CLPHA Press Room

From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:

At its January 2026 meeting today, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Commissioners took significant steps toward redeveloping Loomis Courts and ensuring continued renovations at the Lathrop and Robert Brooks Homes sites.

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) selected as partner for Loomis Courts

The CHA Board approved the selection of Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) as the developer on the mixed-finance redevelopment of Loomis Courts, a 126-unit, two-building affordable housing community on the Near West Side. CHA will contract with POAH on the comprehensive rehabilitation of the property, including a significant renovation of all units, replacement of major systems to ensure the buildings’ longevity, and the construction of new property management offices and resident amenity spaces. The exterior and interior upgrades will preserve affordability, improve safety and usability, and modernize apartments for residents.

Loomis Courts is currently operating under a Project-Based Rental Assistance contract, which limits CHA’s ability to access federal funding for major repairs.

Leaseholders who relocated from Loomis Courts as early as January 2020 will have a priority return after rehabilitation. This timeline was developed in collaboration with a Loomis Courts planning committee of current and former residents and community stakeholders.

POAH is a nationally recognized non-profit developer with extensive experience in renovation, redevelopment and new construction of affordable housing. POAH presently works with the CHA on the preservation and rehabilitation of Levy House, a 57-unit senior building in Rogers Park, as well as managing project-based voucher contracts at multiple properties.

Lathrop Phase 1C to move forward

The CHA Board of Commissioners has cleared the way for completion of the third phase of the Lathrop redevelopment project. The board has approved an additional $4 million in CHA loan funds. The third phase will preserve seven residential buildings and one new construction building, delivering a total of 309 new and renovated mixed-income residential rental units.

The overall revitalization plan is a multi-phased, mixed-income, mixed-use redevelopment effort. The first two phases delivered 179 CHA units and 488 total units. The CHA board previously approved a maximum loan of $37 million in March 2024 but since that time, construction costs have significantly increased, resulting in a financing gap for this phase of Lathrop development to proceed. 

The financial closing for this project is anticipated in the Summer 2026 and construction is anticipated to start at the same time. 

Robert Brooks Homes Retrofit moves to phase III and beyond

The Board also approved an Architect of Record (AOR) services contract to KOO LLC for the Robert Brooks Homes Retrofit (Phases III-VIII). Six two-story row home buildings are currently being renovated as part of phase II of that project. In the next phase of that work, 38 two-story buildings at Brooks Homes will undergo comprehensive renovations, including new plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems. The Robert Brooks Homes development was built in 1943 and consists of 44 rowhouses. 

From HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Spotlight newsletter:

This month’s Spotlight article describes how Atlanta Housing partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine in its two Choice Neighborhoods sites to dramatically improve health outcomes for residents, many of whom have chronic health conditions. At University Homes, Atlanta’s first Implementation Grant awarded in 2015, this partnership resulted in the percentage of residents with medical homes (defined as having a regular place of healthcare other than the emergency room) increasing from 72% to 100%.  Atlanta’s second Implementation Grant, awarded in 2023, is already demonstrating strong progress among former Bowen residents with medical homes rates rising from 50% to 86%. These results go beyond access to medical care and impact residents’ economic mobility.  Choice Neighborhoods residents often report health conditions as a major barrier to employment and struggle obtaining or keeping a job due to major illnesses, lack of dental care, or chronic conditions. And for senior residents aging within public housing, providing access to care helps maintain their well-being and ensures they can remain in their homes as their health needs change.

Read HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Spotlight on Atlanta Housing's health partnership.

From the Spokane Housing Authority's press release:

The Spokane Housing Authority (SHA) has received two awards totaling $7.48 million from the Washington State Department of Commerce to develop Chalice Place, an 85-unit affordable housing project located at the intersection of North Wall and Country Homes Boulevard, adjacent to the Country Homes Christian Church. The development will serve seniors and individuals with disabilities, offering housing affordable to households earning less than 50% of the area median income.

$6.5 million, awarded from the Housing Trust Fund, will subsidize construction costs. $980,550, awarded through the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP), will be used to expand water supply, enabling high-density residential development on the urban infill site. SHA thanks Spokane County for partnering on the joint application for this CHIP funding.

In addition, SHA recently learned that the Washington State Housing Finance Commission ranked the project second in the Metro Pool for federal 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for 2026. SHA expects these tax credits to drive significant private investment and establish a strong public-private partnership.

SHA secured an option to purchase the land in early 2025 from the Country Homes Christian Church. The development was named Chalice Place to reflect the prominence of the chalice in the Church’s theology. This initiative aligns with SHA’s mission to create and sustain high quality affordable housing options that encourage individual prosperity and support healthy communities.

