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I AM THE PRESIDENT OF DMA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.
WE WERE THE DEVELOPERS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY, BOULEVARD 61.
UH, WE ARE A SMALL BOUTIQUE DEVELOPER.
WE BASICALLY DO, UH, INFIELD KINDS OF DEVELOPMENT.
WE DON'T DO THE BIG SCALE, 300 UNITS OUT IN THE FIELD KIND OF STUFF.
THIS IS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE DO.
WE, UM, HAVE A LOT OF OUR STAFF HERE TODAY FROM BOTH DEVELOPMENT AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, AND RATHER THAN TO INTRODUCE THEM, JUST RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE DMA STAFF OF SOME SORT.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR THIRD DEVELOPMENT IN HOUSTON AND REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
BOULEVARD 61, UH, CAME ON LINE THIS SUMMER HAS A HUNDRED UNITS, AND BASICALLY OUR TARGET OCCUPANCY, 10 OF THOSE A HUNDRED ARE ACTUALLY MARKET RATE UNITS, BUT OUR TARGET OCCUPANCY IS ANYWHERE FROM 30% A MI TO 80% A MI.
AND IN PLAIN LANGUAGE ENGLISH, THAT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 20,000 FOR A SINGLE PERSON UP TO 80,000, 83,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.
SO THE FINANCING IS THE, UH, 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE AND TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AND OUR FUNDERS WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
WE HAD A LOT OF HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY.
IT'S BEEN A, A FEW YEARS IN THE MAKING, AND WE HAD COVID, WE HAD SUPPLY SHORTAGES, WE HAD INTEREST RATES INCREASING.
UH, AND, BUT I'M GOING TO SIT AND TELL YOU THAT WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, WERE IT NOT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN A VALUABLE, VALUABLE PARTNER FOR GMA IN GETTING THIS DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY.
SO I'M PLEASED AND HONORED TO BE JOINED TODAY BY THE HONORABLE JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR OF HOUSTON.
MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PUBLIC SERVANT, HAVING SERVED FOR 50 YEARS IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, UH, PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
HE KNOWS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT ALL LEVELS AND HAS SUCH RESPECT AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TOOLS NEEDED BY WORKING FAMILIES TO NOT JUST SURVIVE, BUT TO GET AHEAD IN TODAY'S WORLD.
LET'S WELCOME MAYOR WHITMEYER.
THANK, THANK YOU, MS. MC IVER, AND THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
AND THANK YOU FOR NOT GOING INTO HOW MANY KIDS I HAVE WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT.
WE'RE INTERESTED IN WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CERTAINLY YOUR TEAM THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, SO MUCH OF THIS WAS CERTAINLY GOING FORWARD WHEN I HAD THE, UH, HONOR OF BEING ELECTED.
AND I WILL DEFINITELY SAY THAT, UH, MY PARTNERS AT THE CITY, UH, DID SO MUCH.
CERTAINLY COUNCILMAN POLLARD WERE IN HIS DISTRICT, AND HE KNEW THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR WORKFORCE IN THE GREATER GALLERIA AREA.
SO CERTAINLY THAT NEED IS BEING ADDRESSED.
AND OF COURSE, OUR CHAIRMAN CHAIR PERSON OF, UH, CHAIR WALLMAN OF OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE THAT IS ALWAYS OUT FRONT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO THANK YOU TO MY ELECTED, UH, COLLEAGUES, BUT REALLY, UH, SO MANY OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ARE CERTAINLY INVOLVED, AND WE COULDN'T GO FORWARD WITHOUT OUR HUD PARTNERSHIP.
UH, MR. CURTIS AND THE STATE DIRECTOR, THANK YOU, AND THAT THE SECRETARY OF HUD KNOW, UH, WE APPRECIATE HIS LOVE.
HE AND I SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE TOGETHER, AND HE SAYS ALL THE GOOD THINGS, BUT WE WANT MONEY.
BUT CERTAINLY, UH, MIKE NICHOLS, UH, IS ONE OF OUR CAN-DO, UH, DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU TO HIM.
AND OF COURSE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION AND RENT ASSISTANCE.
