Work starts on Broadway Commons affordable housing apartment

Preparation work has begun on the Broadway Commons affordable housing project in Lorain after developers financially closed on the project late last week. Broadway Commons is a planned 62-unit apartment building for low- to medium-income residents that is being built by CHN Housing Partners. In addition to affordable housing, it will also offer support services to veterans and people facing homelessness. In a news release sent Wednesday, CHN, the city of Lorain and Emerald Development and Economic Network Inc, or EDEN, announced that preconstruction work on the project began this week. "The start of construction on Broadway Commons marks the start of a new chapter for a long-vacant lot, but more importantly, for the future residents who will call Broadway Commons home," Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley said in the release. "Each and every person deserves access to a safe place to call home and holistic support to work toward their goals, and I am very thankful for all the funders and partners making this a reality. I look forward to welcoming the residents of Broadway Commons home next year." The project at 2147 Broadway Avenue will be four stories tall and 54,000 square feet and will feature a community room with a kitchen, a computer room, bike storage, laundry facilities, a patio and an on-site property management office. The project is expected to cost $21 million and is primarily funded by federal 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits, or LIHTCs, provided through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. A number of other public and private organizations also provided funding, including Enterprise Community Partners, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Fifth Third Bank, the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, the Mental Health, Addiction & Recovery Services Board of Lorain County and the Nord Family Foundation. The Department of Veterans Affairs will provide vouchers for 12 veterans to live in the building, and Raise Up will provide vouchers for the rest of the residents. "Broadway Commons represents what is possible when organizations and communities come together around the belief that everyone deserves a safe, nurturing place to call home," said Elaine Gimmel, executive director of EDEN, in the release. "For veterans and other individuals who have experienced homelessness, the combination of affordable housing and supportive services provides the foundation needed to achieve stability and move forward." Broadway Commons will be co-owned by CHN and EDEN and CHN is both the general contractor and will serve as the building's property manager. Hiti, DiFrancesco and Siebold is the architect for the development. Broadway Commons is expected to finish construction and begin leasing in the fall of 2027.