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PEACE AND PROSPERITY.I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE THIRD WARD AND A PROUD PARTNER WITH DONNA RICKENBACKER OF THE REGENCY LOFTS.
BEFORE WE HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS TODAY, I WANNA BRING UP REVEREND ALEXANDER EM JOHNSON.
I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT 'CAUSE I GOT SO MANY NAMES THERE.
HE IS THE EXECUTIVE PASTOR OF THE WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, AND HE'S GONNA GIVE US A CEREMONIAL PRAYER.
GOD, IN THIS DAY, WE REJOICE AND OUR ME GLAD.
WE THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED FOR US TO MAKE IT TO THIS POINT ALONG THIS LIFE'S JOURNEY.
WE ASK NOW, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THIS OPPORTUNITY, BLESS THIS EXPERIENCE, BLESS EACH OF THESE PARTNERS AND AFFILIATES WHO HAVE MADE THIS A REALITY APPAREL.
GOD, YOUR BLESSINGS OVER THIS PLACE AND ALL WHO WILL BE BENEFITED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF IT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT IS OURS THIS DAY.
WE PRAY, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD BE GLORIFIED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF IT ALL.
IT'S IN YOUR NAME THAT WE PRAY WITH EXPECTATION AND THANKSGIVING.
THANK YOU TO PASTOR JOHNSON IN THE ENTIRE WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH FOR BEING SO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS TO BRING THE REGENCY LOFTS TO FRUITION.
I NOW WANNA TAKE JUST A FEW MOMENTS THIS MORNING TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS HERE WITH US TODAY.
YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM OUR ESTEEMED MAYOR AND DISTRICT D CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, BUT ALSO JOINING US TODAY IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LENA HIDALGO, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE RODNEY ELLIS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S DIRECTOR KEITH BYNUM AND THE ENTIRE HCDD TEAM.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, MR. REDDICK EDWARDS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
LAWRENCE SNOWDEN, THE VICE CHAIR, OFTS SEVEN ALGIN, SCOTT DAVIS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WALLOP.
WE'VE ALSO GOT COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN HERE.
SO I WANNA FIRST RECOGNIZE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
I THINK WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THEIR PRESENCE.
I NOW WANNA INTRODUCE THE DEVELOPER OF THE REGENCY LOFTS.
DONNA RICKENBACKER, THE PRINCIPAL AT MREC DONNA HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING AND ASSISTING FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE AND MIXED INCOME, MIXED USE RENTAL HOUSING AND PLANNED COMMUNITIES.
TO DATE, MREC HAS DEVELOPED OR ASSISTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OVER 3,300 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND OVER $100 MILLION IN DEVELOPMENT VOLUME IN TEXAS, INCLUDING THE EDISON LOFTS AND THE SOMERSET LOFTS HERE IN HOUSTON.
DONNA APPROACHED WALLOP ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO ABOUT PARTNERING ON THIS PROJECT, THE REGENCY LOFTS.
THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WALLOP TO NOT ONLY EXPAND OUR COMMITMENT IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPACE, BUT NOW ALSO TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON SERVING THE YOUNGEST HOUSTONIANS IN THE COMMUNITY AS THE OPERATOR OF THE REGENCY LOFTS PRE-K SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHY IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MY GOOD FRIEND DONNA RICKENBACKER.
THAT'S GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHERYL.
UM, WELCOME TO THE GRAND OPENING OF REGENCY LAWS IN OUR PRE-KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL.
UM, I'M HONORED TO BE PROVIDING THE WELCOMING REMARKS TODAY.
I'D LOVE TO TAKE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS LOVELY COMMUNITY, BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE A FAIR STATEMENT.
UM, IT DOES TAKE A TEAM OF, OF A COLLABORATIVE TEAM EFFORT TO PUT THESE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
DON'T LET ANYBODY TELL YOU OTHERWISE.
UM, I WANT TO THANK SOME OF THOSE VERY SPECIAL TEAM MEMBERS WITHOUT WHOM WE WOULD NOT BE GATHERING HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE, UH, STARTING WITH MAYOR TURNER.
MAYOR TURNER, THIS IS MY THIRD DEVELOPMENT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IN ADDITION TO ALL YOUR OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, YOU HAVE SHOWN AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF QUALITY.
I REPEAT QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE FOURTH LARGEST AND THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION.
