Vitus’ Atlantic City Townhouse property receives recognition for innovation in revitalizing affordable housing
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Vitus’ Atlantic City Townhouse renovation project was in the spotlight on this year’s Affordable Housing Vanguard Award list presented by The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA). These awards recognize newly developed or significantly rehabilitated affordable multifamily housing communities that showcase high-quality design and resourceful financing. Atlantic City Townhouse received this year’s Major Rehabilitation of an Existing Rental Housing Community Vanguard Award.
The revitalization of Atlantic City Townhouse was selected for the award after overcoming unique obstacles during the construction phase. The property had 175 units occupied by seniors, none of which were relocated during the overhaul of the property. An even larger-scaled challenge was retrofitting the 13 American with Disabilities Act accessible units, which required significant construction including wall removal and the inset of additional structural supports.
“We’re honored to receive the Vanguard Award for Atlantic City Townhouse, recognizing a high level of commitment and execution from our entire development team,” said Vitus Managing Director and Founder Stephen Whyte. “Our mission is not just to preserve affordable housing, but to provide the best possible living environment for residents. The financial support we received from R4 Capital and Citi Community Capital enabled us to perform an extensive renovation to a high standard of quality. We are also grateful for the leadership shown by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and their appreciation of the importance of preserving and restoring existing affordable housing in the state.”
NAHMA praised the Vitus management team on their innovative approach in supporting the property’s residents throughout the entire renovation process. The team provided support by setting up a hospitality suite that lent home comforts to residents while work was being completed in their apartments, offering special accommodation such as packing and unpacking to lessen burdens and implementing social service programs to keep residents occupied throughout the day.
“Renovating buildings can disrupt the lives of residents, particularly in senior housing communities. We work closely with our contractors and management company to create a tailored relocation plan that is sensitive to the needs of the community and that is communicated early to residents so that we minimize disruptions to their daily lives,” said Breana Brown, Vitus Asset Manager. “We feel that the effort we put into this process really helps residents see the positive impact we’ve made during the renovation of their homes.”
The Atlantic City Townhouse rehabilitation project included replacing roofing, windows, doors, water heaters and boilers on the structure built in 1980. Interior upgrades included replacement of cabinets, appliances, flooring and bathroom renovations. The Townhouse apartments’ update embodied environmentally friendly construction and energy-efficient housing, featuring high efficiency boilers, low-e glazing windows, solar panels and ENERGY STAR appliances.
“At Vitus, we seek out areas like New Jersey where the availability of quality affordable housing is at risk,” said Scott Langan, Director of Development for Vitus. “We work hard not just to acquire and preserve housing, but also to improve the lives of residents. We would like to thank the property manager Loscena Davis and her on-site staff for making Atlantic City Townhouse a great place to live.”
Vitus, along with this year’s four other Affordable Housing Vanguard Award winners, will be recognized at a ceremony at the NAHMA fall meeting in October in Washington, D.C.