SO, YOU KNOW, LET ME SIT DOWN BY JUST SAYING WE NEED MORE DAYS LIKE TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR MEETING THOSE CHALLENGES.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF TURMOIL IN THE WORLD AND CERTAINLY IN OUR NATION AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE NEED DAYS LIKE TODAY, WHICH MAKES
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A STATEMENT.THIS IS WHY WE RUN FOR OFFICE.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON A BALLOT OR NOT, WE'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND I DO BELIEVE SOMEDAY WE'RE GONNA GET JUDGED BY WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE? SO LET'S LEAVE HERE FIRED UP WITH A STRONG STATEMENT OF WHAT WE STAND FOR, AND, UH, I'M CERTAIN WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, OBVIOUSLY OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE TO US IN THIS ENDEAVOR AND HAS SERVED THE DISTRICT, THIS DISTRICT FOR NEARLY SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND IS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR HIS CONSTITUENTS.
UH, WHAT INTERESTS ME ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND, HE, HE'S AN ATTORNEY.
UM, BUT HE, UH, HE FOUNDED SOMETHING CALLED SUITS FOR SUCCESS, AND IT PROVIDES FOR YOUNG TEEN BOYS, UH, A AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN PUBLIC SPEAKING, TO LEARN, UH, ETHICS, TO LEARN, UH, TO BE MENTORED, AND TO PREPARE THEM FOR COLLEGE AND FOR LIFE.
AND AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS, THEY GET A SUIT AND THEY ACTUALLY GET A REAL TIE.
I SEE YOU GUYS WITH YOUR TIES, YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
AND THEY LEARN HOW TO TIE THE TIE.
I THOUGHT THAT THAT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL.
I MEAN, YOU, YOU SEE KIDS OUT THERE AND YOU SEE THOSE, YOU KNOW, 14, 15 YEAR OLDS AND THEIR BAGGY PANTS AND THEIR T-SHIRTS, AND YOU THINK, HOW ARE THEY GONNA GET A JOB? HOW ARE THEY GONNA MAKE IT IN LIFE? AND, AND YOU'RE HELPING THEM MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
AND THEN I SAW THAT KELVIN BANKS WAS ONE OF YOUR EARLY GRADUATES.
I MEAN, HE DOESN'T NEED YOUR HELP WITH SUITS ANYMORE, BUT I MEAN, HE'S A BIG GUY, AND THAT WAS PROBABLY A BIG SUIT YOU HAD TO FIND FOR HIM.
SO I JUST, I REALLY, I REALLY ADMIRE YOU FOR DOING THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU ALL.
DIANA KIND OF PUT ME ON THE SPOT.
I DON'T HAVE MY TIE ON
BUT, UM, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU ALL TODAY, UH, TO EVERYONE WITH DMA COMPANIES.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN DISTRICT J, WHICH I CALL J CITY.
YOU ALL ARE RIGHT OFF OF THE RICHMOND STRIP, THE FAMOUS RICHMOND STRIP, WHERE THERE IS A LOT THAT HAPPENS HERE.
IT'S A VERY VIBRANT AND ACTIVE, UH, CORRIDOR.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS TALKS OF POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT THIS SITE, AND MANY OF THE NEIGHBORS AND THE RESIDENTS WERE ASKING, WHAT IS IT GONNA BE? WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER STRIP CLUB, WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER GAS STATION, WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER NIGHTCLUB.
AND I SAID, NO, IT'S GONNA BE PROPOSED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND EVERYONE WAS VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
WE LIVE IN AN AGE RIGHT NOW OF AFFORDABILITY, RIGHT? AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT ALL DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS.
AND IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING MORE THAN IT'S ABOUT AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO WANT TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP.
ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS THROUGH BEING ABLE TO HAVE PROGRAMS TO SUBSIDIZE AND FILL THAT GAP, BECAUSE ANYONE CAN DEVELOP THE, THE STRUCTURE, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT MAKING A PROFIT OR THEY CAN'T, UM, MAKE THE MONEY MAKE SENSE, NO DEVELOPER IS GONNA DO IT.
SO I REALLY DON'T EVEN CALL IT AFFORDABLE, UH, HOUSING.
I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT CAN WE DO, UH, TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPERS HAVE REAL PROGRAMMING, UM, THAT CAN HELP THEM? WHERE DO THEY GET THAT FROM? PLACES LIKE THE CITY, THE STATE, UM, THOSE OVER THERE AT THE ALLIANCE, UH, COMING DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WORKING WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO DO AT THE CITY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND OUR HOUSING CHAIR, TIFFANY THOMAS.
