By Adam Parker

The Post and Courier

July 7, 2007

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., announced plans Friday to address health disparities between the state's white and black populations and promote more affordable housing. Clyburn will deliver the keynote speech at the National Conference on Health Disparities, to be held at the Charleston Marriott July 19-21.

The conference will provide a forum for health care professionals, policymakers and members of the public to explore possible solutions to a growing national problem, said Clyburn, the House majority whip. The conference is sponsored by the Medical University of South Carolina and South Carolina State University, in conjunction with the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Congressional Black Caucus Brain Trust. "Health disparities have been an historic problem in our country," he said. "It will be impossible to eliminate them overnight."

South Carolina is among several states with pronounced health disparities. MUSC and South Carolina State have been working together for years on initiatives to close the gap, according to David Rivers, director of public information and community outreach for MUSC. Rivers asked Clyburn to help secure long-term funding solutions, and the congressman said he is working on a $10 million earmark for each of the two universities, money that would be used to treat prostate cancer in blacks. Clyburn appeared Friday at Seven Farms Apartments on Daniel Island, a complex developed by the Humanities Foundation, to promote affordable housing.

Humanities Foundation President Tracy Doran said her nonprofit agency could not afford to secure new property this year because costs have skyrocketed as grant funds have diminished and rent income has remained static. It will be a tough couple of years, but she said she is optimistic that Clyburn and others will help. "Affordable housing has to happen," she said.

Call it sensibly priced housing or entry-level home ownership. Call it housing for the young professional or the newly retired. But don't label it affordable housing, necessarily.

Parkside Condominiums on Daniel Island is being marketed to qualified buyers with specified incomes, but those buyers can earn up to 150% of the area's median income and would not qualify for most federal low-income housing. Single households can qualify with an annual income of $59,250, which is more than many Charleston area professionals make.

"They're not the 'haves' and they're not the 'have nots.' They're regular people who work every week and they have jobs and they don't usually think there's any kind of program out there to assist them," said Cathy Kleiman, a consultant for Daniel Island Real Estate.

Kleiman said she thinks the term "affordable housing" might be a misnomer in the case of Parkside, even though the development is priced below market value for Daniel Island.

"I call it the changing face of affordable housing," Kleiman said. "People who would never ever consider themselves eligible in that category are now eligible. I think the words 'affordable housing,' just because of history, makes people think low-income housing, and people making $59,000, $69,000, $89,000 a year do not relate to that thought.

"This is the most amazing and unique program, because it actually is a benefit to a lot of the population that we consider moderate or middle income who often fall between the cracks."

Condominiums at Parkside range from $208,000 to $244,000 for two- and three-bedroom units of less than 2,000 square feet. Single-family homes on Daniel Island range from $700,000 to almost $2 million, and many condos are selling for $300,000 and more.

Matt Sloan, chief operating officer of The Daniel Island Co., said Parkside Condominiums represents the third tier of Daniel Island's affordable housing plan, which includes low-income rental, moderate-income rental and home ownership.

The master-planned community entered into an agreement in 2001 with the city of Charleston to reserve 5% of residential units on the island for affordable housing.

Toward that goal, Daniel Island is offering rental units at Seven Farms Apartments, which was developed by the Humanities Foundation and targeted at people making no more than 50% of the area's median income. Another affordable housing option is Blakeway Street Apartments, rentals for people of moderate income offered through the city of Charleston’s Housing Authority.

Parkside Condominiums is a private initiative between The Daniel Island Co., Daniel Island Real Estate and Trammell Crow Real Estate to make home ownership on Daniel Island more accessible. Trammell Crow purchased the property at a discount from The Daniel Island Co. and is accepting a lower-than-usual return on its investment. Trammell Crow is also paying 1% of the purchase price in closing costs to qualified buyers.

Other incentives for buyers are discounted commissions. Daniel Island Real Estate is charging a 4% commission instead of its standard 6% commission plus a 1% marketing fee.

"Everybody's kind of taken a cut to try to make this work," said Nichole Orvin, builder program manager for Daniel Island Real Estate.

Sloan said about half of the 84 units have already sold.

"We sold a fair amount of these to teachers in Mount Pleasant," he said. "We also sold a sizeable amount to seniors who are no longer wage-earners."

Part of the aim of Daniel Island's affordable housing program is to offer housing on the island for people who work on the island and nearby. The majority of those people have jobs that are service-based.

Tammie Hoy, executive director of the nonprofit Lowcountry Housing Trust, said most people working in service-related jobs on Daniel Island could not afford to live there without the affordable housing program. Those with families can also send their children to The Daniel Island School, an elementary and middle school that opened last year adjacent to Parkside Condominiums.

"I personally think there should be a balance of housing in the community," Hoy said. "We don't just have jobs for CEOs of companies; we have a range of jobs."

While there are housing programs available for low-income families, Hoy said there aren't a lot of incentives for basic wage earners or seniors.

"There really is this growing population of young professionals or families that continue to find it difficult to find decent and affordable housing in the Charleston market within their price range because wages have stayed stagnant, but housing has continued to escalate," she said.

Housing costs in the Charleston area have increased 150% since 1995, Hoy said, but wages have increased only about 16%. Builders also tend to focus on price points of $300,000 and up.

"You really are shutting out a lot of people to purchase, making the American dream out of reach for the average citizen," Hoy said.

Kleiman said she thinks Parkside Condominiums will be a benefit to a new slice of the population that can use a break.

"This is for young couples, empty nesters, teachers, anybody who just really wants to buy but is renting," Kleiman said. "It's just an unbelievable opportunity."

Kathleen Dayton is a staff writer for the Business Journal.
E-mail her at kdayton@charlestonbusiness.com.

"What role should design play in providing for basic human needs? Should design be considered a luxury or a necessity?" These are the fundamental questions posed in the fascinating book, Design Like You Give a Damn, published by Architecture for Humanity, which promotes socially conscious architecture. The book presents extraordinarily innovative solutions for emergency housing needs arising from conflict, as in Kosovo, or natural catastrophe, like a tsunami. For an architecturally conscious city like Charleston—where the cost of real estate and housing has risen tsunami-like over the last decade -- the book's basic question hits home. And it hit home very clearly one day for Linda Ketner.

