Preserving Affordable Housing for Seniors in Arizona

The costs to rent or purchase housing remains increasingly less affordable to millions of Americans, both for those on fixed retirement incomes as well as those who have not yet reached retirement.  For those who have only small pensions, social security and a few assets, their only hope for a safe, healthy and affordable housing is through communities built with the assistance of Low Income Tax Credit Programs or city HOME Investment Partnerships.

Arizona is working on preserving affordable housing for seniors, take a look at the two new communities located in Phoenix and Flagstaff aimed at providing affordable housing for low-income seniors.

Lofts at McKinley, Phoenix AZ

Lofts At Mckinley, Tofel Construction

Lofts at McKinley, designed by Gorman & Company, are a redevelopment project serving a mixed community.  By removing a vacant office building and replacing it with a three-story apartment community for seniors and the disabled, builder Tofel Construction is helping transform the neighborhood and provide affordable housing for those aged 55 and older.  Lofts at McKinley will be the first senior housing project in Arizona to seek LEED Platinum certification and the first new construction project ever permitted under Phoenix’s newly adopted Downtown Urban Form Code.  Environmentally friendly features include:  Premier Structural Insulated Panel Walls (SIPs), photovoltaic solar system to power the common area, highly reflective roofing, Energy Star appliances and dual-flush toilets, low water landscaping, and low-VOC adhesives, finishes and hard-surface flooring.

The project was funded through the Low Income Tax Credit Program, the city’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program and AZ Department of Housing Trust Fund.  The Lofts ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for this Wednesday, October 24th.  View our Lofts at McKinley gallery for construction photos.

Flagstaff Senior Meadows, Flagstaff AZ

Flagstaff Senior Meadows, Tofel Construction

Flagstaff Senior Meadows, an affordable senior housing community designed by Smith Architects and located Flagstaff AZ, is rounding out construction and scheduled to be completed in November.  Built by Tofel Construction, Flagstaff Senior Meadows will have 60 one-story senior apartments and later, 24-32 additional apartments.  Flagstaff Senior Meadows includes many environmentally friendly features:  Premier SIP walls  were installed in just a couple days, low water use plumbing fixtures, Energy Star appliances and windows, finish materials with low emissions, solar daylighting, water retention system and sustainable landscaping.

The campus is less than three minutes from Flagstaff Medical Center and less than a mile from grocery stores and shopping.  The property is funded in large part by the Arizona Department of Housing with HOME funds and Low Income Housing Tax Credit.  In exchange for these funds to help with construction, the rent will remain affordable to seniors for no less than 30 years and only goes up if incomes go up.  View our Flagstaff Senior Meadows gallery for construction photos.