Englewood Apartments is now known as Line Creek Apartments, and the $11.8 million construction project to preserve 152 units of affordable housing is nearly complete.
Millennia’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer Frank T. Sinito says the new name reflects the significant transformation that is underway, a deeper connection to the surrounding neighborhood, and a new beginning for the community.
In June 2019, Millennia completed the preservation financing transactions needed to begin the $11,800,000 construction project, which addresses structural, systemic, and functional deficiencies that have developed over time at the nearly 50-year-old property.
Among the improvements are new kitchens and bathrooms in each apartment, a new community building with a technology center, a new playground, and upgrades to the interiors and exteriors of each building.
“The scope of work of over $77,600 per apartment incorporates high-quality materials and energy-efficient products that will result in durable, sustainable and attractive homes,” says Sinito. “I am grateful to our residents, neighbors, city officials, and housing partners for their patience as we went through the process to transform this much-needed affordable housing. This project meets a critical need for safe, stable and attainable housing in Kansas City.”
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), across Missouri, there is a shortage of rental homes affordable and available to extremely low income households (ELI), whose incomes are at or below the poverty guideline or 30% of their area median income (AMI). The most recent NLIHC data from 2018 shows a deficit of -32,665 affordable and available rental units for renters at or below 50% AMI in Kansas City.
At Line Creek. the tenant’s portion of the rent is income-based and capped at 30 percent of their gross monthly income. The remaining portion of the rental amount is subsidized by a Housing Assistance Payment contract as part of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance program.
“Millennia believes that preserving existing affordable housing stock is critical in addressing the affordable housing shortage locally and nationally,” says Sinito. “Line Creek will remain affordable for well into the future so families can thrive in quality housing with access to a highly ranked school district.”
The rehabilitation was made possible with the support of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, the City of Kansas City, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Missouri Housing Development Commission, Industrial Development Authority of the City of Kansas City, WNC, Inc., Red Stone and Sterling Bank.