UH, THEY LEAD THE WAY IN ENSURING THAT THE ENTIRE CITY, UH, HAS A FOOTPRINT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND DIRECTOR NICHOLS HAS COME IN AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
AND, UM, THIS PROJECT WAS UNDERWAY, UH,
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BEFORE HIS TENURE, BUT, UH, SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE, HE'S BEEN VERY MUCH INVOLVED, UH, AND HELPED COORDINATING A LOT OF THESE EFFORTS.AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 80 OF THE UNITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY LEASED.
UM, AND THAT'S 80 FAMILIES, 80 PEOPLE, 80 STORIES, 80 BACKGROUNDS, 80 INDIVIDUALS THAT, BUT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO, FOR SURE, HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME, A DIGNIFIED PLACE TO CALL HOME, AND ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT AREAS OF THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO, UM, PLAYED A ROLE IN TODAY.
REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE, UM, IN SOMEWHERE IN SENIOR LEADERSHIP OR YOU'RE SOMEONE THAT HAS JUST COME ON AS A LEASING MANAGER HERE, UM, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING JC CITY FOR, UH, YOUR DEVELOPMENT IN THIS PROJECT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO WELCOMING TO US IN THIS DISTRICT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER HAS HAD QUITE QUITE A TASK.
UM, IT'S COUNCILWOMAN TIFFANY THOMAS, AND SHE'S CHAIR OF HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE.
AND, AND, UH, LIKE COUNCILMAN POLLARD HAS, IS ALMOST AT HER SEVEN YEAR MARK AT CITY COUNCIL.
BUT I ASSUME YOUR ASSIGNMENT HAS BEEN BOTH REWARDING AND CHALLENGING BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THERE THROUGH PRETTY MUCH SEVERAL DISASTERS AND, UH, COVID AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UH, WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR ROLE FOR HOUSING.
I, UM, I'M GONNA TELL YOU TWO STORIES AND THEN I'LL GIVE YOU THE FORMAL REMARKS.
SO I REMEMBER AS SHE WAS ALLUDING TO COUNCIL MEMBER, POLLARD AND I WERE ELECTED AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, AND IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE'RE CLOSE ON COUNCIL.
AND SO IN 2020, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH OUR FIRST ROUND OF 9% TAX CREDITS, YOU KNOW, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE RESIDENTS COMING TO HIM ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, ISSUES IN THE DISTRICTS.
AND HE CAME TO MY OFFICE AT THE TIME OF WHEN I WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED AS CHAIR, AND HE WAS LIKE, LISTEN, DON'T BRING NO OLD BAD APARTMENTS TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT?
AND HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE IN J CITY, UM, HAD, UH, HOUSING WITH DIGNITY, RIGHT? REINVESTMENT.
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE ON HOW HE'S LEADING THAT.
SO I KEPT MY PROMISE TO YOU, AND YOU KEPT YOUR PROMISE TO THE CONSTITUENTS.
UM, SECOND STORY, WHEN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FIRST BRIEFED ME ON THIS PROJECT, I SAID, RICHMOND, BY THE CLUBS.
WHAT? NOW I KNOW ALL OF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT.
I REMEMBER A TIME RICHMOND USED TO BE, RICHMOND USED TO BE THE MOMENT, THIS IS WHERE YOU, EVERYBODY HOPPED IN THEIR CAR TO CELEBRATE THE ROCKETS ON THEIR THREE P.
IT WAS THE RICHMOND STRIP, UH, T TOWN, THOSE OTHER THINGS, WE'LL MOVE ON FROM THAT.
MAYOR, YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT
UM, BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS IS HOW ARE WE INVESTING IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS? AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
UM, AND THIS IS THE LEVEL OF INTENTION.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR HOUSING DIRECTOR AND THE EXECUTIVE STAFF.
THEY ARE VERY DILIGENT IN MAKING SURE THESE PROJECTS GET TO COUNCIL, NOT JUST GET TO COUNCIL, BUT ALSO GET TO THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN KNOW ABOUT THE INVESTMENT.
THEY CAN KNOW ABOUT THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
UM, IT IS NOT EASY, AS MS. DIANA TALKED ABOUT, THE DELAYS THE TIME.
OFTENTIMES WE GET TO CELEBRATE WITH THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THE GROUNDBREAKING AND THE TOURS, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK IN ORDER FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IN CHOOSING TO, UM, IDENTIFY INFIELD LOCATIONS.
