Broward County Housing Authority, Carlisle Development Group Cut Ribbon on East Village Apartments

Oct. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- LAUDERDALE LAKES, FL – Less than two years ago, a 13-acre lot stood empty at 7481 NW 33rd Street in Davie. For decades, the lot held an outdated public housing development. But that had been bulldozed to make way for something new.

On Wednesday, October 10, from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., Broward County Housing Authority (BCHA) and Carlisle Development Group will cut the ribbon on East Village Apartments, a sparkling 155-apartment, $33 million affordable housing community, which will be home to working families making lives for themselves in Broward County.

“From concept to completion, East Village has shown what can be accomplished when organizations and local governments work together toward a common goal,” said BCHA Board of Commissioners Chair, Rico J. Petrocelli. “For many years to come, East Village will provide families with a great place to call home at an affordable price.”

Already leased to capacity, the townhomes and garden-style residences feature one-, two- and three bedroom floor plans with up to two-and-a-half bathrooms. East Village is comprised of eight three-story residential buildings, a community center and more than 300 parking spaces located behind the residences to allow for a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.

The townhome-style buildings are situated in front of a large park, with meandering paths connecting a large network of green spaces. One of the site's best features is a 20,000 square foot lake, crowning the view of Main Street.

Other community amenities include a swimming pool, large splash pad fountain, tot lot, computer lab, library and a fully equipped fitness center. BCHA and Carlisle designed the project to meet qualifications for the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Gold Certification.

Some of the green features include: low emission paints, adhesives, and carpets; water conserving plumbing fixtures; recycled products; Energy Star rated appliances and on demand tankless water heaters.

The South Florida Chapter of United States Green Building Council (USGBC) recently recognized East Village as being the Outstanding LEED for Homes – Multi-Family Project. Additionally, Multi-Housing News named East Village 2012 Silver Winner for Best New Development - Affordable.

“East Village is our third joint venture with BCHA,” said Matt Greer, CEO of Carlisle Development Group. “Our first community, Tallman Pines, was the first LEED Silver affordable housing development in Florida. Since then, we have continually strived to meet even higher standards in environmental and social stewardship, as well as providing affordable homes for working families and a special group of youth aging out of foster care.”

Davie benefits from a community like East Village because many households fall within affordable housing need parameters. East Village has 20 percent of its apartments designated for residents at 28 percent or less of AMI and 80 percent of the apartments are designated for residents at 60 percent or less of AMI.

“East Village is a great example of how partnerships can work to improve lives in our community,” said Davie Mayor Judy Paul. “This beautiful development not only benefits the residents of East Village, it also benefits the Town of Davie and Broward County.”

East Village was financed through funding provided by the Richman Group, Citi Community Capital, Federal Stimulus funds, a Town of Davie SHIP Loan and a Broward County HOME Loan.

East Village is one of three major developments for BCHA in the past two years, including $22.4 million, 76-unit high-rise Progresso Point in downtown Fort Lauderdale and BCHA’s first solo development, the $2 million Crystal Lake Townhomes in Hollywood.

The three developments account for approximately $20 million in local income, adding 294 jobs and delivering 241 new affordable housing apartments. In the past seven years, BCHA has pumped more than $120 million into the Broward County economy, while creating 731 affordable housing rentals.

For more information about East Village Apartments, visit www.eastvillagedavie.com.

About Broward Country Housing Authority
Founded in 1969, Broward County Housing Authority (BCHA) creates housing opportunities for nearly 12,000 county residents by utilizing public and private funding. It focuses on providing affordable housing through the ownership/management of properties, administration of rental subsidies and counseling of homeowners and prospective owners. Established under Chapter 421, Florida Statutes, BCHA is an independent special district of the State of Florida. For more information, visit www.bchafl.org.

About Carlisle Development Group
Founded in 1998, Carlisle Development Group is the third largest affordable housing developer in the country. With more than 80 projects representing $1.4 billion in total development costs, Carlisle’s portfolio of assets includes LEED-certified, mixed-use, transit-oriented, urban infill, historic rehabilitation, as well as mixed-income and market-rate housing developments. The firm’s unique social entrepreneurship philosophy and commitment to sustainability are integral parts of its business model. For more information, visit www.carlisledevelopmentgroup.com.