July 22, 2022 | From City of New Orleans
MAYOR CANTRELL JOINS COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CELEBRATE COMPLETION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN NEW ORLEANS EAST
NEW ORLEANS – Mayor LaToya Cantrell today was joined by New Orleans City Councilmember for District E Oliver M. Thomas, Jr., Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) Chief Operating and Legal Officer Marjorianna Willman, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) Evette Hester, President and Chief Executive Officer for Finance New Orleans Damon Burns and community members to commemorate the completion of The Reveal housing community in New Orleans East.
“Affordable housing has been a focus of mine since working in Broadmoor to serving on the City Council, and of course the fire and the fight is still alive as Mayor,” said Mayor Cantrell. “The most exciting thing about this project is not just the delivery of 150 affordable units, but through the spirit of partnership we now have an inclusive and diversified community that will ensure our families are able to rent homes with multiple bedrooms and have immediate access to supportive services here in New Orleans East. We are continuing to meet people where they are.”
The Reveal was constructed by the Commonwealth Development Corporation and is a service-intensive housing community targeting special needs households, including disabled and single-parent families. The City of New Orleans invested $1.4 million using HOME Program funding to support the project, in partnership with the LHC utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery dollars to build the $43.3 million community. More than 20 percent of the units are accessible to those with disabilities and 60 percent of the units are available for large families (three and four-bedroom units).
“In these times of hardship for our citizens, affordable housing is necessary and a must,” said Councilmember Thomas. “Thank you to the developer, HANO and the City of New Orleans for creating an opportunity for this development for the current and future citizens of District E.”
“As the ninth largest affordable housing developer in the United States, The Commonwealth Companies are thrilled to be growing our portfolio in New Orleans,” said Kristi Morgan, Principal, The Commonwealth Companies. “The Reveal is a service-intensive housing community targeting special needs households, including the disabled and single parent families, and delivers flexible responsive and individualized services that meet the needs and choices of the residents.”
The community will feature a meditation area with walking paths that connect on-site amenities including an accessible playground, gazebo and picnic area. Community-wide events and trainings that focus on independence, self-sufficiency skills and financial management will also be available onsite.
To accommodate residents who require further assistance, an on-staff Care Coordinator will be available to assist with transportation scheduling, community events, after-school care and supportive service appointments. In addition to the resident services, an extensive fitness center with an attached physical therapy room, as well as a health consultation space will be available for visiting medical professionals. Residents will also have access to the on-site business incubator, a space where targeted financial trainings will be hosted and entrepreneurs can work with attorneys, business organizations, and other legal entities in a shared conference room and office space.
Since 2018, the Cantrell Administration and its partners have built approximately 2,000 affordable housing units across the city with a total investment of more than $54 million.
# # #