Construction on the project is intended to commence in fall 2026, with completion anticipated by spring 2028. The waiting list is not yet available. SHA is committed to a development process that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to our community’s needs.

To follow the development of Chalice Place and for more information about Spokane Housing Authority, follow the organization on Facebook or visit www.spokanehousing.org.

From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:

On this International Day of Clean Energy, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is proud to showcase its wide-ranging portfolio of clean energy projects that are redefining the role of public housing in environmental stewardship.

“At HACLA, we believe that the transition to a carbon-free future must be inclusive. We are moving beyond simple energy upgrades to create holistic, sustainable communities where every resident breathes cleaner air and lives in a more resilient home,” said HACLA President & CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez. “By integrating 100% building electrification, solar power, and smart climate solutions, we are not just reducing the environmental footprint of our city—we are directly lowering utility costs for families and improving the indoor health and comfort of our children and seniors.”

HACLA Clean Energy Projects:

• San Fernando Gardens "Smart Climate Solutions”: HACLA recently celebrated the completion of a Resiliency Center at San Fernando Gardens featuring a dedicated backup solar energy system. The Center provides a cooled safe haven for residents during extreme heat events and grid. Additionally, HACLA installed 448 energy-efficient air conditioning units, ceiling fans, and “cool roofs” to improve indoor air quality and temperature control. See this great work here.
• The Watts Rising Transformation: Through a $33 million investment from the California Strategic Growth Council, the Watts Rising Collaborative is establishing Watts as a a global model for urban sustainability. Key highlights includes the Solar Watts project, which has equipped over 50 homes with solar power, and the successful electrification of the Watts DASH bus fleet.
• Electric Mobility: HACLA has expanded affordable, zero-emission transportation through EV car-sharing programs at Rancho San Pedro, Pico Gardens, and for Section 8 FSS residents citywide. Furthermore, low- to no-cost Electric Bicycle Lending Program at Rancho San Pedro and Nickerson Gardens reduce air pollution while providing residents with mobility.
• Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future: Major developments at Jordan Downs and One San Pedro redevelopment are setting new benchmarks for public housing. Jordan Downs is the City’s second LEED Neighborhood Development and is building to LEED Platinum while One San Pedro will meet LEED Gold requirements. Combined, these sites will feature thousands of units with 100% building electrification, solar-ready roofs and widespread EV charging infrastructure to support a permanent carbon-free lifestyle.
• Portfolio-Wide Efficiency: HACLA’s city-wide retrofit campaign has already reduced water consumption by 27% through LED lighting and high-efficiency fixtures. HACLA’s Toilet Sensor Project, which uses real-time monitoring to detect leaks and trigger maintenance alerts, recently won the Advancing Water Efficiency in Affordable Housing award at the 21st Annual Green Gala & California Green Building Awards.

Reflecting HACLA’s leadership, President Castro Ramírez was recently recognized as a 2025 Visionary of the Year by Enterprise Community Partners, a distinction that underscores the entire agency's commitment to regional decarbonization.

“When public and private sectors unite, our families win,” added Castro Ramirez. “These partnerships allow HACLA to scale the climate solutions our residents deserve, ensuring a healthy, sustainable environment for every Angeleno we serve.”

From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:

Mayor Karen Bass joined with BRIDGE Housing – the leading nonprofit affordable housing developer on the West Coast – and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) today to celebrate the grand opening of Cypress View, a new affordable housing community within the $1 billion redevelopment of the Jordan Downs public housing complex in Watts.

Mayor Bass attended the ceremony alongside HACLA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez and BRIDGE President and CEO Ken Lombard, along with dignitaries, service providers, financial partners, residents, and community members.

Cypress View features 119 new apartment homes ranging up to 5 bedrooms in size, including 106 units affordable for families earning 30%-80% of the Area Median Income and one manager’s unit. The remaining 12 apartments are offered at market rates. Twenty units are reserved for previous Jordan Downs residents.

“The grand opening of Cypress View represents the culmination of our work to comprehensively address issues related to housing, homelessness and the affordability crisis impacting so many across our city,” said Mayor Bass. “Since taking office, we have accelerated the building of affordable housing units, increasing the city’s housing supply and helping Angelenos stay in the communities they love, in the city they love. I want to thank HACLA CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez, and all those involved in this project, for not only creating much needed housing — but building a community.”

The community was built in conjunction with Pearl Park, a beautiful new community green space, and represents a key milestone in the transformation of the 1940s-era Jordan Downs public housing complex into a model urban village offering mixed-income housing, open space, retail, and resident support services.