It was the late 1980s, and, as the former chair of Crisis Ministries and the first chairperson of the mayor's new Council on Homelessness (now called the Council on Homelessness and Affordable Housing), Ketner, a philanthropist and social activist, was tackling affordable housing in Charleston. The crisis was that Crisis Ministries, the local homeless shelter, was doing too good a job; shelter guests were finding jobs and putting their lives back together, but they couldn't afford area rents when it came time to move on. In Ketner's view, the need was urgent; there was no time and no money to waste on the finer points of design. "Let's just find decent housing-- who cares what it looks like," she advocated, butting heads with architects such as Christopher Rose, who had designed new transitional housing near the shelter. Then one day, Ketner sat down with a man named Joe.

"Joe had been at the shelter for a year and a half," she recalls. He had gotten sober, found a job, and qualified for one of the new transitional units Rose had designed. Joe invited Ketner over the day he moved in. "I stopped by, and after he gave me a tour, he sat down and started weeping. I said, 'Joe, what's the matter?' and he said, 'I can't believe people care enough about me to give me a beautiful home.' And after that," Ketner adds, "I never again believed that design didn't matter. It has an impact."

Joe's new abode was a well-thought-out efficiency with a front porch—nothing palatial or splashy, just one of the six Charleston Cottages on the corner of Huger and Meeting streets that Rose modeled after traditional freedman's cottages on the upper peninsula. Joe wasn't the only one who thought his home was beautiful. The cottages, built in 1988 for $12,000 each using structured insulated panels and volunteer labor, earned Rose a National Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a distinction typically attached to dramatic symphony halls and museums and names like Philippe Stark, Michael Graves, and Frank Gehry. Rose was lauded for his ingenious use of vernacular form and materials, for expanding interior volume with a vaulted ceiling under a simple pitched roof, and for expanding usable space with the porch’s inexpensive square footage. Yet what mattered to Joe was not that his house was featured in Architecture Today and on the front page of USA Today, but that he felt at home there, that he could relax on his porch and revel in a restored sense of dignity.

Building on a Legacy
"This notion that everyone has a right to beauty is more true in Charleston than elsewhere in the country," notes Charles Chase, the former city architect and preservation officer who is now director of the San Francisco Architectural Heritage Alliance and a consultant on the updated Charleston Preservation Plan. "There is far greater attention to aesthetic detail here, especially with regard to how we house and incorporate people from broad economic spectrums in the life and livelihood of the city." In fact, like about everything else in Charleston, this notion is rooted in the city's history. Many coveted South of Broad buildings now commanding top dollar were originally built as tenements in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Robert Mills Manor, one of the country's first public housing projects built under Roosevelt's New Deal, was designed by the famed Albert Simons, who followed a simple articulation of traditional forms using indigenous materials. The longevity of these buildings reflects the pride and care that went into their design and construction.

Yet despite Charleston's precedent of mixed-income neighborhoods with attention to design at all price points, those trying to maintain that legacy face formidable challenges. "It's a huge, bureaucratic mountain to climb to do affordable housing at all, much less to do it well," notes Chase. Negotiating appreciated land values, zoning constrictions, and the demands of design review boards (sometimes multiple ones, as on Daniel Island, where plans must pass the Daniel Island and City of Charleston boards of architectural review) pose significant hurdles for developers. Then there's the long process of putting together funding.

Nonetheless, folks like Tammie Hoy of the Lowcountry Housing Trust (LHT) and Debbie Waid, John Henry, and Tracy Doran of the Humanities Foundation are determined mountain climbers, experts at finding every funding crevice to get leverage for the cause. Fortunately, they don't climb alone. Mayor Riley and his staff, along with private developers such as Matt Sloan of The Daniel Island Company, Vince Graham of the I'On Group, and Tim Keane of Keane & Company, are shaping dynamic visions of what inclusive communities can look like. And local architects such as Rose and Whitney Powers continue to push the creative edge to ensure that "affordable" isn't code for substandard.

Minding the Gap
But what does affordable mean? Tammie Hoy and Debbie Waid know the numbers. Both can rattle off statistics and acronyms of various federal, state, and local agencies faster than you can say "HUD;" they understand the complex minutia of legislative bills, Low-Income Tax Credits, and other funding mechanisms. And they can do the math: $56,400 is the median Charleston-area income for a family of four; $169,000 is the upper-limit affordable house price for that income, according to federal guidelines (HUD recommends spending no more than 30 percent of income for housing, meaning a home purchase price no more than two-and-a-half times one’s annual salary); $270,000 is the median house price in Charleston.

What qualifies as "affordable housing," however, is a little less clear. The term is relative, depending on what one earns and what's available on the local market. On Daniel Island, for example, a $200,000 house could be considered affordable housing, as could a $200-per-month apartment on the peninsula. There are, however, three standard tiers for targeting affordable housing: low-income housing is typically for those earning 30 percent or less than the Area Median Income (AMI); moderate income housing is for those earning 50 to 80 percent of AMI; and middle-income, or workforce housing, is for those earning 80 to 120 percent of AMI.

"There's an alarming gap between what folks earn and what the local housing market provides and is producing," says the energetic, fresh-faced Hoy, who has a personal passion for the issue. "I grew up in public housing in Chicago," she adds. "I've always appreciated the opportunity it gave us. My mother worked two jobs, and before we got into public housing, we lived in substandard housing. I know how hard it is to do homework when the roof leaks and it's cold." Today, Hoy helps to provide that same opportunity to hundreds of others. As executive director of the LHT, Hoy is an educator, lobbyist, and funding magician for affordable housing. Since its inception two years ago, the trust has funneled $1.3 million into regional developments, helping to create 324 units of affordable housing.

Corner of Main & Main
The new Seven Farms Apartment complex on Daniel Island is one of the recent recipients of LHT funds. Located in the heart of the upscale Daniel Island business and residential community, the handsome 75-unit complex is fully leased with a waiting list. Its one-, two-, and three-bedroom, apartments rent from $461 to $632 a month, and the income cap for an individual lessee is $19,700 a year, or 50 percent of the Charleston metro AMI.

Seven Farms, developed by the nonprofit Humanities Foundation, represents the first phase of Daniel Island’s commitment to set aside five percent of its residential units for affordable housing. "We're the only planned community that I'm aware of to do so," says Matt Sloan. “Gaining community acceptance (for the project) was challenging, but having excellent design made it easier. Seven Farms is basically on the corner of "Main and Main," yet the fact that it's affordable housing isn't apparent," Sloan adds.

“Architecturally, it’s on par with anything out here.”

Funding the project wasn't easy either. Debbie Waid had to find at least seven sources to augment equity from the Low-Income Tax Credit program to cover Seven Farms' $8.7 million price tag. "I look for anything and everything," says Waid, referring to government and private funding resources. But what she doesn't look for are ways to skimp on quality. "We build housing that we wouldn't mind living in," Waid affirms. "We care about appearance, because it matters to our tenants and to the community."