QUITE FRANKLY, IT SHOULD BE THE THIRD LARGEST
APARTMENT COMMUNITIES ARE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND SOMETIMES NOT WELL RECEIVED IN MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
MAYOR TURNER, YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
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EDISON LOFTS, UM, TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, YOU ALWAYS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE TEAM DESPITE THE OPPOSITION.YOU DID THE SAME WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
I KEPT MY WORD TO YOU AND, UH, AND TO THOSE THAT OPPOSED REGENCY LOFTS.
WE DESIGNED AND BUILT TO A STANDARD THAT WILL NOT ONLY POSITIVELY IMPACT THE RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THOSE LIVING IN THIS THIRD WARD AREA NEIGHBORHOOD WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HOUSTON.
COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, YOU CAME INTO OFFICE REPRESENTING DISTRICT D AT THE SAME TIME.
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT WERE BEING PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
YOU WERE NEW TO CITY COUNCIL AND RECEIVING CALLS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSING THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE THANK YOU FOR WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE AND GIVING US YOUR SUPPORT WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
UM, WE HAVE TRANSFORMED, UM, THIS FIVE ACRE, UM, PIECE OF LAND WE BELIEVE AND HOPE THE INVESTMENT WILL BE A CATALYST OF FUTURE, UM, ACTIVITY IN THIS MARKET AREA.
OH MY GOSH, MAYOR TURNER, YOU'VE GOT A STRONG HOUSING TEAM.
UH, REGENCY LOFTS WAS AWARDED 2020 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT.
IT ALSO RECEIVED CDBG DISASTER FUNDS.
WE CLOSED THIS DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR OF THE AWARD.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS.
IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, TEAM MEMBERS.
UM, AND GETTING THIS DONE AND THROUGH CITY COUNCIL AND CLOSED REALLY DOES TAKE A VERY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND IT WAS DONE THROUGH YOUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
AND I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT PROFUSELY FOR ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO ON THE COMPLIANCE SIDE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, SEVERAL OF WHICH WANT IT TO BE HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE THE T-D-H-C-A BOARD MEETING TODAY, SO THEY'RE GONNA BE COMING DOWN, BUT IT'LL BE AT A LATER DATE.
AMEE HAS BEEN A TRUE BUSINESS FRIENDLY LENDER.
THEY'VE BEEN FLEXIBLE AND COMMUNICATIVE THROUGHOUT THE COVID RELATED, UM, MATERIAL SHORTAGES, SUPPLIES, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MY DEAR FRIEND.
BROWNSTONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT COME TO THE TABLE AND THANK THE THIRD PARTY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.
THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE INVOLVED IN, UM, CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS AND EVERYTHING.
AND I JUST VERY MUCH RESPECT AND VERY MUCH THANK BROWNSTONE CONSTRUCTION FOR ALL YOU DID TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
SINCERELY, UM, JAMIE, RICK AND BECKER, MY SILENT PARTNER OF, OF OF 36 YEARS.
HE'S PUT UP WITH ME THAT LONG AND, UM, TRULY HE'S THE SILENT PARTNER, BUT HE'S THE SMARTEST MAN IN THE ROOM AND I VERY MUCH RESPECT ALL THAT HE DOES AND HIS PARTICIPATION IN MAKING SURE THAT THESE DEVELOPMENTS, UM, COME TO FRUITION.
UM, I SAVED ONE OF THE BEST FOR LAST.
CHERYL LAWSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WALLOP.
YOU AND YOUR EDUCATIONAL TEAM HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF EDUCATION.
I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM WILL IMPROVE THE SCHOOL READINESS OF THE CHILDREN ATTENDING THIS PRE-K SCHOOL.
PRE-K COMPONENTS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS TRULY MY PASSION.
AND, YOU KNOW, TEAMING UP WITH THE BEST IS WHAT I DID IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, THIS OLD SKINNY WOMAN KIND OF SHOWS UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I, I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A, A FANTASTIC SITE FOR ALL OF THE RIGHT REASONS AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I WANNA DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I WANNA ADD A PRE-KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL COMPONENT.
ALICIA GREEN, UM, INTRODUCED ME TO CHERYL AND, UM, THE BOARD OF WALLOP AND I SAID, THIS IS WHAT I WANNA DO.
AND THEY LISTENED AND THEY WERE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH ME.
AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THAT.
AND I SINCERELY, SINCERELY MEAN THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ME FROM ADAM.
SO I HOPE I'VE PROVEN TO YOU WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF DOING.
I HONOR THE RELATIONSHIP AND I TRULY WANT TO BE THERE FOR YOU LONG TERM ON BOTH THE HOUSING PIECE AND WHATEVER.
