Saturday, August 21, 1999
Boston firm wins Lincoln Court rebuilding contract
Developer choice called key step
BY MARK CURNUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A Boston firm, The Community Builders Inc., has been selected from four candidates as the preferred development partner for the new Lincoln Court.
Last year, the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) won a $31.1 million Hope VI grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
CMHA is in the process of demolishing Lincoln Court and will rebuild — in conjunction with The Community Builders — the 52-building, West End public housing complex as a mixed-income community. Ten of Lincoln Court's buildings are down, and 12 others will be demolished by the end of October.
As developer, The Community Builders will be responsible for hiring local and national architects and contractors, selecting two Cincinnati-based project managers; and will own the buildings for 15 years, at which time CMHA will acquire the development. The Community Builders' proposal includes two local developers, Towne Properties and Dorian Development.
The Community Builders has developed several HOPE VI mixed-income communities, including former public housing-only sites in Boston, Louisville and Pittsburgh. In all, since 1964, the firm has worked on 170 affordable-housing projects totaling 14,000 individual housing units.
CMHA Executive Director Donald Troendle said the agency anticipates reaching a contract agreement with The Community Builders in October, which would be recommended to CMHA's Board of Commissioners for approval.
Mr. Troendle also said the selection of the developer is an important step toward furthering the housing redevelopment taking place in the West End.
“They're very good at what they do,” he said.
The new Lincoln Court will have 500 townhouses and apartments, down from 886 units.
This spring, CMHA filed for a $35 million Hope VI grant to demolish 21 buildings with 970 apartments in Laurel Homes, which is across Ezzard Charles Drive from Lincoln Court.
The city of Cincinnati has pledged more than $15 million to the rebuilding of Lincoln and Laurel.
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