New School
Over the years, Whitney Powers of Studio A Architecture, who also serves on the LHT board, has carved out a niche designing affordable housing projects. In her bread-and-butter work creating high-end custom homes on the barrier islands and her commercial and other residential projects, Powers is known for her progressive vision tempered with regional sensibility. And she brings the same forward thinking to affordable design. After Hurricane Hugo, when Charleston Affordable Housing asked Powers to design a scattered site development on Race Street, she obliged with four contemporary duplexes modeled after the classic Charleston single. "It was fun to do," says Powers. "I made them whimsical, yet they fit into the neighborhood."

After the old Cooper River bridges were removed, the city hired Powers to renovate nine affected houses, which were then designated for first-time homebuyers. Her most recent project involved the combined renovation and new design for the long-vacant Immaculate Conception School on Coming Street, now Radcliffe Manor, providing 63 apartments for residents aged 55 and older with incomes no greater than 40 percent of AMI. Powers enhanced the "campus," adding a community building with large inviting windows fronting the street. The result is definitely not old school. As was the case on Daniel Island, neighbors resisted the project, and the endeavor entailed two years of "heart-rending work," admits Powers, whose design won a South Carolina AIA Award. "It's a terrific challenge to work within strict parameters -- you have to seek creative opportunities. You have to make it happen."

Inclusive Communities
The fact that the National Association of Home Builders recently ranked Charleston the nation's 28th least affordable housing market in the nation (relative to median income) doesn't sit well with developer Vince Graham. Granted, his highly successful I'On neighborhood in Mount Pleasant is doing its part to skew the numbers, but, as board chairman of the LHT, Graham has a broader vision for what communities should and could look like. "It's about being inclusive rather than exclusive," he says. "It takes all income levels to make a vibrant community."

On a dense acre of downtown infill, Graham's I'On Group is completing phase one of Morris Square, a mixed-use development of single-family homes, townhomes, commercial space, and parks, with five percent of its 64 units, indistinguishable from its market-rate ones, to be earmarked "affordable." "This is not a new concept," he says, speaking of incorporating diverse uses into a neighborhood. "I believe suburbs are a passing fad, and we're just getting back to business-as-usual, pre-World War II, pre-gated communities. It's possible to plan so the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and the attention given to parks and streetscapes draws people from the private realm into the public, where the bonds of community are formed." Graham's vision may sound lofty, especially as the NIMBY ("not in my back yard") objections of vocal neighbors on Daniel Island or those near Radcliffe Manor still faintly echo. Even so, those committed to creating well-designed affordable housing are making headway toward more inclusive neighborhoods. When Tracy Doran, president of the Humanities Foundation, passes by Seven Farms Apartments every morning as she drives her kids to school, she thinks to herself, "Wow. I love the way it addresses the corner, all the brick and balconies -- it's as pretty as anything else out there.

"People ask me how we can afford to spend so much on our projects," she says. "It's simple: we can't afford not to. Our projects have to stand up to public scrutiny and the test of time. We want to create buildings that people are proud to live in, that are part of the fabric of the community. They have to be beautiful."

The Humanities Foundation has received a $7,000 grant from the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, a philanthropic organization that serves eight Atlantic-bordering counties.

The money will help fund the foundation's ShelterNet program, which helps residents who are in danger of eviction or the loss of an essential utility service.

In 2006, the program provided $73,663 in financial assistance to about 455 households in the Charleston tri-county area.

Charleston, S.C. – The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina has awarded a grant totaling $7,000 to Charleston-based Humanities Foundation®. Awarded through the Community Foundation’s Open Grants program, the grant will help fund Humanities Foundation’s ShelterNet program, which provides emergency financial assistance to families and individuals who are in immediate danger of eviction from their homes or loss of essential utility service.

The grant, which will help ShelterNet assist households with their rent, mortgage or utility bills, addresses the increasing need for assistance, caused in part by recent unprecedented increases in natural gas and electric costs. In 2006, ShelterNet was able to assist a total of 455 Lowcountry households temporarily struggling to maintain basic housing needs.

Coastal Community Foundation began its Open Grants program in 1985 to distribute grants to nonprofit organizations in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. The ultimate goal of the program is to improve the quality of life in those counties by supporting the network of nonprofits that serve the community, generally providing support in six program areas: arts, education, environment, health, human needs and neighborhood/community development.

Since its founding in 1992, Humanities Foundation® has been a leader in addressing the affordable housing crisis. In addition to its primary mission to develop affordable housing it also provides a range of services for residents, and in the community, that serve to alleviate problems associated with homelessness and affordable housing. The Humanities Foundation focuses its efforts in four major areas – housing development, by serving as a nonprofit developer; emergency financial assistance for housing needs; education and awareness; and technical assistance to those seeking guidance in developing affordable housing. For more information or to make a donation to ShelterNet, please visit the Humanities Foundation Web site at www.humanitiesfoundation.org.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston-based nonprofit organization Humanities Foundation® hosted the dedication of its newest affordable apartment complex, Seven Farms Apartments on Daniel Island, Thursday.

Speaking to the crowd of nearly 200, Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., commented on the collaborative effort, saying, “Together, we’ve put together something very special. You’re looking at a beautiful structure, and just look at where it is located – in the heart of the town, across from churches, down the street from a beautiful new public school, next to a preschool, and near wonderful parks and playgrounds. Seven Farms Apartments will set a wonderful example for the rest of our country in showing how affordable housing can be an integral part of any community.”

Other dignitaries participating included William Dudley Gregorie, S.C. state field office director, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Dr. Eugene Laurent, director, S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority. Noted iron work artisan Philip Simmons, who was born and raised on Daniel Island, attended the ceremony and was honored by Humanities Foundation when Tracy Doran, president of the organization and co-founder, announced that the community center will be named in his honor.

“This is an exciting day for our area and the future of affordable housing,” commented Doran. “We hope this model may serve as an example for other areas trying to make housing more accessible and affordable for hard working individuals who are struggling against the high cost of today’s housing market.”

Located at 305 Seven Farms Drive in the heart of the Daniel Island business and residential community, the complex features one-, two- and three-bedroom fully equipped apartments and common areas including a computer center, playground and covered picnic area.

