Excellence in Real Estate Award Honors Projects that Revitalize Neighborhoods and Catalyze Further Development
Central City Integrated Health (CCHI) was recently honored with a Detroit Community Development Award for the renovation of the historic Saint Rita Apartments in Detroit’s North End neighborhood located at 35 Owen Street. Saint Rita Apartments received the 2019 Excellence in Real Estate award from Detroit LISC, the largest national community development intermediary, combining corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help community-based organizations revitalize their neighborhoods.
Cinnaire provided a $5.5 million Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investment and a $52,000 grant to support the renovation of Saint Rita Apartments. Additional financing partners include the City of Detroit; Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA); JP Morgan Chase; and Home Depot Foundation.
“The Detroit Community Development Awards shine a spotlight on individuals, businesses and organizations that are leading the way in transforming Detroit neighborhoods,” said Mark McDaniel, Cinnaire president and CEO. “Central City Integrated Health has a strong history of serving the Detroit community, providing support services to the City’s most vulnerable population with dignity and respect. This well-deserved honor recognizes their efforts in preserving a historic Detroit building while connecting services to individuals in need and spurring neighborhood revitalization.”
The renovation of the historic Saint Rita Apartments created 26 permanent, supportive apartment homes that serve formerly homeless individuals, veterans and those who have special needs. Saint Rita is designed to provide a variety of supportive services for residents. CCIH, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), serves as lead service provider. It provides comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health and services, in tandem with creating housing, employment and community reentry/jail diversion opportunities for Detroit and Wayne County residents. CCIH advances the City of Detroit’s goals to reduce homelessness by providing permanent stable housing through its rehabilitation of Detroit buildings into supportive housing.
“We are passionate about increasing the diversity of housing options in areas with growing development activity and rising rent costs,” said Ryan Lepper, CCIH President & CEO. “We look to decrease homelessness by providing well-built, supportive housing for those who may have been experiencing homelessness and/or have special needs. Our housing is not what usually comes to mind when you think ‘affordable housing.’ The materials and care we put into our buildings are testament to the care we have for our residents. Our most vulnerable populations deserve beautiful, safe homes.”
Additional project partners include development consultant Robert Zinser; Liberty Bank; Pastor Jim Holley; Premier Property Management; general contractor Joseph P. Early LLC; development consultant Development Finance Associates, Inc.; and architect Shelter Design Studio LLC.
Established in 2001, the annual Detroit Community Development Awards honor the residents, small business owners, real estate developers, organizations and others whose vision and leadership transform their communities into good places to live, work, do business, and raise families.
About Central City Integrated Health
Central City Integrated Health (CCIH) has a long history of providing evidence-based medical and behavioral health treatment and services, in tandem with creating housing opportunities for Detroit residents. CCIH advances the City of Detroit’s goals to reduce homelessness by providing permanent, stable housing. It is passionate about the rehabilitation of Detroit buildings into supportive housing, in order to increase the diversity of housing options in areas with growing development activity and rising rent costs. And it works diligently in assisting individuals with long-term homelessness or special needs by providing community-based support services so that they can maintain their housing. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, CCIH also provides comprehensive, primary medical, behavioral health and dental care to residents of Detroit and Wayne County. People are never turned away based on their inability to pay or their lack of insurance. For more information visit www.centralcityhealth.com.
