot.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Rick Corrente
That Taxpayers Mayor
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Report this
Justanidiot
seniors suck down a community just as fast as skul kids. we need businesses here and no seniors. go to bocco raton and let road iseland prosper
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Report this
CrickeeRaven
"I believe that by the time the 2018 election comes around you will see a much larger number of seniors supporting me."
This is a clear indication that the fake "mayor" intends to waste even more money going to local senior centers and pushing his disproven claims before he is defeated again next November.
Add this to the growing list of delusional beliefs that the fake "mayor" persists in posting on this site, and the ever-larger body of evidence that proves him utterly unfit for office. He will certainly maintain his unbroken record of humiliating himself in his next comments.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Report this