The invocation and dedication were offered by the Very Reverend John B. Burwell, rector of The Church of the Holy Cross on Daniel Island, and Dr. Don Flowers, Jr., pastor of Providence Baptist Church on Daniel Island. Guests and island residents were treated to a performance by the Daniel Island School choir and were offered tours of a newly completed apartment and the community center. Some prospective residents learned while on site that their applications had been approved and they would soon be calling Seven Farms Apartments home.

Daniel Island Community Fund also was thanked for their grant to offer a variety of programs and services to the residents of Seven Farms Apartments. The programs, which will include financial and credit counseling for adults and after school and mentoring programs for children, will take place in the complex community center, designed and furnished by Daniel Island Design.

Humanities Foundation obtained funding for Seven Farms Apartments through a variety of sources, including the federal low-income housing tax credit program and state HOME funding. Other sources of funding include the City of Charleston, the Lowcountry Housing Trust, First Federal, The Richman Group, NBSC and the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

Since its founding in 1992, Humanities Foundation® has been a leader in addressing the affordable housing crisis. In addition to its primary mission to develop affordable housing units, it also provides a range of services for residents, and in the community, that serve to alleviate problems associated with homelessness and affordable housing. The foundation has developed over 720 rental units of affordable housing – with another 72 units under construction and 72 units in pre-development - providing homes for more than 1,100 low-to-moderate-income families, including those with special needs such as the disabled, single mothers and senior citizens.

For more information about Humanities Foundation, please visit www.humanitiesfoundation.org.

Seven Farms Apartments was dedicated last week by city of Charleston officials and the Daniel Island Co. It marks the first of three planned developments on Daniel Island that will help the upscale planned community meet a requirement of making 5 percent of its housing stock available to low-income buyers or renters. A second project that will offer below-market-rate homes is under construction. Geared toward first-time buyers, the 84-unit Parkside Condominiums is expected to welcome residents near the end of the first quarter of 2007.

Mary McCarthy tried not to be fussy while searching for an apartment.

But throughout the process, the Ohio native tried to assure her five-year-old son, Ethan, that they wouldn't end up too far from his uncle's Awendaw home, the boy's favorite place to play hide-and-seek.

Now, a month after her search began, McCarthy has been able to keep that promise thanks to the first affordable housing development to come online on Daniel Island.

Seven Farms Apartments is scheduled to be dedicated today by city of Charleston officials and the Daniel Island Co. It marks the first of three planned developments that will help the upscale planned community meet a requirement of making 5 percent of its housing stock available to low-income buyers or renters.

McCarthy, a nurse's aide, hopes to move in around Jan. 1.

Her new home, a 72-unit apartment complex at Daniel Island Road and Seven Farms Drive, is already fully leased to tenants like McCarthy who must qualify for the housing. Tenants had to make less than $20,000 for a single person and $28,000 for a family of four.

A few blocks away, a second project that will offer below-market-rate homes is under construction. Geared toward first-time buyers, the 84-unit Parkside Condominiums is expected to welcome residents near the end of the first quarter of 2007, said Robert Morgan, managing director of Trammell Crow Residential, the developer.

Qualified purchasers have already stepped up to secure about 25 percent of the units, which are priced between $209,000 and $244,000. Those buyers cannot earn more than $59,250 to $91,350, depending on the size of their households.

While a $244,000 condo is not generally viewed as affordable, the median price for a comparable property on Daniel Island so far this year is $355,500, according to the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

The third affordable development also involves Trammell Crow Residential, which will build a 28-unit apartment complex on the same property as Parkside for the Charleston Housing Authority.

Project organizers say the efforts will help diversify the growing residential base and give Daniel Island service workers who don't earn big incomes an opportunity to live closer to their jobs.

"You have to have people who can logistically get to their jobs," said Tracy Doran, president of the Humanities Foundation, a nonprofit group that developed the Seven Farms Apartments.

Businesses on the island provide about 550 retail jobs, according to the Charleston Area Metro Chamber of Commerce's Center for Business Research.

What:
Dedication for Seven Farms Apartments, a 72-unit affordable apartment complex on Daniel Island, developed by Humanities Foundation.

Speakers and Dignitaries Participating:
Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., featured speaker;
William Dudley Gregorie, S.C. Field Office Director, Department of Housing and Urban Development;
Dr. Eugene A. Laurent, Director, South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority;
Philip Simmons, noted iron work artisan born and raised on Daniel Island; and
Tracy Doran, President, Humanities Foundation

Invocation and Dedication:
The Very Reverend John B. Burwell, Rector, The Church of the Holy Cross, Daniel Island;
Dr. Don Flowers, Jr., Pastor, Providence Baptist Church, Daniel Island

Entertainment:
Daniel Island School Choir

When:
Thursday, December 7, 2006
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. Dedication
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Refreshments and Tours

Where:
Corner of Daniel Island Drive and Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island

Contact:
Allison Leggett, E. Boineau & Co., (843) 881-5804 or aleggett@eboineauandco.com.
Lisa Jeffries, Humanities Foundation, (843) 856-4120 or ljeffries@humanitiesfoundation.org

To prearrange interviews or for more information, contact Allison Leggett at (843) 881-5804 or aleggett@eboineauandco.com.

The Daniel Island-based nonprofit organization Humanities Foundation will host the dedication of its new 72-unit affordable housing complex, Seven Farms Apartments on Daniel Island, Thursday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m.

The event marks a huge expansion of affordable housing on Daniel Island. Currently there are five families living in townhomes made affordable through the efforts of The Daniel Island Company. In addition, through a joint effort by The Daniel Island Company, Trammel Crow Residential, and the Charleston Bank Consortium, the 84-unit Parkside Condominiums is under construction on Blakeway Street behind the Daniel Island School. An additional 28 units in that complex will be owned by the Charleston Housing Authority and will be available as rentals.

According to Humanities Foundation spokesperson Allison Leggett, 55 residents have been approved and are ready to move into the Seven Farms Apartment complex.

Community and affordable housing leaders from the local, state and federal levels will attend the dedication to mark the occasion. Scheduled speakers include Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.; William Dudley Gregorie, S.C. Field Office Director, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Dr. Eugene A. Laurent, Director, South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority. The public is invited for the ceremony, which will be followed by refreshments and tours of the property.

Located at the corner of Seven Farms and Daniel Island Drive, in the heart of the Daniel Island business and residential community, the complex features one-, two- and three-bedroom fully equipped apartments and common areas including a computer center, playground and covered picnic area.

Daniel Island Company spokesperson Julie Dombrowski praised the availablility of the rental units as "a wonderful and important addition to the mix of residential options on the island."