YOU DON'T WANT ME GETTING INVOLVED IN PRE-K
UM, BUT WHATEVER I CAN DO TO ASSIST YOUR EFFORTS ON THE PRE-K COMPONENT,
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I'M HERE TO DO.NOW I'M GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
SHE IS A WOMAN OF VERY POWERFUL WORDS, BUT SHE'S ALSO A MODEST WOMAN.
SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SHE'S THE HARDEST WORKING WOMAN IN HOUSTON.
UH, DONNA DOESN'T LET PROJECTS FAIL.
AND I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF REGENCY WALLOP ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD.
AND MY FATHER, REVEREND WILLIAM A. LAWSON, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ENGAGED.
I HAVE A SCRIPT, I HAVE TO READ MY SCRIPT FOR YOUR VISION FOR REGENCY LOSS.
IT NOW GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE MAYOR WHO HAS MASTERFULLY GUIDED OUR CITY THROUGH SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES.
AND THIS MAYOR HAS CHAMPIONED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS ONE ALL ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
HE IS THE MAYOR THAT MADE US HOUSTON STRONG, AND HE NEEDS NO REAL INTRODUCTION.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER.
LET ME START OFF BY THANKING, UH, CHERYL LAWSON AND WALLOP FOR, FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO AND YOU DO THAT WELL.
AND, UH, NOW WE ARE HERE IN A, IN A COLLABORATION, UH, HERE AT REGENCY LOSS.
UH, SO, UH, LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY, UH, GOOD, GOOD MORNING TO TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, I MAY KIND OF SHY AWAY FROM SOME OF THESE, UM, FROM NOTES THAT I HAVE.
UH, BUT LOOK, I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
UH, KEITH, YOU NEED TO BE, UH, CLOSE OVER HERE AND, UH, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, UH, DONNA WAS RIGHT.
UH, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT OF CITY OF HOUSTON HAS, IS JUST EXCEPTIONAL AND HAVE DONE SOME EXCEPTIONAL WORK.
AND, AND, UH, I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO THAT IT'S LED US TO BEING WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UH, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY CELEBRATING THIS GRAND OPENING IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION TO CITY AND ITS PARTNERS, UH, HAVE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, LET ME QUICKLY SAY THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE COME TO FRUITION IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHIBA OF DISTRICT D.
UH, THIS WAS NOT AN EASY PROJECT TO GET GOING.
UM, UM, THERE WAS SOME WHO DID NOT WANT THIS PROJECT TO HAPPEN AND YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS TO BELIEVE IN IT AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO MOVE TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE AND LENT HER SUPPORT.
UM, AND IN LARGE PART, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY, UH, COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT DIRECTOR KEITH BYNUM AND THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR WORKING TIRELESSLY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, UH, TO MAKE THIS, TO MAKE THIS DAY HAPPEN.
SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, DIRECTOR BYNUM AND HIS WHOLE TEAM.
UH, IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU ARE IN SO I CAN SEE YOU.
UH, RAY USED TO BE AFFILIATED WITH US
UM, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE KINDRED COUSINS
UM, LET ME SAY, LET ME ALSO QUICKLY SAY TO DONNA, UM, UH, DONNA HAS BROUGHT SEVERAL PROJECTS TO, TO US WHILE I HAVE BEEN MAYOR, UH, DONNA, THEY HAVE NOT ALL BEEN THE EASIEST PROJECTS TO GET GOING, UH, ON EDISON LOFT.
UH, NEVER FORGET ON THAT COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETING, UH, WE STOOD FOR THREE STRAIGHT HOURS, UM, UM, EXPLAINING, UM, THE VALUE OF THAT PROJECT.
AND NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN BUILT, UH, PEOPLE HAVE REALLY EMBRACED IT, UH, AND SUPPORTED.
UH, AND SOMETIMES UNTIL PEOPLE SEE IT BUILT, THEY DON'T QUITE, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
UH, BUT ONCE IT IS BUILT AND PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A QUALITY PRODUCT THAT WILL PROVIDE HOUSING THAT THEY CAN REALLY TAKE PRIDE IN, IS ONLY WHEN THEY CAN COME TO EMBRACE IT.
UM, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BUILD IT BEFORE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT.
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BUT DONNA, THANK YOU.I MEAN, YOU'LL HAVE PROVEN TO BE A DEVELOPER THAT'S TRUE TO YOUR WORD.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE INDICATED THAT, UH, YOU WILL BUILD A QUALITY PROJECT COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE, YOU HAVE DONE JUST THAT.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT BESIDE EVERY GREAT WOMAN, UH, THERE IS A GREAT MAN.