AND THEN I ALSO WANNA THANK THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF OUR STATE PARTNERS FOR WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AS AN ASIDE, BEFORE I TAKE MY SEAT, UM, UM, IN MY WORK AS HOUSING CHAIR, OH, THAT'S MY PHONE.
UM, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, IT'S ALL GOOD.
UM, IN MY WORK AS HOUSING CHAIR, WE'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH FAITH INSTITUTIONS TO IDENTIFY LAND THAT THEY OWN SO THEY CAN HELP US MEET OUR HOUSING INVENTORY.
AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED A THOUSAND ACRES.
SO WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SURPRISINGLY, A LARGE CONCENTRATION IS RIGHT THERE IN JAY CITY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, OUR STATE PARTNERS.
AS THE MAYOR SAID, IT IS TIME FOR SOME MONEY.
JC, WE LEANING ON YOU, RUN US OUR MONEY, WE NEED IT.
UM, BUT THEN TO AND TO EACH LEASING AGENT, TO EACH RESIDENT THAT CHOSE THIS, UH, DEVELOPMENT AS YOUR HOME.
UM, UH, WE ALSO, WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR MAKING THE CHOICE TO STAY HERE.
UM, UH, MS. PARKS, UH, SHE WORKED WITH MY BROTHER AT ALEY FIS D UM, AND SO LIKE, THESE ARE EVERYDAY
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PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE DECISION TO CHOOSE THEIR BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD.I WANNA THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE ENERGY AND PASSION YOU BRING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE NICHOLS, WHO'S DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSING OF HOUSTON HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND HE, AS HAS BEEN ALREADY MENTIONED, HAS ONLY BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR NOT QUITE THREE YEARS, BUT HAS AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND, A CAREER BLEND OF PRIVATE SECTOR LAW AND NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP.
AND, AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD, UH, BLEND OF SKILLS TO BRING TO A POSITION LIKE THAT.
SO WE WELCOME YOU TO THE PODIUM.
I'M, I'M GONNA MAKE TWO POINTS.
AND FIRST, JC I WISH YOU WERE GOING BEFORE ME
SO I'LL, I'LL PICK ON JC ABOUT 0.1, WHICH IS, UM, I WISH THAT HUD WOULD JUST GIVE US THE MONEY FOR THE WHOLE BUILDING, BUT THEY DON'T DO THAT.
ONE IS IT TAKES A LOT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WORKING TOGETHER.
THIS COLLABORATION IS WHAT'S REQUIRED.
UM, BUT IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE OF A LITTLE MORE MONEY, THAT'D BE HELPFUL, JC
BUT THIS PRIVATE COLLABORATION ISN'T AN ACCIDENT.
IT'S EASY TO TRY TO SAY, WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING THIS YEAR.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME AND IT TAKES SOME FORWARD THINKING.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS WORKED ON THIS BUILDING.
UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER IS WORKING FOR THE NEXT ADMINISTRATIONS COMING FORTH FOR THE NEXT DECADE.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE APPRECIATE AND, AND HIM DOING APPRECIATE, OUR TEAM DOING IS ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CANNOT DO IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
YES, IT TAKES COLLABORATION, AND YES, AS LEADERS, WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD EVEN BEYOND THE TERMS THAT WE MAY EVEN BE, UM, UH, RUN OUT OF YEARS WORKING.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS.
ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE A FEW MORE DOLLARS.
UH, I DON'T WANNA SIT DOWN WITH THAT.
THANKING THE HOUSING ALLIANCE, WHAT WE USED TO BE CALLED THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO MOVE IN HERE WITH HOUSING VOUCHERS, WHICH REALLY MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
AND AGAIN, JC DO US A FAVOR,
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, WE'RE AS BIG AS THEY ARE IN PEOPLE.
WE DON'T GET THE VOUCHERS WE GET.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, AND I'M GONNA GET, WE'LL GET JC UP NEXT.
BUT AGAIN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
I WANNA SAY ONE MORE THING TO YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING COURAGEOUS FROM HAVING THIS BE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES.
IT'S A BIG DEAL, AND THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO REALLY NEED THIS HOUSING, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU KNOW, I WAS IN A MEETING, I DON'T KNOW, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND, AND PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT LIKE WATER ISSUES AND, AND, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF, AND GOT ON A CONVERSATION ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND IT'S LIKE, NOBODY EVEN CARES ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY DON'T NOTICE YOU NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER OR A LOVED ONE.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT LIKE WATER.