"The current growth in our downtown is a significant part of the island’s development," she added, "and the addition of new residents to this area is an important part of this evolution."

The Daniel Island Community Fund awarded a grant to offer a variety of programs and services to the residents of Seven Farms Apartments, which will include financial and credit counseling for adults and after school and mentoring programs for children.

Humanities Foundation obtained funding for Seven Farms Apartments through a variety of sources, including the federal low-income housing tax credit program and state HOME funding. Other sources of funding include the City of Charleston, the Lowcountry Housing Trust, First Federal, The Richman Group and NBSC.

The design of the property, highlighted by a corner building with brick façade, meets the design and quality standards and criteria applied to all buildings on Daniel Island. Buildings were designed by Looney Ricks Kiss of Nashville, Tenn.

Ranging in size from 710 to 1,142 square feet, the apartments rent for $461 to $632 per month. Managed by InterMark Management Corp., the apartments are available to families with a household income at or below 50 percent of the area median income, which, for an individual, means the income limit is $19,750 and for a family of four it is $28,200. Application requirements also include proof of income, SLED criminal background check and rental/mortgage history check.

For more information about Humanities Foundation, please visit www.humanitiesfoundation.org.

The Charleston-based, nonprofit organization Humanities Foundation will host the dedication of its new 72-unit affordable housing complex, Seven Farms Apartments, at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 on Daniel Island. The event will celebrate the first affordable housing on Daniel Island.

Community and housing leaders from the local, state and federal levels are expected to attend. Scheduled speakers include Charleston Mayor Joe Riley; William D. Gregorie, S.C. field office director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Dr. Eugene A. Laurent, director of the state Housing Finance and Development Authority.

The public is invited for the ceremony, which will be followed by refreshments and tours of the property.

Located at seven Farms and Daniel Island Drive, the complex features one-, two- and three-bedroom, fully equipped apartments and common areas, including a computer center, playground and covered picnic area. The design of the property, highlighted by a corner building with brick facade, meets the design and quality standards and criteria applied to all buildings on Daniel Island. Buildings were designed by Looney Ricks Kiss of Nashville, Tenn.

Ranging in size from 710 to 1,142 square feet, the apartments rent for $461 to $632 per month. Managed by InterMark Management Corp., the apartments are available to families with a household income at or below 50 percent of the area median income, which, for an individual, means the income limit is $19,750 and for a family of four it is $28,200. Application requirements include proof of income, SLED criminal background check and rental / mortgage history check.

The Daniel Island Community Fund has awarded a grant to offer programs and services to the residents of the apartments, which will include financial and credit counseling for adults and after-school and mentoring programs for children.

The foundation obtained funding for Seven Farms Apartments through a variety of sources, including the federal low-income housing tax credit program, state HOME funding, city of Charleston, Lowcountry Housing Trust, First Federal, The Richman Group and NBSC.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston-based nonprofit organization Humanities Foundation® will host the dedication of its new 72-unit affordable housing complex, Seven Farms Apartments on Daniel Island, Thursday, December 7, at 11:00 a.m.

The event marks the first availability of affordable housing on Daniel Island. Community and affordable housing leaders from the local, state and federal levels will attend to mark the occasion. Scheduled speakers include Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.; William Dudley Gregorie, S.C. Field Office Director, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Dr. Eugene A. Laurent, Director, South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority. The public is invited for the ceremony, which will be followed by refreshments and tours of the property.

Located at the corner of Seven Farms and Daniel Island Drive in the heart of the Daniel Island business and residential community, the complex features one-, two- and three-bedroom fully equipped apartments and common areas including a computer center, playground and covered picnic area.

In an effort to enrich the lives of the families who live in the community, Daniel Island Community Fund has awarded a grant to offer a variety of programs and services to the residents of Seven Farms Apartments, which will include financial and credit counseling for adults and after school and mentoring programs for children.

Humanities Foundation obtained funding for Seven Farms Apartments through a variety of sources, including the federal low-income housing tax credit program and state HOME funding. Other sources of funding include the City of Charleston, the Lowcountry Housing Trust, First Federal, The Richman Group and NBSC.

The design of the property, highlighted by a corner building with brick façade, meets the design and quality standards and criteria applied to all buildings on Daniel Island. Buildings were designed by Looney Ricks Kiss of Nashville, Tenn.

Ranging in size from 710 to 1,142 square feet, the apartments rent for $461 to $632 per month. Managed by InterMark Management Corp., the apartments are available to families with a household income at or below 50 percent of the area median income, which, for an individual, means the income limit is $19,750 and for a family of four it is $28,200. Application requirements also include proof of income, SLED criminal background check and rental/mortgage history check.

Since its founding in 1992, Humanities Foundation® has been a leader in addressing the affordable housing crisis. In addition to its primary mission to develop affordable housing units, it also provides a range of services for residents, and in the community, that serve to alleviate problems associated with homelessness and affordable housing. The foundation has developed over 730 rental units of affordable housing – with another 72 units under construction and 72 units in pre-development - providing homes for more than 1,500 low-to-moderate-income individuals, including those with special needs such as the disabled, single mothers and senior citizens.

Charleston-based nonprofit organization Humanities Foundation recently hosted the dedication of its newest affordable apartment development, The Shires Apartments, in West Ashley.

"Affordable housing is a national problem, and national problems have to be addressed and solved at the local level," Charleston Mayor Joe Riley said at the dedication. "The Shires Apartments is a wonderful example of addressing this need in an attractive, positive way that shows how the community can come together to give more people a safe and comfortable place to call home."

Riley was the featured speaker at the event, and the Rev. Rufus Cochran offered the invocation and dedication. Others partcipating included District 7 Councilman Louis Waring, Geona Shaw Johnson, director of Charleston Housing and Community Development; William Dudley Gregorie, S.C. State Field Office director, Department Housing and Urban Development; and Valerie Williams, deputy for programs, S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority.

"It's exciting to see the community join together in fulfilling the foundation's mission of providing affordable housing in our area," said Tracy Doran, president and co-founder of Humanities Foundation.

Shires, at 1020 Little John Drive in Charleston, is a new 72-unit apartment development designed for families. The complex features one-, two- and three-bedroom units fully equipped with the modern conveniences and offers a computer center, playground, covered picnic area, and laundry facility. Ranging from 710 to 1,142 square feet, the apartments rent for $461 to $632 per month.

"We are pleased to offer The Shires Apartments as an affordable housing option for low-income families in West Ashley and the Greater Charleston area," said foundation executive director, John Henry. "Being a part of the Ardmore/Sherwood Forest neighborhood, our residents will have the opportunity to contribute to a deep-rooted, flourishing community."

