WASHINGTON, DC, November 13 “”The National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, in association with the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, honored developers, architects and historic preservation professionals that brought new life to ten historic buildings through its awarding of the 2012 J. Timothy Anderson Awards for Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation.
Regrettably, due to inclement weather caused by Hurricane Sandy, NH&RA was forced to cancel the “Timmy” Awards presentation and ceremony, which was originally scheduled for October 30 at the Langham Hotel in Boston. The winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony in February 2013 in Washington, DC as part of NH&RA’s “Historic Tax Credit Lobby Day” in partnership with the Historic Tax Credit Coalition and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Further event details will be provided on NH&RA’s website, www.housingonline.com.
“Historic preservation is a key element to safeguarding the integrity and unique character of communities while simultaneously driving economic development. It brings NH&RA great pleasure to honor these innovators who have successfully preserved our historic infrastructure while providing much needed affordable housing, community services and economic benefits around the country,” says Thom Amdur, Executive Director of NH&RA. “We were deeply disappointed that Hurricane Sandy forced us to cancel this year’s Awards Luncheon. The projects represent some of the best work of our industry and deserve recognition and celebration.”
This year’s winning projects include the conversion of a former food processing factory to loft apartments in New Orleans, LA; the rehabilitation of an historic hotel into affordable senior apartments in Kansas City, MO; and the rehabilitation of a former federal naval hospital building for a new community center in Washington, DC.
***Earlier this fall the judges named five initial winners across five categories. These winners include:
Best Commercial/Retail/Non-Residential Project
Old Naval Hospital, Washington, DC
Developer: The Old Naval Hospital Foundation, Washington, DC
Architect: Bell Architects, Washington, DC
Historic Consultants: Conservation Solutions, Santa Fe, NM & MacRostie Historic Advisors, LLC, Washington, DC
Best Historic Rehab Utilizing LIHTCs (Small/Up to $5 million development cost)
Thomas Edison Apartments, Covington, KY
Developer: AU Associates, Inc., Lexington, KY
Architect: PCA Architecture, PLC, Covington, KY
Best Market-Rate or Mixed-Income Residential
Beckstoffer’s Mill Loft Apartments, Richmond, VA
Developer: Better Housing Coalition, Richmond, VA
Architects: Urban Design Associates, Pittsburgh, PA & The Luchair Company, Staunton, VA
Historic Consultant: Ashley Neville, Ashland, VA
Best Historic Rehab Involving New Construction
Bijou Square, Bridgeport, CT
Developer: Kuchma Corporation, Bridgeport, CT
Architect: Antinozzi Associates, Bridgeport, CT
Most Innovative Adaptive Reuse
Martinsville Lofts, Martinsville, VA
Developer: Landmark Asset Services, Inc., Winston Salem, NC
Architect: CJMW Architecture, Lynchburg, VA
***The remaining winners were announced today and were selected from ten previously identified finalists during a second round of review. The winners of the following categories are:
Best Historic Rehab Utilizing LIHTCs (Medium/$5-$15 million development cost)
Chatham Senior Apartments, Kansas City, MO
Developer: Landmark Investment Group, Kansas City, MO
Architect: Rosemann & Associates, PC, Kansas City, MO
Historic Consultant: Rosin Preservation, LLC, Kansas City, MO
Best Historic Rehab Utilizing LIHTCs (Large/Over $15 million development cost)
Blue Plate Artist Lofts, New Orleans, LA
Developers: HRI Properties, New Orleans, LA & JCH Development, New Orleans, LA
Architect: HCI Architecture, Inc., New Orleans, LA
Best Historic Rehab Utilizing New Markets Tax Credits
Mayo 420 Building, Tulsa, OK
Developer: Wiggin Properties, LLC, Oklahoma City, OK
Architect: Kinslow, Keith & Todd, Inc., Tulsa, OK
Historic Consultant: Sikes | Abernathie, Architects, PC, Tulsa, OK
Achievement in Sustainability
Candidates for the Judges Award for Achievement in Sustainability were selected from all of the applications submitted.
Oliver Lofts, Boston, MA
Developer: WinnDevelopment, LLC, Boston, MA
Architect: The Architectural Team, Inc., Chelsea, MA
Historic Consultant: Epsilon Associates, Inc., Maynard, MA
Most Innovative Finance
Candidates for the Judges Award for Most Innovative Finance were selected from all of the applications submitted.
Minvilla Manor, Knoxville, TN
Developer: Southeastern Housing Foundation, Knoxville, TN
Architect: Allan Associates Architects PLLC, Knoxville, TN
Additional Information
The “Timmy Awards” are named in honor of J. Timothy Anderson, a native of Massachusetts and NH&RA member, who was an early innovator in the adaptive-reuse of historic properties and a staunch advocate for historic preservation. The awards were created to honor outstanding real estate projects that involve rehabilitation of older, historic buildings, primarily using state or federal historic rehabilitation tax credits. Scoring is based on overall design and quality, interpretation and respect of historic elements, innovative approach to construction and use of building materials, impact on the community, sustainability and financial and market success of the project.