EVERYBODY GOES, OH YEAH, WE NEED WATER.
AND IT, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE DOING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND YOU HAVE TO SOMEHOW TRANSMIT THAT PASSION TO OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE UNTIL IT'S A PROBLEM FOR THEM OR THEIR LOVED ONES, THEY DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A, A INDUSTRY IS NOT AN INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, UM, BUT WE'RE FORTUNATE BECAUSE NOW IT APPEARS THAT WE'VE GOT JC CISON HERE, UM, WHO IS THE STATE DIRECTOR FOR HUD, AND HE'S COMING TO GIVE US MONEY,
AND IN A FUNNY KIND OF WAY, HE ALREADY HAS GIVEN US MONEY BECAUSE THE LOAN THAT WE HAVE HERE IS ACTUALLY THROUGH A MORTGAGE INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT HUD HAS.
SO, UM, YOU CAN COME TELL THEM ABOUT OTHER MONEY TOO.
WELL, I WASN'T EXPECTING ALL THE LOVE I GETTING, SO, SO
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I'LL MAKE THIS SHORT.UM, I'M JASPER KRU AND JC KREEN.
I'M WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, UH, HERE IN THE HOUSTON FIELD OFFICE.
I REPRESENT THE, UH, HOUSTON REGION, UH, THAT'S 35 COUNTY SURROUNDING HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, MS. ASHLEY QUINONE, UH, WHO REGRETS NOT BEING HERE, SENT ME IN HER PLACE TO GET BEAT UP ON
UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE, UM, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MAYOR WI MAYOR WHITMEYER, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, TODAY WE CELEBRATE MORE THAN JUST AN OPENING OF AN APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE CELEBRATING WHAT SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOMES MAKE POSSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO WILL LIVE HERE.
UH, THESE HOMES PROVIDE MORE THAN SHELTER.
IT PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR OPPORTUNITY, UH, PURSUIT FOR EDUCATION, SECURE EMPLOYMENT, UH, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND RELATIONSHIPS, AND BUILD FINANCIAL STABILITY AND A PLAN FOR CONFIDENCE.
AND THIS IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT'S MISSION IS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, AND HELP CREATE PATHWAYS FOR OPPORTUNITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR AMERICAN PEOPLE.
OUR SUCCESS MUST BE MEASURED NOT ONLY BY THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WE HELP CREATE, BUT ALSO BY THE STABILITY, INDEPENDENCE, AND OPPORTUNITY, UH, THOSE INVESTMENTS MAKE POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WE SERVE.
AND THIS DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTS THAT COMMITMENT IN ACTION, AN INVESTMENT IN RESIDENCE, UM, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, AND OF COURSE, AND THE HOUSTON'S CONTINUED GROWTH.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT, CONGRATULATIONS TO DMA COMPANIES, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND FOR EVERY PARTNER WHOSE WORK HELPED BRING THIS DEVELOPMENT TO COMPLETION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RESIDENTS WHO WILL LIVE AND MAKE BOULEVARD THEIR HOME.
MAY THIS COMMUNITY PROVIDE THE STABILITY OPPORTUNITY AND THE SENSE OF BELONGING THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DESERVES.
THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND I'LL DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE TO LOVE.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NEIL RADCLIFFE, WHO'S EXECUTIVE VP AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF HOUSING ALLIANCE TEXAS.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE NEIL HERE TODAY.
IT'S HARD TO FIND A BETTER ATTORNEY IN HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAN NEIL.
HE HAS A DIVERSE BACKGROUND OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRIVATE PRACTICE, AND YOU, YOU CAN'T, YOU JUST CAN'T FIND A BETTER ATTORNEY OUT THERE THAN NEIL RATCLIFFE.
SO I'M THRILLED THAT HE IS HERE.
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
UM, THE HOUSING ALLIANCE PROVIDED US BOULEVARD 61 WITH 25 PROJECT-BASED RENTAL VOUCHERS.
AND THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO BEING ABLE TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD EVEN THE TAX CREDIT RENTS HERE.
THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM WAS NOT DESIGNED TO SERVE PEOPLE WITH INCOMES UNDER 30% OF MEDIAN.
AT THE TIME THE PROGRAM WAS CONCEIVED.
IT WAS THOUGHT THAT PUBLIC HOUSING WOULD BE SERVING THAT.