The apartments are available to families with a household income at or below 50 percent of the area median income, which, for an individual, means the limit is $19,750 and for a family of four it is $28,200. Application requirements also include proof of income, SLED criminal background check and rental/mortgage history check. For information, visit www.humanitiesfoundation.org

Daniel Island, where the average price for a single-family home exceeds $700,000, has low-cost housing on the front burner of its homebuilding activities.

Last year, the Daniel Island-based Humanities Foundation announced the forthcoming Seven Farms Apartments, a 72-unit apartment complex for low-income families. The complex is well into construction.

A new condominium development will further add to the island's affordable housing efforts.

The Daniel Island Co. and Trammell Crow Residential have teamed up to develop Parkside Condominiums, an 84-unit condominium community being built on the island's southeast side. The condos consist of two- and three-bedroom units ranging from $209,000 to $244,000.

First-time homebuyers earning up to 150% of the Charleston area's median family income are Parkside Condominiums' targeted audience. The maximum annual incomes for qualified buyers range from $59,200 for a family of one to $91,350 for a family of five.

The Charleston Bank Consortium, consisting of banks plus local, state and federal entities dedicated to increasing homeownership for low- to moderate-income families, will screen interested buyers to see if they qualify for Parkside's homeownership assistance program.

Qualified buyers will have their names placed in a drawing conducted by Daniel Island Real Estate, which is selling the condos. Those who are selected could receive an interest-free second mortgage to offset the down payment.

Residents must live in the condos for at least five years before they can sell their units.

To price the condos at below-market value, Daniel Island Co. sold the property to Trammell Crow Real Estate at a discount. Trammell Crow Residential is accepting a lower-than-usual return on its investment, said Robert Morgan, managing director of Trammell Crow Residential, which developed Daniel Island's Island Park Condominiums, where prices range from about $900,000 to more than $1 million.

Additionally, Daniel Island Real Estate's sales associates are taking reduced commissions on the condo sales.

Construction on the condos is expected to be complete by spring 2007.

Living and working within close proximity is the hallmark of a master-planned, smart-growth community such as Daniel Island, Morgan noted.

Parkside Condominiums offers Daniel Island employees who otherwise could not afford to live on the island the chance to enjoy the smart-growth life by becoming Daniel Island homeowners, said Renee Reinert, secretary of the Daniel Island Business Association, which includes about 110 businesses.

"We think it's a great opportunity for employees who work here to live here," said Reinert, who asked Daniel Island business owners to inform their employees about the condos. "And this benefits employers because their employees are right here on Daniel Island."

Currently, 72 condos are available. Daniel Island Real Estate has received 42 applications from employees of Daniel Island businesses, said Reinert, a Daniel Island Real Estate sales associate.

Within the Parkside Condominium development, Trammell Crow will build 28 additional units, apartments the Charleston Housing Authority will rent to families earning 80% to 150% of the area's median income. The apartments will look like the condos. Monthly rents are expected to range from $1,050 to $1,200.

"We feel good about what we're doing," Morgan said. "This is an exceptional housing opportunity."

Dennis Quick is senior staff writer for the Business Journal. E-mail him at dquick@charlestonbusiness.com.

Two noteworthy events occurred Friday at The Shires Apartments, tucked inside the West Ashley's Admore/Sherwood Forest neighborhood.

One was the dedication of the new 72-unit affordable housing community developed by the Humanities Foundation. The other was that Deloris Bobo got a glimpse of what her new home will be like, hours after learning that she was approved to lease of the units.

Bobo arrived at The Shires before the speakers and the guests. She was excited and wanted to handpick her first-floor, one-bedroom apartment, which she hopes to move into in two and a half weeks.

Bobo currently lives in a two-story townhome in North Charleston, but the stairs are getting too difficult for the 54-year-old, who suffers from arthritis, diabetes and lung and heart problems. She learned of The Shires from her friend Ethel Thompson, who lives in Sherwood Forest and who witnessed the complex's construction, which took about a year.

From seeing only its exterior, Bobo selected a unit facing the parking lot instead of woods as she thought it would allow more sunshine to come in. She informed property manager, Rhonda Staley of her choice before the dedication began.

In a parking lot too new to be striped, dignitaries spoke with enthusiasm about The Shires and the importance of affordable housing in the community. Featured speaker, Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley said the lack of affordable housing is a national problem and, like all national problems, must be dealt with at the local level. "It isn't just, it isn't American, it isn't and shouldn't be Charleston," he said. Riley said the affordable housing provided by Humanities Foundation "captures the spirit of American enterprise."

The foundation has leased more than 720 units to families with household incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income since its founding in 1992. According to the nonprofit organization, individuals must make below $19,750 and families of four must make below $28,200 to apply. Other application requirements are proof of income, a rental/mortgage history check and a SLED criminal background check.

Monthly rent at The Shires ranges from $461 for a one-bedroom unit to $632 for a three-bedroom unit.

"This will give 72 families a wonderful place to live in a wonderful neighborhood in our city," Riley said, "It's a very proud day in Charleston."

John Henry, executive director of Humanities Foundation, presided over the event. "Being a part of the Ardmore/Sherwood Forest neighborhood, (The Shires) residents will have the opportunity to contribute to deep-roooted, flourishing community, enriching their own lives and the lives of their neighbors," he said.

Other speakers were Tracy Doran, president of Humanities Foundation; William Dudley Gregorie, director of the S.C. Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Geona Shaw Johnson, director of the city's Department of Housing and Community Development; Louis Waring, Charleston City Councilmember for District 7; and Valerie Williams, Deputy for Programs of S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority.

The Rev. Rufus Cochran led the invocation and dedication.

Attendees enjoyed a cake with an icing illustration of the three-story apartment building before taking tours of two of the units. It was Bobo's first look inside.

She smiled as she crossed the threshold with a cane, and proceeded to check out each corner and kitchen appliance. Bobo, who was born and raised in West Ashley and who has a daughter in the area, deemed The Shires Apartments a good place to call home.

CHARLESTON, S.C.–Charleston-based nonprofit organization Humanities Foundation® hosted the dedication Friday of its newest affordable apartment development, The Shires Apartments located in West Ashley.

“Affordable housing is a national problem, and national problems have to be addressed and solved at the local level,” Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley commented at the dedication. “The Shires Apartments is a wonderful example of addressing this need in an attractive, positive way that shows how the community can come together to give more people a safe and comfortable place to call home.”