SO JAMIE, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT
UH, BUT LOOK, UM, I CERTAINLY WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCO AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT.
MAYOR MAY BE SUPPORTIVE, COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT MAY BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT IT TAKES ALL OF US TO BE SUPPORTIVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
DESPITE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC, UH, THE REGENCY LOSS BROKE GROUND IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, UH, AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THIS WAS THE FIRST 2020 9% TAX CREDIT FUNDED DEVELOPMENT TO CLOSE.
REGENCY LOSS IS A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED 120 UNIT MIXED INCOME, AFFORDABLE RENTAL COMMUNITY LOCATED IN THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, MCGREGOR AND TURS NUMBER SEVEN OSTN, ALAMEDA AND AREA UNDERGOING SIGNIFICANT GENTRIFICATION.
IF 2020 TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT'S THAT MANY WHO WORK IN THE WORLD'S PREMIER MEDICAL CENTER ALSO NEED SUPPORT THEMSELVES.
AND HOUSTONIANS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, FIELDS AND INDUSTRIES WORK IN THE MEDICAL CENTER AND ARE, BUT THEY'RE NOT SHIELDING, SHIELDED FROM THE RISING HOUSING COSTS.
AND THAT MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKS IN THE MEDICAL CENTER, UM, QUITE FRANKLY, EARNING $49,600 A YEAR, CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE RIGHT HERE, OR A FAMILY OF THREE WITH A PRESCHOOLER EARNING $63,800 A YEAR, CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE RIGHT HERE.
SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WORKING MEN AND WOMEN, UH, WHO IN THE ABSENCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MIXED INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, UH, BUT WOULD BE SCRAMBLING TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE.
PEOPLE WHO GREW UP, UH, RESIDE OR WANNA RESIDE, CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THIRD WARD IN THE TRAY.
UH, THEY NEED QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S TAKING PLACE HERE.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO ALICIA GREEN, UH, FOR HER WORK AND TIRELESS EFFORT.
SHE AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER OVER MANY YEARS ON MANY DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTS, AND, UH, SHE NEEDS TO BRING ME EASIER PRODUCTS, PROJECTS,
BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY CONTRIBUTED $14 MILLION OF DR 17 HARVEY DISASTER REFUND TOWARDS THE $35 MILLION, UH, COST OF THIS BEAUTIFUL DEVELOPMENT.
SO OF THE THIRD OF THE 35, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMITTED 14, I THINK YOU NEED TO GIVE THE CITY A HAND.
CONSTRUCTION WILL BE FULLY COMPLETED LATER THIS MONTH.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THE COMMUNITY HAS BEGUN THE PRE-LEASING PROCESS.
AND WHAT I AM TOLD THUS FAR, THE COMMUNITY HAS 800 APPLICANTS IN THE PRE-SCREENING PROCESS AND 200 MORE THAT ARE ON THE WAITING LIST.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE NEED, UH, FOR QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, THIS IS AN ASSET VALUE ADDED TO THE COMMUNITY AND NOT SOMETHING THAT BRINGS IT DOWN.
LASTLY, UM, THIS DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES A STANDALONE QUALITY PRE GARDEN CENTER AS CHERYL AND DONNA WAS SPEAKING OF FOR RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THESE 120 UNITS ADD TO THE HOUSTON AFFORDABLE HOME INVENTORY TO GET AS CLOSE TO OUR GOAL OF 7,000.
I'M, I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU, KEITH
THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU TO STAND CLOSE TO ME, TO OUR, TO OUR GOAL OF BUILDING 7,000 MULTIFAMILY UNITS BY THE END OF 2023.
SO EVEN IF WE HAVE TO CUT A RIBBON ON DECEMBER 31ST AT 11:59 PM THAT RIBBON WILL BE
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CUT.AND, UM, MS. MCDAVID, WE WILL REACH, WE WILL REACH OUR GOAL THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE 3000 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT MUST BE BUILT BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
AND, AND IF THAT'S WHY I WANT YOU TO STAY REAL CLOSE TO ME,
AND IF NECESSARY, GO AND GET OUR KEN COUSIN OVER THERE AT AMIE, UH, TO, TO HELP US OUT.