AND, AND THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
IT WAS 40 YEARS AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
SO WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO GET THOSE PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS, IT MEANS THAT YOU CAN REALLY HAVE A MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN SERVE ALL HOUSTONIANS, UH, REGARDLESS OF INCOME.
SO I'M THRILLED NEIL IS OUT HERE AND, AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THOSE VOUCHERS POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT FRIENDS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS.
UH, AND, AND I WANT TO JUST TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS ABOUT NINE YEARS OLD, I SAW THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, YOU KNOW, THE COOL ONE WITH CHARLTON HESTON, RIGHT? AND I THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME THAT MOSES CLIMBED UP MOUNT SINAI TO SEE GOD.
AND I TALKED TO MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER THE NEXT DAY AND I SAID, I'M GONNA GO TO MOUNT SINAI.
HE SAID, WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO TO MOUNT SINAI? YOU ONLY SAID, WELL, THAT'S THE MOUNTAIN MOSES CLIMBED TO SEE GOD, AND I WANT TO GO UP THERE AND SEE IF HE'S REAL.
AND HE SAID, HE SAID, NEIL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN TO SEE GOD.
AND I'VE LEARNED THAT WHERE I SEE GOD IS IN GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD THINGS TO SERVE THEIR FELLOW MAN.
AND THIS ROOM IS FULL OF SUCH GOOD PEOPLE.
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AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS WITH US WHEN WE ARE ENGAGED IN A GOOD CAUSE, AND WE ARE TRYING TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.DIANA MACGYVER IS A LEGEND IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
SHE IS ONE OF THE, THE ELITE, UH, WOMEN DEVELOPERS AND LEADERS IN THIS WORK IN TEXAS AND IN A COUPLE OF OTHER STATES, RIGHT? SO SHE'S AMAZING.
SO IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE ENGAGED IN SUCH A GOOD CAUSE.
UH, AS MENTIONED, THE HOUSING, WELL, THIS THING IS ON WHEELS.
GOTTA BE CAREFUL THERE,
SO OVER A 15 YEAR PERIOD, THAT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY, UH, OVER $5 MILLION IN SUPPORT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
NEXT THING I WANNA MENTION IS THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS CHALLENGED US TO DO MORE TO PREVENT AND REDUCE HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THE MAIN ANSWER TO REDUCING AND PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS IS MORE GOOD, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO MAYOR, WE HAVE LISTENED TO YOU.
AND WHILE WE HAVE BEEN AT THE HOUSING ALLIANCE IN 25 AND 26, WE HAVE DEVELOPED, OR WE'VE CLOSED ON 23 AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT RESULTED IN CREATING OR PRESERVING 5,973 UNITS, 4,204 OF WHICH ARE AFFORDABLE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS.
LASTLY, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA HELP OUT MY BUDDY JC HERE.
WHEN I WAS AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY AT HUD, WE HAD FOLKS COMING TO US ALL THE TIME ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.
AND IT'S TRUE THAT HUD ALLOCATES THE, SOME OF THE MONEY THAT CONGRESS APPROPRIATES, BUT IT'S CONGRESS THAT APPROPRIATES THE MONEY.
SO THE FOLKS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK WITH ARE THE APPROPRIATORS IN CONGRESS AND ASKING THEM TO APPROPRIATE MORE MONEY TO HUD SO THEY CAN ALLOCATE MORE MONEY TO US.
AND IF THEY GET MORE MONEY, I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA PUT US FIRST IN LINE, RIGHT?
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GREAT WORK ON THIS DEVELOPMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID LONG, WHO'S PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TEXAS STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION.
THEY'RE OUR NONPROFIT PARTNER.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR SECOND OPPORTUNITY.
I'VE KNOWN DAVID FOR A VERY LONG TIME, MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, BUT THIS IS OUR SECOND OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH T SH AND I'M DELIGHTED TO INVITE YOU TO THE PODIUM.
I GUESS A COUPLE OF THINGS SINCE I'M THE LAST SPEAKER, I WON'T TALK VERY LONG SO Y'ALL CAN GET TO THE SNACKS AND GET A CHANCE TO VIEW THE FACILITY.
UH, SECOND OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY.
UM, LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM, YOU CAN SEE THE LEADERSHIP FROM THE CITY THAT'S HERE.
THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE, NOT ONLY TO REPRESENT, BUT TO TAKE PART IN THIS GRAND OPENING IS REALLY A REPRESENTATION OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU BRING AND THE COMMITMENT TO THE ORGANIZATION OF ALLOWING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE A BIG PART OF WHAT YOU DO.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
UM, TEXAS STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT THE LEGISLATURE CREATED OVER 30 YEARS AGO.