Projects are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary panel of judges, comprised of individuals with backgrounds in historic preservation, architecture, real estate development, construction, public policy and economic development.
The judges for the 2012 awards include:
Josh Anderson, Cedar Bend Consulting
Lisa Craig, City of Annapolis
John Kelly, Nixon Peabody LLP
Nick Ratti, CohnReznick
Karl Stumpf, RTKL Associates Inc.
Brad White, Brad White & Associates
Descriptions of 2012 Timmy Award Winning Projects
Best Commercial/Retail/Non-Residential Project
Old Naval Hospital, Washington, DC
Developer: The Old Naval Hospital Foundation, Washington, DC
Architect: Bell Architects, PC, Washington, DC
Historic Consultants: Conservation Solutions, Santa Fe, NM & MacRostie Historic Advisors, LLC, Washington, DC
This $11 million project by The Old Naval Hospital Foundation, funded by federal historic tax credits and other resources, involved the historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a former federal naval hospital building and carriage house constructed during 1864-1866 into a community center called the Hill Center. Originally a 50-bed permanent hospital for seamen serving on the Potomac River and its tributaries, the property was later used for a variety of purposes. The main building was vacated in 1998. In 2000, a small group of concerned neighbors began an effort to try to see the facility restored, which eventually led to the creation of the foundation that undertook the project. Hill Center offers after-school programs for children, adult education classes, and space for offices, meetings, conferences, workshops, and other events. The carriage house is slated to become a restaurant.
Best Historic Rehabilitation Utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
(Small/Up to $5 Million Development Costs)
Thomas Edison Apartments, Covington, KY
Developer: AU Associates, Inc., Lexington, KY
Architect: PCA Architecture, PLC, Covington, KY
Developer AU Associates, Inc., of Lexington, KY, created 26 affordable apartments from the rehabilitation of this vacant former elementary school that was decommissioned in 2009 due to shrinking inner city populations and the movement of students to newer, better equipped schools. The $4.8 million project utilized federal and state historic tax credits and federal housing tax credits, trust fund monies, and a city loan capitalized by federal Community Development Block Grant dollars. The restored Art Deco style building was originally constructed in 1939 under the federal Works Progress Administration’s new school initiative.
Best Market Rate or Mixed-Income Residential
Beckstoffer’s Mill Loft Apartments, Richmond, VA
Developer: Better Housing Coalition, Richmond, VA
Architects: Urban Design Associates, Pittsburgh, PA & The Luchair Company, Staunton, VA
Historic Consultant: Ashley Neville, Ashland, VA
Better Housing Coalition, a local nonprofit, undertook the historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a former lumber mill to create a new EarthCraft-certified multifamily community containing 22 affordable loft and garden-style apartments. The $4.2 million project utilized federal and state historic tax credits, a grant from the city, and permanent debt. Constructed in 1925, Beckstoffer’s Mill was a custom woodwork lumber mill that was operated by three generations of the Beckstoffer family. After the company was sold the building was vacated, fell into disrepair, and became a blight on the community until acquired and renovated by Better Housing Coalition.
Best Historic Rehabilitation Involving New Construction
Bijou Square, Bridgeport, CT
Developer: Kuchma Corporation, Bridgeport, CT
Architect: Antinozzi Associates, Bridgeport, CT
This $29.6 million, two-phase project by the local Kuchma Corporation involved the historic rehabilitation of two existing buildings and the construction of a third new building as a vibrant mixed-use development. One of the structures renovated was the Bijou Theatre building, which opened in 1910 as a 540-seat silent movie house on the first floor and a ballroom and dance studio on the second and third floors. The second structure, the Jennings building, was constructed in 1911 as an automobile sales and service center. The renovated buildings now contain a 202-seat theater for movies, live performances, and hosted events; restaurants; an architectural studio; and offices. The new, five-story building, called 323 Fairfield, has 84 apartments and first floor retail space.
Most Innovative Adaptive Re-Use
Martinsville Lofts, Martinsville, VA
Developer: Landmark Asset Services, Inc., Winston Salem, NC
Architect: CJMW Architecture, Lynchburg, VA
Four companies joined to develop this $9.5 million project, which featured the historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a former furniture factory and ancillary buildings into 60 affordable apartments. The four companies, all based in Winston Salem, N.C., are Archetypes, LLC; Sari and Company; Scantland, Inc.; and KRP Investments, LLC. The factory building, constructed in 1929, was illustrative of the past prominent role of furniture making in this small community in south central Virginia. In 1929, the Martinsville Novelty Corporation factory was one of at least six local furniture manufacturers, producing small pieces of furniture (e.g., occasional tables, cabinets) called “novelty pieces.” Funding sources included federal and state historic tax credits, federal housing credits, and federal “exchange” program dollars.
