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All 192 apartments at one of the largest affordable housing projects in Lincoln are rented, the Indiana-based developer told community leaders inside a white tent in the parking lot of the complex in west Lincoln. Tom Tomaszewski, president of the Annex Group, was on hand Thursday for a ribbon-cutting at the $35 million Union at Middle Creek affordable housing project, the first foray into Lincoln by the Indiana-based group. “When the city of Lincoln several years ago went out and proclaimed that they needed 5,000 units of affordable housing, we knew that this was a place that we needed to be,” he said.
“This represents the first investment from the Annex Group in Lincoln, but it won’t be the last.” Tomaszewski was referring to Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird’s Affordable Housing Coordinated Action Plan created in 2020, which included a goal of creating 5,000 new affordable housing units by 2030. People are also reading.
.. Gaylor Baird said the city is ahead of schedule to meet that goal, having incentivized the creation of 2,670 units so far.
“Increasing the supply for affordable housing is a top priority for our community and my administration and the City Council ...
because we know how essential it is to family and individual well-being to our economy, to our business and our workforce and to building an equitable and inclusive city,” she said. The Annex Group, which has projects in 18 states mostly across the Midwest, has another affordable housing project under construction in Lincoln: Union at Antelope Valley, a $50.8 million, 187-unit apartment complex on the block bounded by Antelope Valley Parkway and 18th, K and L streets.
It also has a project in the planning stages, Central at South Haymarket, a $41.7 million, 175-unit apartment complex at 205 S. 10th St.
Tomaszewski said Lincoln’s progress on its affordable housing goals is happening because city officials and others are so supportive of projects like Union at Middle Creek. “When we’re looking at new projects and providing investments in the communities, if the community is not supportive of us, we’re not going to go there. We want to be in places where we’re welcome.
We want to be the catalyst," he said. “It’s very rare that you can get all these people working together to kind of create this, and that’s why I think you guys have been so successful.” The City Council authorized using a total of $82 million in housing revenue bonds for the three projects.
The city acts as a conduit for the bonds, but the developer pays them back, so the city doesn’t incur any liability. The City Council also approved using tax-increment financing, or TIF, on two of the projects totaling $9 million. TIF allows developers to use future property taxes the redevelopment generates to pay for certain upfront costs.
Shannon Harner, executive director of Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, which is responsible for allocating federal and state low-income housing tax credits to projects, said the state has its own goal of creating 35,000 affordable units by 2028 and they're not as far along on their goal as Lincoln. “We hold up the city of Lincoln as a shining example of what gets measured, gets done," she said. Union at Middle Creek targets rents for people making up to 60% of the Area Median Income, which is $42,900 for a one-person household and $61,260 for a four-person household.
Property amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, nature trail, and a balcony or patio for all units. Tomaszewski said the company decided to build Union at Middle Creek at Southwest 27th and West A streets because it's an "amenity-rich area" within one mile of a grocery store, bank and public transportation. Top Journal Star photos for October 2024 First grade student JaMaya Arnolds (center) leaps over Tinikeling sticks held by Ben (left) and Linda Witfoth while playing a rhythm game during the Music Studio LNK after school program held at McPhee Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct.
23, 2024. Ira and Marlina Bowdery of M & J's Southern Style Food pose for a portrait next to their food truck. Lincoln Public Schools psychotherapist Liesel Hogan and her therapy dog, a 3-year-old standard poodle named Yeti, are greeted by students during a passing period on Wednesday at Scott Middle School.
Voters wait in line outside of the Lancaster County Election Commission Office to register and vote early on Monday. Gov. Jim Pillen answers questions from reporters during a news conference on Tuesday at the Capitol.
Norris' Crew Moeller (4) dives into the endzone over Waverly's Trev Greve (2) to score a touchdown in the second quarter to score a on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Norris High School. Lincoln North Star junior Skyler Shaw practices welding at The Career Academy.
Ten years since its grand opening, The Career Academy at Lincoln Public Schools has more than doubled its enrollment and district officials expect that growth to continue. Factory Manager Dan Neil (from left), associate maintenance manager Tanner Winberg, predictive maintenance tech Kenny Rose, PDM Tech Chu Fung Wong, and IT tech Gary Schellhorn pose for a photo alongside their new Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot at Nestle Purina Petcare Company on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Crete.