Mayor Riley was the featured speaker at the event and the Reverend Rufus Cochran offered the invocation and dedication. Others dignitaries participating included District Seven Councilmember Louis Waring; Geona Shaw Johnson, Director, City of Charleston Housing and Community Development; William Dudley Gregorie, S.C. State Field Office Director, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Valerie Williams, Deputy for Programs, S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority.

“It’s exciting to see the community join together in fulfilling the foundation’s mission of providing affordable housing in our area,” commented Tracy Doran, president and co-founder of Humanities Foundation. “Every new apartment means a family not previously served has an attractive, affordable place to live. Ideally, they become more engaged members of our community and enhance and strengthen our neighborhoods as a result.”

Located at 1020 Little John Drive in Charleston, Shires is a new 72-unit apartment development designed for families. The complex features one-, two- and three-bedroom units fully equipped with modern conveniences and offers a computer center, playground, covered picnic area and laundry facility. Ranging in size from 710 to 1,142 square feet, the apartments rent for $461 to $632 per month.

“We are pleased to offer The Shires Apartments as an affordable housing option for low-income families in West Ashley and the greater Charleston area,” commented foundation executive director John Henry. “Being a part of the Ardmore/Sherwood Forest neighborhood, our residents will have the opportunity to contribute to a deep-rooted, flourishing community, enriching their own lives and the lives of their neighbors.”

Designed to offer attractive living options to lower income families, the apartments are available to families with a household income at or below 50 percent of the area median income, which, for an individual, means the income limit is $19,750 and for a family of four it is $28,200. Application requirements also include proof of income, SLED criminal background check and rental/mortgage history check.

Since its founding in 1992, Humanities Foundation® has been a leader in addressing the affordable housing crisis. In addition to its primary mission to develop affordable housing units, it also provides a range of services for residents, and in the community, that serve to alleviate problems associated with homelessness and affordable housing. The foundation has developed over 720 rental units of affordable housing – with another 72 units under construction and 72 units in pre-development - providing homes for more than 1,100 low-to-moderate-income families, including those with special needs such as the disabled, single mothers and senior citizens.

The specter of Tropical Storm Ernesto swirled over North Charleston last Wednesday as the Lowcountry Housing Trust awarded more than $300,000 to agencies working to create local affordable housing.

A fast-closing storm seemed an appropriate symbol for an issue that challenges local non-profit and governmental agencies and jeopardizes the American dream of affordable rental or home ownership.

"The real estate boom has left many deserving individuals behind," said Vince Graham, Lowcountry Housing Trust board chairman and local developer. "The Trust seeks to secure and distribute funds that make it possible for hardworking families to purchase their own homes in this desirable community. Today’s distributions of grants will go a long way to helping many deserving families."

The Rev. Bill Stanfield of Metanoia, a North Charleston non-profit affordable housing group, acknowledged the impending deluge to stress the importance of working together. His group received $50,000 to provide affordable housing opportunities in the Chicora/Cherokee neighborhood.

"If you’re worried about flooding, don’t worry, we’re on higher ground," Stanfield said.

He said communities have the option to stand together on lower ground, where people get overwhelmed and shut out, or to work together and move themselves to higher ground, where people who are struggling can stay together, do better and stay dry.
"Higher ground is something that takes work from all of us," Stanfield said. "All of us must be committed to not staying on lower ground where developers are just in it for profit and nothing else, where city municipalities don’t seem to care about communities that are struggling the most. Lower ground is where people who can’t get a leg up never have an opportunity for their own assets and higher ground is the complete opposite of that."

Today’s "lower ground" is America’s scarcity of affordable housing. Housing costs have far outpaced personal incomes throughout the Lowcountry and nationwide in recent years. Today, one-third of American families spend at least 30 percent of their income on housing, which meets the federal definition of an "unaffordable" burden, according to writer Michael Grunwald of the Washington Post.

His Aug. 27 story, "The Housing Crisis Goes Suburban," cited a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies report which found that 15 million families spend at least 50 percent of their income on housing, which qualifies as a "critical" financial burden under federal guidelines. Consequently, affordable housing is a more serious burden today for low- to moderate-income Americans than taxes, Social Security or gas prices.

A severe shortage of affordable housing stock, coupled with congressional inaction over the past 20 years, has exacerbated the crisis, Grunwald wrote. Workers increasingly have to commute to their jobs from outlying "affordable" communities. This increases traffic congestion, adds to pollution and severely degrades families since parents can’t spend quality time with their children.

One factor that inhibits development of safe, affordable housing is "snob zoning," according to Grunwald. Elite communities employ zoning regulations such as density restrictions, minimum-lot requirements and parking limits to discourage multi-family or even modest single-family housing.

But some developers now recognize the importance of including "workforce" housing to promote healthy communities and are reserving a percentage of their housing stock for affordable units. This is a concept endorsed by North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, who was keynote speaker at the Aug. 30 Lowcountry Housing Trust awards ceremony.

"Affordable housing is not what it used to be," Summey said. "It’s not gigantic high-rise projects. It’s integrating people into existing neighborhoods and giving them the opportunity to live there, to share ­­­­amenities, and to pay taxes. But the cost of affordable housing has risen dramatically over the years, and one of the funding mechanisms we’re starting to look at is assessing value to every newly constructed community that’s built and saying, "Mr. Developer, you will either build a segment in affordable housing or you will contribute so that others can do it."

Substandard housing doubly punishes the poor, Summey said.

"One of the issues that’s always disturbed me is that the people who can afford to pay the least for air conditioning pay the most," he said. "By putting someone in a home that is well built, environmentally friendly and easier to maintain, they may save $50 to $100 a month. That can be the difference in their quality of life."

Summey said governments must find new ways to make affordable housing a reality for everyone.

"The government that works today is the one that thinks outside the box," the mayor said. "You’ve got to find new, original concepts. It may not work but you don’t know if you don’t try."

It’s the "begat theory," said Summey, noting that Metanoia’s housing initiative in Chicora/Cherokee can transform the neighborhood.

"When this area is finished, it will be a star," he said. "Stars draw attention. It’s biblical. A lot of people don’t like politicians to talk about religion but if I’ve got a house that’s falling down, in two years the house next to it won’t be standing. But if I build a new house, in two years there will be a better house next door.

"In changing communities, it’s the begat theory. One change leads to another. So, let’s go out and begat. Let’s begat this entire community and every area around here. I can’t make Chicora/Cherokee Coosaw Creek, but we can make it the best community it can be."