WE WANNA THANK DWR DEVELOPMENT GROUP, DWR, THANK YOU, UH, CHERYL LAWSON AND THE WILLIAM A. LAWSON INSTITUTE, UH, FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY, ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, UH, FOR LEADING THE EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS A DREAM COME TRUE COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES.
AND CONTINUING TO WORK EVERY DAY TO ENSURE ALL HOUSTONIANS HAVE AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME.
AND AGAIN, I DO WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE LEADERSHIP IS IMPORTANT.
AND OFTENTIMES IT'S NOT EASY WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAYING, NO, NO, NO, NO, FOR SOMEONE TO STAND IN THE GAP AND SAY YES FOR A DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN BUILT, BUT YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN YOU.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAS IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION,
SO IT'S MY PLEASURE, I THINK TO BRING UP NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABA.
Y'ALL SEE ANY BLOOD IN MY BACK? I'M TELLING YOU IT WAS PRETTY DIFFICULT.
AND I, BUT I WAS NEW TO COUNCIL AS DONNA SAID, BUT I WAS NOT NEW TO THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY REGARDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I SAID, I NEVER WANTED TO BE SAID THAT I WANTED TO STAY IN DISTRICT D, BUT YOU DID NOTHING TO HELP US.
AND THAT WAS MY IMPETUS FOR MOVING FORWARD AND SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND HIS COMMENTS.
AND I THOUGHT ON YESTERDAY WHEN I DID POPOFF, THAT I WAS GIVING HIM SOME INFORMATION HE DIDN'T KNOW.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT HE WAS GOING TO HONOR US TODAY.
AND I'M GONNA SAY IN ALL SINCERITY, IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR FOR THE MAYOR OF THIS CITY WITH ALL OF THE, THE MILEAGE THAT HE PUTS IN TO COME TO THIS DISTRICT.
AND AS HE SAID, THIS IS THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION AND THIS WONDERFUL EDIFICE THAT I SEE TRAVELING UP AND DOWN 2 88 IS SOMETHING, IT IS REALLY, REALLY A BEACON.
AND CERTAINLY IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, THERE WAS A SERIOUS TRANSFORMATION.
THERE WAS A HARRIS COUNTY BUILDING HERE, BUT THE MORE RECENT TIMES, I REMEMBER THE MANY DOMINO GAMES THAT WERE GOING ON, RIGHT UNDER THE TREES RIGHT BEHIND US.
AND SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND WHAT I SEE THAT MAYBE OTHERS HAVE NOT MENTIONED IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A AGING COMMUNITY, RIGHT TO MY RIGHT.
AND PERHAPS THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO COME AND LIVE CLOSE WITHOUT ACTUALLY LIVING IN THE HOMES AND BE ABLE TO QUICKLY GET TO THEIR PARENTS TO HELP THEM.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ENVISION AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE A QUEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
TEDDY MCDAVID, WHO HAS JOINED US.
WE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED ALGIN SCOTT DAVIS, WHO IS JUST A PHENOMENAL PERSON.
AND CERTAINLY MR. REDDICK EDWARDS.
IT IS SUCH AN HONOR FOR YOU TO BE HERE AS WELL.
AND I, YES, THAT DOES CALL FOR CLAPPING.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS MUCH PUSH PUSHBACK AND, AND MANY THREATS, SOME WHICH STILL ARE OVER MY HEAD.
BUT YOU HAVE TO TRUST GOD AND TRUST YOUR INNER SELF TO KNOW WHAT IS BEST REGARDLESS OF THE AGENDA AND THE OBJECTIVES OF OTHERS.
AND I THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND SO CERTAINLY, UM, I'M NOT GONNA BELABOR THIS, BUT THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SPACE.
THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT THERE'S A PING PONG TABLE BACK THERE.
I MAY CHALLENGE HIM
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SO IF YOU ALL SEE ME IN THE POOL, UH, THIS SAY, OH, THAT'S JUST A COUNCIL MEMBER.SHE JUST WANTS TO COME AND SEE HOW THE POOL FEELS, BECAUSE I LOVE COMING AND, AND GETTING IN THE WATER.
BUT YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT I WILL NEVER GO INTO THE EXERCISE ROOM EVER.
BUT CERTAINLY, I, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION AND I'M SO VERY HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND CHERYL, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE GONNA BRING UP DIRECTOR BYNUM.