Gretna's Alexis Jensen celebrates after the final out of the fifth inning during a Class A state tournament game on Thursday in Hastings. Oliver Degner, 4, (from left) Charlotte Degner, 6, and Noelle Gormley, 7, all of Lincoln, run to the finish line during the Pumpkin Run on Sunday in Lincoln's Haymarket. Erika Madison, Capital Humane Society animal welfare specialist manager, weighs a Goldendoodle on a scale during intake on Friday.
The city of Lincoln is balking at signing a new long-term contract with the humane society to provide shelter for stray animals after the amount nearly tripled over previous years. Russ Marr works on a wooden portion of "Vlad the Impaler" — an art piece depicting a goose that has the fangs of a vampire, the tongue of a serpent and the tail of a rattlesnake. The body of the piece uses an original tank from a 1977 Harley-Davidson Super Glide.
Malcolm's Cole Tiedeman (center) celebrates with his teammates after the Clippers defeated Raymond Central 27-19 on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Raymond Central High School. Lincoln Northwest High School seniors Brookelynn Wheeler (from left), Tyjian Deerinwater, Kareem Yahya and Haylie Helmick investigate a crime scene during a forensics class on Tuesday.
Lincoln Lutheran's McKenzie Sidlo (center from left) goes to hit the ball over the net while defended by Pius X's McKenzie Becker and Faith Venable (2) during the third set on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Lutheran High School As seen from outside the UNL Union, Sen. Deb Fischer (right) speaks about her responsibilities as a senator and answers questions from students during a UNL College Republicans meeting on Wednesday, Oct.
9, 2024, at the UNL Union. Fischer, the Republican from Nebraska seeking her third term in the US Senate. Lincoln Southwest's Ja'Sara Wilson kicks up dirt as she slides into second base in the first inning of the A-2 district championship on Thursday, Oct.
10, 2024, at Doris Bair Complex . Henry Oetjen augers corn from his combine into a grain cart while harvesting on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Oetjen Farms near Walton.
Pius X's Faith Venable (left) is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the set winning kill in the second set on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Lutheran High School From left, Nola Broderick, 7, and her twin Rose Broderick ride their bikes past the Halloween decorations at the home of Wade and Debbie McGinnis at 5043 Leighton Avenue is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Lincoln.
Malcolm players are silhouetted by the sun as they warm up before the game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Malcolm High School. Nebraska players huddle up the North endzone in the fourth quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct.
5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wicked Bones band members Marshall Johnson (left) and Jobe Sullivan rock out onstage during at UNL's Battle of the Bands on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, at the Bourbon Theatre.
Six local bands comprised of UNL students competed for a spot to perform as part of UNL's homecoming. The final two bands will perform during Cornstock on Friday. Nebraska's Isaac Gifford (2), Nebraska's Ceyair Wright (15), DeShon Singleton (8) and Nebraska's MJ Sherman (48) celebrate a defensive stop during the third quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct.
5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jahmal Banks is defended by Rutgers' Eric Rogers is ruled as a incomplete pass, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Mark Thornton, executive director of Jacob's Well, sees potential in an old grocery store at 2001 J St. He hopes to create a new gather place and make it part of the neighborhood again. Lincoln Southwest's Sage Strait competes in the Girls 5K during the LPS cross country championships at Pioneers Park on Friday, Oct.
4, 2024, in Lincoln. Norris' Crew Moeller (4) stiff-arms Lincoln Pius X's Sam Kassmeier during the first quarter on Friday at Aldrich Field. Teacher Maileigh Camp holds Tailey Helmstadter, 7 months, at an Early Head Start classroom Tuesday at the Community Action Head Start K Street Center.
Lincoln Southwest's Brenly Noerrlinger (from left), Ja'Sara Wilson and Hadley Madson sing a chant during a game against Fremont on Tuesday at Doris Bair Complex. USC's Ally Batenhorst (left) reacts as Nebraska fans cheer for her before Sunday's match at the Devaney Sports Center. Amy Bolton arranges several skeletons in tutus as she decorates her front yard for Halloween on Monday, Sept.
23, 2024, at her Lincoln home near 48th and High Street. Bolton has been decorating her yard with skeletons since she bought her home in 2020. Contact the writer at mreist@journalstar.
com or 402-473-7226. On Twitter at @LJSReist. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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