AND WE ARE THE, UH, UH, NONPROFIT THAT WE TRY AND WORK WITH IN THE TERMS OF FACILITATION, PRESERVATION, AND EXPANSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WE DON'T DO THAT WITHOUT PARTNERS.
AND I'M GONNA SIT HERE AND KIND OF MINIMIZE MY COMMENTS TO RECOGNIZE DIANA, UM, JANINE AND, AND THE TEAM AT DMA, THEY ARE A PHENOMENAL GROUP FOR WORK WITH.
WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE, AS SHE MENTIONED, TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM, UH, A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW.
AND THIS IS A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE HER.
THE FACILITY YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS REALLY TOP NOTCH.
I, I, SHE MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUNDRED UNITS, BUT I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THE UNITS THAT YOU WILL WALK THROUGH, THE ONE THAT WE DID IN PLANO, UH, PARK ON 14TH, THEY ARE TOP NOTCH.
AND YOU CAN ASSURE THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE WILL, UH, COMMIT THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO MAKE THIS THEIR HOME AND TO BE VERY COMFORTABLE HERE.
SO WITH THAT, DIANA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP OVER THE YEARS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU AGAIN ON THIS.
AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE, AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.
IN ADDITION TO THE MANY SPEAKERS WE'VE HEARD FROM TODAY AND OUR PARTNERS, UM, IT TAKES A LOT
AND, AND WE'RE VERY, WE'RE VERY PROUD AND, AND WE'RE VERY, UH, PARTICULAR DEVELOPERS AS WELL.
UM, I WANT TO NOW INTRODUCE JANINE CIAK.
SHE IS SENIOR VP GENERAL COUNSEL FOR DMA, AND SHE'S GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR PARTNERS, UH, WHO REALLY STUCK WITH US THROUGH THE FIVE YEARS IT TOOK TO GET TO THIS POINT.
[00:30:06]
GREAT.UM, YEAH, MY FIRST REMARK WAS GOING TO BE WHEN YOU RECEIVE A 9% AWARD, UM, FROM T-D-H-C-A, PRIOR TO COVID VID, IT WOULD TAKE YOU ABOUT TWO, TWO AND A HALF YEARS FROM AWARD TO GRAND OPENING.
UM, THIS PROJECT TOOK US FIVE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT, UM, COVID BROUGHT, UM, AND THE CHALLENGES THAT COVID BROUGHT TO THE MARKET.
I REMEMBER INITIALLY AS A DEVELOPER WHEN COVID HIT, UM, WE WERE REALLY STRUGGLING ON THE MANAGEMENT SIDE BECAUSE IN MANY OF OUR TEXAS CITIES, THERE WAS AN EVICTION, UM, MORATORIUM.
AND SO WE WERE REALLY STRUGGLING INITIALLY ON THE MANAGEMENT SIDE.
IT TOOK A YEAR OR TWO FOR IT TO CATCH UP TO THE DEVELOPMENT SIDE, UM, RIGHT WHEN BOULEVARD 61 WAS FUNDED IN 2001.
THESE DEALS ARE VERY, VERY CHALLENGING IN THE BEST OF TIMES.
UM, SO IN THE WORST OF TIMES THEY'RE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
AND I'D LIKE TO RE REITERATE ALL THE THANKS, UM, SHARED TO OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND THE PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN DONE WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT OF HUD, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THE, UM, THE HOUSING ALLIANCE.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO START RECOGNIZING THE, UM, DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THE DESIGN TEAM IN PARTICULAR.
UM, AS DAVID LONG MENTIONED, UM, THIS IS KIND OF OUR GO-TO DEVELOPMENT TEAM RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT HEDK ARCHITECTS, UM, I THINK CHRIS MARTINO IS HERE REPRESENTING CHRIS, UH, BLAZER BUILDING.
THEY'RE ALSO SITTING BACK THERE.
UM, INTERIORS WERE PROVIDED BY MARI MOTO DESIGN, SHAUNA AND, AND ANGIE WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS.
I WILL, I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I WALKED IN TODAY.
I'VE BEEN TO THE, UM, THE BUILDING MANY, MANY TIMES, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN SINCE ALL THE LITTLE PIECES, THE CHANDELIERS, THE PLANTS, THE ARTWORK, SO PLEASED WITH HOW THE LOOK AND FEEL HAVE COME TOGETHER.
