BREAKING GROUND: NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL TRANSFORM HISTORIC HARROWER CLINIC FOR GLENDALE SENIORS
A community partnership offering equitable housing opportunities to seniors
GLENDALE, CA— Affordable housing developer Abode Communities and the City of Glendale broke ground today on the adaptive re-use of Harrower Village, a 40-home affordable senior housing multifamily building that is expected to open in late 2023.
“Glendale is stronger when we can ensure housing for our most vulnerable citizens living on fixed incomes,” said Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian. “In this moment when the housing crisis touches everyone, it is my honor to be here today as we make steps as a city to make housing affordable and available to all.”
The City of Glendale has been experiencing an exponential rise in rental rates, up 36.32% from 2021 according to rent.com. With an average rent of $4,472, housing affordability is out of reach for many.
“When we say yes to affordable housing, we are providing a place of belonging where residents can age in place with dignity,” said Holly Benson, President & CEO of Abode Communities. “The adaptive re-use of Harrower Village cements Abode Communities’ commitment to high-quality affordable housing in this community for decades to come.”
Harrower Village is named for The Harrower Laboratory and Clinic that was originally housed at this location in 1921. Over the past 100 years, the space had been used for a number of purposes including office and production space, and a school for special needs children until it was acquired by the City of Glendale in 2019. When complete, the adaptive re-use will qualify the site for the National Register of Historic Places.
Seniors will benefit from onsite resident services to improve health, promote housing stability, and support independence. Additional amenities include a central courtyard and onsite property management.
Abode Communities financed the development through a combination of 9% Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Historic Tax Credits in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners; permanent and construction loans made possible by Wells Fargo; and predevelopment funding by Abode Communities Housing Fund, a privately held featuring investments from California Community Foundation, Nonprofit Finance Fund and the Weingart Foundation.
Founded in 1968 in response to civil unrest, nonprofit affordable housing developer Abode Communities works to advance housing and social equity in California through the long-term ownership and operation of affordable housing. The organization has developed nearly 50 affordable and supportive residential communities with more than 2,700 homes for the benefit of 10,000 people including families, seniors, and people formerly experiencing homelessness. Its multidisciplinary work includes real estate development, architecture, property management, and onsite social services ̶ all of which work in synergy to strengthen neighborhoods, enhance livelihoods, and connect people and places.