"HACLA’s strategic $9.5 million contribution to Cypress View has served as a critical catalyst, leveraging over $90 million in federal, state, and private investment to advance the holistic revitalization of Jordan Downs,” said HACLA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez. “Also, by exceeding HUD’s local hire benchmarks, we are creating a powerful economic ripple effect that extends far beyond housing to include job creation, infrastructure, and parks. This milestone reinforces our unwavering commitment to the Watts community, ensuring that legacy residents remain at the heart of a stable, sustainable, and affordable neighborhood they are proud to call home."

“The opening of Cypress View marks an exciting milestone in the decade-long revitalization of Jordan Downs that will serve families and strengthen the Watts community for generations to come,” said BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard. “This achievement is the result of an outstanding public-private partnership, addressing L.A.’s urgent housing crisis while providing residents with the dignity of a stable home they can afford.”

Cypress View is BRIDGE Housing’s fourth community in the sweeping Jordan Downs redevelopment, following Kalmia Rose (76 apartments), Cedar Grove (115 apartments), and Park Place (80 apartments). BRIDGE plans to develop three additional communities as part of the HACLA-led revitalization, one of the nation’s largest urban revitalization projects.

Cypress View reflects the shared vision of BRIDGE Housing and HACLA of pairing thoughtful design with meaningful community partnerships. Supportive services will be delivered by El Nido Family Centers, a trusted nonprofit that has served Angelenos since 1925. El Nido’s services include food distribution, case management, community building opportunities, and connections to resources to help residents achieve independence.

“For decades, El Nido has worked alongside families in Watts, and we’re proud to be part of the Cypress View community,” said Liz Herrera, CEO of El Nido Family Centers. “Since 2019, our partnership with BRIDGE Housing, HACLA, and the Jordan Downs community has been grounded in trust, respect, and a shared commitment to safety, stability, and access to opportunity.”

Amenities at the three-building development include community rooms, bicycle storage, in-unit and shared laundry facilities, onsite resident parking with EV chargers, and landscaped outdoor courtyards with BBQ grills. Adjacent Pearl Park offers water features, a children’s play area, shade structures, and an open lawn. The community is conveniently located within a short walk to transit at the Jordan Downs Plaza retail center, a medical clinic, pharmacy, high school, and public library. The marching band from Jordan High School provided musical entertainment at today’s festive ribbon-cutting.

“We are proud to partner in the revitalization of Jordan Downs, ensuring long-term affordability, preserving community, and delivering top notch housing and amenities to its residents,” said Hao Li, Originator, Citi Community Capital. “This project highlights the power of public-private partnerships, with Citi playing a key role in its success.”

“With the support of state investments from the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) and Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) programs, Watts residents are benefitting from affordable housing as well as safer streets, access to parks and transit, a new shopping center and grocery store, and a neighborhood families can take pride in," said Erin Curtis, Executive Director of the California Strategic Growth Council, which awarded $77 million to the overall Jordan Downs revitalization project and $35 million to the Watts community. “This incredible neighborhood transformation shows what happens when we invest in people, honoring their voice and building a healthier, more connected neighborhood.”

Mary Goodlow, 46, has called Jordan Downs home for most of her life. After decades of living in Jordan Down’s legacy public housing, the mother of three recently moved into a new apartment at Cypress View.

“At first, I wasn’t sure what the changes at Jordan Downs would mean for long-time residents like me. Fortunately, moving to Cypress View has been a wonderful experience,” Goodlow said, citing her outdoor porch and new appliances as some of her favorite features. “I’m excited for Jordan Downs to continue improving and providing opportunity for this community, because we deserve it.”

A significant proportion of the workforce that developed the project comprised workers and businesses who meet the HUD Section 3 Worker and Section 3 Business eligibility criteria. Over 180 new employment opportunities were created for Section 3 workers, including Jordan Downs and Watts residents. Additionally, over 50% of labor hours were performed by Section 3 Workers, exceeding HUD’s 25% labor hour benchmark goal. Section 3 Businesses received over $17 million in subcontract awards.

Young residents at Cypress View will have the opportunity to join the Building Bridges program, a summer skilled trades program created by BRIDGE Housing in partnership with Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. High school aged residents will receive a paycheck as well as hands-on experiences in welding and construction while working toward industry-recognized certifications.

Jordan Downs was built as semi-permanent housing for workers during World War II and converted into public housing the following decade. HACLA, BRIDGE Housing, and The Michaels Organization are leading the redevelopment of Jordan Downs. The ongoing redevelopment will provide 1,500 units of mixed-income housing, including one-for-one replacement of existing units, and a 115,000 square-foot retail center. The community also includes a robust job training and social services platform, a new 50,000+ square foot Community Center and nine acres of open space.

Cypress View was designed by architecture firm KTGY, and the general contractor was Portrait Construction. In addition to HACLA, BRIDGE Housing’s financial partners included U.S. Bank, Citibank, California Department of Housing and Community Development, and California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.