Affordable housing on the way

A few lucky senior citizens with moderate incomes in Williston will soon no longer have to worry about finding affordable housing.

On Thursday, the second phase of the Williston Senior Apartment Homes located at 2610 24th Street West broke ground.

Scheduled to open officially in August 2014, the Senior Apartment Homes built by G.A. Haan Development will add 21 new units to the complex in the second phase. The first phase was completed in 2011 and contained 40 units.

One unique aspect of the second phase is its affiliation with the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which have been supplied to the project by the North Dakota Housing Finance Authority. With the credits, property owners will receive an annual tax credit from the federal government for up to 10 years in exchange for keeping the housing units affordable for low-income households.

The tax credits NDHFA allocated to the second phase of the project will bring $3.39 million in equity to a project that will remain affordable for 45 years, according to a press release.

Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley attended the groundbreaking ceremony and said he was proud of G.A. Haan and North Dakota Housing Authority for their work on the project.

“We have to make sure to look out for the seniors,” Wrigley said. “They are the generation that helped build Williston and helped make North Dakota the way it is today.”

Wrigley said the apartments are another example of a private business partnering with the state government to meet the growing needs of the community.

“Projects like Williston Senior Apartments are important for affordable housing needs to be met in western North Dakota communities,” Wrigley said. “Public-private partnerships will continue to encourage affordable housing development as a result of rapid growth, helping ensure that longtime residents and those on fixed incomes can remain in the communities they call home.”

The second phase of the development will consist of nine one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units.

Depending on income and family size, the apartments will rent from $274 to $762 per month.

“The individuals that live at Williston Senior are an active and vital part of this growing community,” said Gerald Haan of G.A. Haan Development. “By expanding the development, we will be able to provide more housing options that enable local seniors to continue to affordably live in a community they’ve long called home.”


Development Will Add More Affordable Senior Apartments

WILLISTON, ND – More area seniors will soon be able to make the Williston Senior Apartment Homes their home. G.A. Haan Development and the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) broke ground today for 21 additional affordable apartments at the complex.

“Projects like Williston Senior are important for affordable housing needs to be met in western North Dakota communities,” Lt. Gov. Wrigley said in an appearance on behalf of the North Dakota Industrial Commission.
“Public-private partnerships will continue to encourage affordable housing development as a result of rapid
growth, helping ensure that longtime residents and those on fixed incomes can remain in the communities they call home.”

The total cost of constructing Williston Senior Apartment Homes II is estimated at $3.9 million. The second phase of the development will consist of 9 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units. Depending on income and family size, the apartments will rent for $274 to $762 per month. Haan Development anticipates that the second phase of the development will be completed by August 2014.

“The individuals that live at Williston Senior are an active and vital part of this growing community,” said Gerald Haan of G.A. Haan Development. “By expanding the development, we will be able to provide more housing options that enable local seniors to continue to affordably live in a community they’ve long called home.”

The first phase of the Williston Senior Apartment Homes development was completed in 2011. It is a 40-unit building.

The second phase of the development is supported by federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) allocated to the project by NDHFA.

“As Williston has grown dramatically in the last few years, the need for safe, decent and affordable housing for our seniors has grown too,” said Jolene Kline, NDHFA acting director. “We are very excited to see this project break ground which will be a valuable asset to the community and will help those individuals who need it the most.”

Through the LIHTC program, property owners receive an annual tax credit from the federal government for up to 10 years in exchange for keeping the housing units affordable for low-income households. The tax credits NDHFA allocated to Williston Senior II will bring $3.39 million in equity to a project that will remain affordable for 45 years.

“LIHTC is an important piece of the puzzle that we hope can continue to help build much-needed housing in our communities,” added Kline. “As North Dakota continues to grow in the coming decades, we will need to maximize our federal resources while leveraging the local, state and private dollars that are needed to bring more affordable housing to fruition.”

Based in Harbor Springs, MI, Williston Senior Apartment Homes II is Haan Development’s fourth affordable housing development in North Dakota. Nokota Ridge, a family-friendly townhome development just north of the Williston Senior complex, and Lincoln Park Townhomes in Dickinson were also developed by Haan.

The Industrial Commission of North Dakota, consisting of Governor Jack Dalrymple as chairman, Agriculture
Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, oversees NDHFA.