I WASN'T GONNA BRING HIM UP, BUT NOW THAT YOU CALLED HIM OUT, WHY DON'T WE BRING HIM UP? YEAH, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME ONE MORE THING, MAN.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE NAME OF REVEREND BILL LAWSON AND HIS WONDERFUL DAUGHTER AND THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY KIND OF HARD NOT TO SUPPORT WHATEVER THEY BRING.
BUT YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT MAINE, BUT LET ME, LET ME BRING UP THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR HIS WORK AND ITS LEADERSHIP.
SO DIRECTOR KEITH, BY WHY DON'T YOU COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS PROJECT? THANK YOU.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO, UH, POINT OUT IS THAT THIS PROJECT STARTED IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC AND ONLY IN HOUSTON.
I'M GONNA SAY ONLY IN HOUSTON THAT WE COULD DO THIS.
WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE STARTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND NO MATTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WE HAVE PERSEVERED THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WE GOT A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT, VERY BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.
MANY OF YOU WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR OPERATION KNOW THAT RAY MILLER WAS HEAD OF OUR MULTIFAMILY OPERATION AND HE LEFT.
AND THAT WAS A, A, A MAJOR LOSS TO US.
BUT WHAT HE DID LEAVE WAS A VERY STRONG TEAM.
AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THAT TEAM.
SOME OF HIS MULTIFAMILY PEOPLE ARE ALL THE MULTIFAMILY FOLKS WHO ARE ON THAT, ON THAT STAFF.
IF YOU'RE HERE, JUST WA WAVE YOUR HANDS SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU.
AND THEN WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OUR COMPLIANCE FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING IN HERE WHO THEY'LL DO, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DO THE BACK OFFICE STUFF AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS COMPLIANT, EVERYTHING IS DONE CORRECTLY.
WE DON'T WANT TO EVER GIVE ANY MONEY BACK.
SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE COMPLIANCE FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING IN THE, IN THE ROOM.
SO IF YOU JUST CONGRATULATE THEM.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE MUCH TIME, I JUST WANT TO ADD, ADD.
IT IS HARD TO FOLLOW THE MAYOR, BUT UH, JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT IT TAKES A LOT TO GET PROJECTS LIKE THIS DONE AND YOU CAN ONLY DO IT WHEN YOU HAVE GREAT PARTNERS.
SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, DONNA, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
YOUR TEAM AND OUR TEAM GOT TOGETHER AND WE DID FANTASTIC WORK DURING SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN AND WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.
SO I HAVE A SCRIPT, BUT JUST WHAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT SINCE WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE REGENCY LOFTS TEAM AND FAMILY, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ AND MAYOR TURNER, UM, FOR JOINING US AND OUR FOUNDERS.
OUR FOUNDERS INCLUDE THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DEVELOPMENT, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND CITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AMEE BANK AND THE NATIONAL EQUITY FUND.
AND TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE COME TO SUPPORT THIS GRAND OPENING, WE THANK YOU.
NOW, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR FORMAL PROGRAM, WE HAVE MUCH MORE IN STORE FOR YOU ALL.
THERE ARE SOME HERE, THERE'S SOME OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
AND REFRESHMENTS AND TOURS OF THE APARTMENTS, AMENITIES SPACES, AND THE PRE-K SCHOOL, MY FAVORITE.
THE TOURS WILL BEGIN IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES, LEAVING FROM THE MAIN LOBBY WHERE YOU ENTERED THE BUILDING TO PROVIDE YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THE TOURS.
LET ME ASK DONNA TO COME BACK UP TO THE PODIUM.
YES, YOU ALL HAVE TO STAY AND YOU HAVE TO TOUR
UM, SO THE TOUR WILL BEGIN IN 15 MINUTES.
AND FDI, WHO'S THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, WILL BE LEADING THAT TOUR.
UH, DIANE, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON OVER HERE AND BRING YOUR TEAM IF YOU DON'T MIND.
WE MAY HAVE THEM IN THE OFFICE TO TRY TO, SO SHE'LL BE HERE.
AND SO, SO, SO EVERYBODY THAT WILL BE DOING THE TOUR WILL HAVE RED FDI SHIRTS ON.
SO IF YOU'LL JUST GET WITH ONE OF THEM OR ACTUALLY WE'LL HAVE THEM ALL COME IN AND, AND, UM, MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL HAVE SOMEBODY THAT Y'ALL CAN GO TOUR WITH.
THEY HAVE PRICING, THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY NEED.
SO PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.
SO EAT AT A LITTLE BIT AND THEN LET'S TAKE OFF IN 15 MINUTES.
[00:30:01]
ALRIGHT?