AND Y'ALL, IT WAS SO FUN WORKING WITH YOU.
UM, I THINK THAT'S IT ON DESIGN, WGI, CIVIL ENGINEERING.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, IN ADDITION TO THE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, DRAW THE PLANS AND BILL THEM, WE'VE GOT ATTORNEYS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT FROM DIANA'S REMARKS.
ATTORNEYS AREN'T HER FAVORITE
WHEN SHE HIRED ME, SHE SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO HIRE YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY,
I THINK THOSE WERE HER EXACT WORDS WHEN SHE OFFERED ME THE JOB.
SO WE'VE GOT COATS ROSE, I SEE BARRY AND I SEE SARAH SCOTT BACK THERE, AND THEN DWAYNE MORRIS.
AND THEN KIND OF IN THAT SIMILAR CAMP I SAW DAN FERRIS FROM OUR, DAN FERRIS IS OUR GO-TO TITLE GUY AT INDEPENDENCE TITLE.
THANK YOU DAN, FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I'M LOOKING AT THE BACK OF MY PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYONE.
UM, AND THEN OUR FINANCING PARTNERS, RBC CAPITAL, DAN ERS IS HERE.
THEY BOUGHT THE TAX CREDITS, THEN OUR FRIENDS AT CAPITAL ONE THAT, UM, PROVIDED THE, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, 2 22 20 1D FOUR LOAN.
AND THEN OUR FRIENDS AT T-D-H-C-A COULD NOT JOIN US TODAY.
BUT, UM, I WILL SAY THAT TAKING A NINE PART, TAKING FIVE YEARS TO GET A 9% DONE REQUIRES A LOT OF COOPERATION FROM OUR FRIENDS AT T-D-H-C-A.
UM, THE 9% PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY REQUIRES YOU TO PLACE THE BUILDING IN SERVICE WITHIN TWO YEARS.
SO WE HAD TO BASICALLY RETURN THE CREDITS, I THINK, THREE OR FOUR TIMES TO GET NEW CREDITS TO GET MORE TIME TO GET THIS DONE.
SO THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT T-D-H-C-A, YOU'LL BE GETTING A PLAQUE IN THE MAIL.
UM, AND I, DID I MISS ANYBODY? I DON'T THINK SO.
AND I WAS REALLY THE PERSON PREVENTING YOU FROM GETTING TO THE REFRESHMENT, SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S ATTENDANCE TODAY.
UM, DMA STAFF, AGAIN, I THINK WE RECOGNIZED YOU IN THE BEGINNING, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE DMA STAFF TODAY, ESPECIALLY, UM, UH, ESPECIALLY THE TEAM FROM DMA PROPERTIES, WHICH IS OUR MANAGEMENT ARM.
TARA'S THE REGIONAL, UM, MANAGER FOR THIS AREA.
AND I, I MENTIONED TARA SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE SHE IS A PERFECTIONIST AND MADE SURE EVERYTHING LOOKS PERFECT TODAY.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
UH, A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING, BUT BEFORE I DO, I DO, ONE THING JANINE TOUCHED ON WAS HOW WE WANT THIS BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDING,
[00:35:01]
AND, AND TO ME, PEOPLE HAVE THIS NOTION THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY HAVE QUALITY IF YOU ARE IN A LUXURY HOME OR A LUXURY APARTMENT OR SOMETHING.AND, AND WE MAKE IT OUR PRINCIPLE AND OUR POLICY THAT EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH THEY PAY FOR RENT, DESERVES TO LIVE NOT JUST IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IN A QUALITY ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO WE REALLY EMPHASIZE THIS WITH OUR ARCHITECTS, WITH OUR DESIGNERS.
WE, WE WANT TO PRODUCE QUALITY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT.
IT'S LIKE SURROUND PEOPLE WITH QUALITY AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE A QUALITY LIFE.
SO, UM, SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING NOW, UH, HOUSEKEEPING WISE, UH, FOR OUR SPEAKERS, THERE'S A LITTLE GIFT WAITING FOR YOU OUTSIDE AFTER YOU DO THE RIBBON CUTTING.
YOU'VE GOTTA DO YOUR WORK FIRST.
SAY START IN THE CENTER AND THEN KIND OF, SO I'LL, I'LL FLASH SO YOU'LL KNOW.