Best Historic Rehabilitation Utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
(Medium/ $5-$15 million Development Costs)
Chatham Senior Apartments, Kansas City, MO
Developer: Landmark Investment Group, Kansas City, MO
Architect: Rosemann & Associates, PC, Kansas City, MO
Historic Consultant: Rosin Preservation, LLC, Kansas City, MO
Local developer Landmark Investment Group rehabilitated an historic former hotel building into 40 affordable apartments for seniors in this $9.5 million project. The project utilized numerous funding sources, including federal and state historic and housing tax credits and federal solar tax credits — 99 solar panels are installed on the roof. The development also received tax abatement because it is in an urban redevelopment district. The building was originally constructed as The Chatham Hotel, a classic example of 1920s apartment hotel construction located on the Broadway Corridor in the residential Old Hyde Park Historic District.
Best Historic Rehabilitation Utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
(Large/ Over $15 million Development Costs)
Blue Plate Artist Lofts, New Orleans, LA
Developers: HRI Properties, New Orleans, LA & JCH Development, New Orleans, LA
Architect: HCI Architecture, Inc., New Orleans, LA
JCH Development and HRI Properties renovated this 1940s former food processing plant into 72 affordable and market-rate loft apartments in a $25.6 million transaction utilizing federal and state historic tax credits, federal low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt financing, and other sources. Named after the famous Blue Willow china plate pattern, the low-rise building once served as a food processing facility for Blue Plate Sandwich Spread, salad dressing, and Luzianne tea. The building is one of the few examples of Art Moderne architecture in New Orleans, and features tracks along the corridors that display the art of residents.
Best Historic Rehabilitation Utilizing New Markets Tax Credits
Mayo 420 Building, Tulsa, OK
Developer: Wiggin Properties, LLC, Oklahoma City, OK
Architect: Kinslow, Keith & Todd, Inc., Tulsa, OK
Historic Consultant: Sikes | Abernathie, Architects, PC, Tulsa, OK
Oklahoma City-based Wiggin Properties, LLC redeveloped this vacant, dilapidated 10-story office building into a mixed-use facility in a $34.5 million project funded by federal new markets tax credits, federal and state historic tax credits, a HUD Section 223(f) mortgage, a soft loan from the city, and other sources. The facility includes 67 apartments on eight floors, a YMCA, a restaurant, and a community room and rooftop terrace. The building was constructed in 1910 during Tulsa’s oil boom as a five-story structure by the Mayo brothers, who added a five-story wing in 1914 and five more floors in 1917. The Mayo Furniture Store relocated in 1921, making way for retail tenants; oil companies occupied much of the office space above. In 1978, the Mayo family sold the property, and the building was closed and vacated in 1994.
Judges Award: Achievement in Sustainability
Oliver Lofts, Boston, MA
Developer: WinnDevelopment, LLC, Boston, MA
Architect: The Architectural Team, Inc., Chelsea, MA
Historic Consultant: Epsilon Associates, Inc., Maynard, MA
Utilizing nine different sources of permanent financing, including federal and state historic and housing tax credits, this $24.8 million LEED Platinum-certified project by WinnDevelopment LLC involved the adaptive reuse of two historic interconnected mill buildings into 62 affordable and market-rate apartments, including three artist live-work loft units for individuals earning 100% or less of the area median income. The stately red brick “Pickle” building was constructed in 1892 as a bottling and storage building for the Highland Spring Brewery and was later associated with the R and S Pickle factory. The five-story “Ditson” building, constructed in 1912 as a second bottling and storage building, was sold in 1925 to the Oliver Ditson Company, one of Boston’s oldest and largest music publishers.
Judges Award: Most Advanced Financial Structure
Minvilla Manor, Knoxville, TN
Developer: Southeastern Housing Foundation, Knoxville, TN
Architect: Allan Associates Architects PLLC, Knoxville, TN
This $7.2 million project by Southeastern Housing Foundation involved the rehabilitation of multiple 1913 townhome buildings into 57 units of permanent supportive housing. The transaction utilized a master tenant lease pass-through structure and many different federal, state, and local funding sources and the project received a 20-year payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement from the city.
About the Historic Tax Credit
Available nationwide, and instrumental in revitalizing urban downtowns as well as suburbs and rural communities, the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit is a tax incentive used by developers to help finance the renovation of historic buildings of all types for continued use as offices, apartments, hotels, stores, and other purposes.
About NH&RA
For more than 40 years National Housing & Rehabilitation Association has been providing an ongoing forum for professionals in affordable housing and historic rehabilitation to exchange information and build new business relationships. For more information on the “Timmy Awards,” the Fall Developers Forum or NH&RA, please visit our website at www.housingonline.com or contact Thom Amdur, 202-939-1753, tamdur@dworbell.com.
The 2012 J. Timothy Anderson Awards for Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation are co-sponsored by the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
