EMERALD HILLS: A 6 ACRE LOT THAT SITS EMPTY IN A POPULAR NEIGHBORHOOD

Emerald Hills is located on the corner of Dimond and Arlene in West Anchorage, close to schools, parks and a retail center. The owner would like to develop it in phases into a walkable neighborhood with up to 240 residential units for rent or sale.

However, many constraints and high costs mean that the project isn’t feasible, even though many in Anchorage desire this type of housing to be developed near retail centers.

Read the case study here.

MCCAIN LOOP: THE DIFFICULTY OF CREATING A TRIPLEX INSTEAD OF A DUPLEX

An affordable housing development agency recently struggled to develop a property on McCain Loop in Spenard. The two duplexes were fine, but the triplex proved to be incredibly challenging. It’s so prohibitive that small businesses and families instead opt to build duplexes on land that is zoned for higher density because there is less red tape.

Read the case study here.

CH’BALA CORNERS: DO MOA INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS BENEFIT THE CITY?

Ch’bala Corners is a new 86 unit senior and multi-family housing development at the intersection of Spenard Rd and 36th Avenue. During permitting for the first phase, developers were surprised to learn they would be responsible for the road upgrade as well, which would cost $340K additional to the project. This resulted in the developer having to absorb the cost of rehabilitating public infrastructure.

Read the case study here.

TRYING TO FIND HOUSING SUPPORT BEFORE BECOMING HOMELESS

Elsie has received rental assistance through a housing voucher that is expiring in a few months. She is trying to be proactive to line up new housing support to avoid having to leave her home, but it’s a real struggle. She is on Social Security Disability and is connected with her tribe, so receives plenty of assistance from a number of programs, but she keeps getting referred from one program to another. She wants a case worker to help her navigate the system, but they seem to be in short supply and not always knowledgeable about housing assistance. The clock is ticking and she’s getting worried.

Read the case study here.

BLOCK 96: EVEN WITH TAX INCENTIVES, AFFORDABLE RENT IS A STRETCH

Anchorage Community Development (ACDA) partnered with Debenham Properties to construct Block96 Flats downtown - the first 100% market rate apartment in the area in over 40 years. Even with a goal to build affordable market-rate units, there’s a slim margin in the budget to set rents low enough to be considered affordable. And that’s especially hard in Anchorage with our high building costs. This $11.6M project relied on a $1.8M investment and a 50-year ground lease from ACDA, as well as municipal tax incentives to create 48 studio and one-bedroom units.

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UNEXPECTEDLY THROWN BACK INTO THE ANCHORAGE RENTAL MARKET

John is a working professional, making $42K per year. He and his wife Michelle, who is taking online courses and stays home to care for their one young child, are long-terms renters. The family has been stably housed in the same duplex for the past five years. Recently, their landlord has decided to sell the duplex they’ve been renting for $1,100 per month. The family has 30 days to find another place to live. They haven’t had to navigate the Anchorage rental market in more than five years, so they’re not sure where to begin or what they can afford.

Read the case study here.