Lowcountry Housing Trust grant recipients included:
· Charleston Area CDC -- $40,000 for Sterling Homes development to provide home ownership opportunities for families below 50 percent of average median income in Charleston;
· Charleston Habitat for Humanity -- $30,000 for housing for an elderly couple in North Charleston;
· Humanities Foundation -- $50,000 for Ivy Ridge Apartments to provide affordable multi-family rental housing in North Charleston;
· Metanoia CDC -- $50,000 for its Scattered Site Housing to provide home ownership opportunities in the Chicora/Cherokee neighborhood of North Charleston;
· Pastors Inc. -- $50,000 for Ebenezer Social Action Rental Housing Program to provide affordable family rental in Charleston;
· Sea Island Habitat for Humanity -- $50,000 for Canal Place, which will provide Habitat homes for very low-income families in Hollywood, S.C.;
· United Methodist Relief Center -- $42,000 for its Houses on the Move and Elderly Transportable Cottages programs, which provide affordable rental for citizens of rural Charleston County.

"As existing federal and state funding sources continue to decline, local communities must find creative ways to raise funds to finance area housing needs," said Tammie Hoy, executive director of Lowcountry Housing Trust. "We think today’s grants prove the need is great, and this community’s willingness to respond is just as great."

Hoy’s non-profit organization was founded last year and aims to provide a consistent funding source for creation, rehabilitation and preservation of affordably priced housing in the tri-county area. It is one of more than 300 housing trust funds operating nationwide and works with area municipalities and governmental agencies to identify funding sources.

Sharon Snook hopes to do something almost unheard of on Daniel Island. Rent a quality, three bedroom apartment for just $632 a month. The Hanahan resident and single mother of two is among the first applicants for a unit in Daniel Island’s new Seven Farms Apartments complex, an affordable housing initiative of the Humanities Foundation. Snook started working on the island about a year ago. In the morning, you’ll find her serving up coffee and breakfast items at Moo-Na Lisa. In the afternoon, she works for the Abbott Law Firm on Seven Farms Drive. Both her children attend school on Daniel Island.

"The opportunity is just unreal to be able to live on the island," said Snook while mixing up a vanilla latte for a customer at Moo-Na Lisa. "I pay $810 a month where I am now. So this would be just a great savings and so much more convenient."

Paige Braswell, Closing Coordinator for Daniel Island Real Estate, shares Snook’s enthusiasm for the affordable housing initiatives on the island. Also a single mother, she is interested in purchasing one of the Parkside Condominiums currently being offered through a partnership between the Daniel Island Company, Trammell Crow Residential, and the Charleston Bank Consortium. The units are located directly behind the new Daniel Island School on Blakeway Street. As part of the program, Braswell could qualify to buy a unit if she meets certain income requirements. The initiative offers assistance in the form of below market pricing, an interest-free second mortgage (approximately $21,000) that will offset down payment expenses and will not need to be repaid until the unit sells, reduced closing costs, and low interest rate financing. A possible third mortgage is also available to those who are at 80% of the HUD median income.

"This mortgage will also be like the second mortgage," said Nancy Fabian, Executive Director of the Charleston Bank Consortium, in an email response to the Daniel Island News. "Zero percent interest, non-repayable as long as the home buyers follow the resale and recapture guidelines. This would give the homebuyer an additional $21,500 towards closing costs or sales price reduction."

Preference for Parkside Condominiums is given to first time home buyers or those who have been displaced from their homes.

"I never thought I’d be able to afford anything out here," said Braswell, who is currently renting a townhome on Pierce Street. "But this just gives me an opportunity to own and it’s just great."

"It’s an opportunity for home ownership but also for these folks to live the Daniel Island dream and have their home appreciate like so many other folks who buy out here on the island," said Robert Morgan of Trammell Crow, the company constructing the condominiums.

The other "affordable" rental offering on the island is Blakeway Apartments, which are part of the Parkside Condominium project. Scheduled for completion in early 2007, the units are also being built by Trammell Crow and will be "seamlessly" mixed into the development. A professional management company will be hired to oversee the project. Rents for the units are expected to be between $1050 and $1200 per month.

The Daniel Island Business Association is hoping to get the word out to other island employees like Snook and Braswell. They’ve launched an "information drive" to publicize affordable housing opportunities for island employees. DIBA members Steve Smith, Renee Reinert and Doug Coupe are spearheading the effort by going "door to door" to let local businesses know about each of the three available housing programs. Smith outlined the offerings and application process for DIBA members at their monthly meeting last week.

"It’s a great opportunity and something we can all do as businesses to help our employees," said Smith at the meeting. "But also to shape the future of Daniel Island as well."

Smith and crew have made presentations to teachers at the Daniel Island School, employees at the Daniel Island Club, and to other area businesses. In addition, they have held "sign-up" sessions at Daniel Island Real Estate to help applicants through the process.
"Our goal is to take as many applications as we can," said Smith. "We have actually been sitting down with folks to help them fill out their applications ensuring that every ‘i’ is dotted and every ‘t’ is crossed because if they don’t fill out the application correctly, it is rejected."
According to Smith, the Humanities Foundation already has 135 names on a list for the 72 apartments available at their complex, located at the intersection of Daniel Island Drive and Seven Farms Drive. Smith encouraged island workers to get their applications filled out and completed as soon as possible so they would have a "head start" on the process. Qualifying applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, he said.

"It’s been interesting to learn that many Daniel Island employers pay wages above the maximum income requirements for the Seven Farms Apartments, especially when it comes to dual incomes," added Smith. "But we have found a good mix of people who qualified to rent apartments and also a number of people who may qualify for the condominium project."

"The response so far has been very positive," said Reinert, who is also a Daniel Island Real Estate agent. "We have had numerous people excited about all of these opportunities."

Matt Sloan, Chief Operating Officer for the Daniel Island Company, served as guest speaker at the DIBA meeting last week. Sloan praised the organization for taking the lead role in educating the business community about the island’s affordable housing initiatives.

"Helping an employee find a home on this island is a special thing," commented Sloan, whose company has provided financial assistance to employees purchasing homes on the island. "I have been fortunate enough to do that over the last ten years…I have employees who have done very well here…they’ve built up a substantial amount of net worth. The Parkside opportunity represents just that for (DIBA) employees. The rental side is a little tougher because of the income levels, but even still if you can help someone who is making that income level get out here and have their kids in the new (Daniel Island School), I just think that’s a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Dan Kingsbury, Broker-in-Charge at Daniel Island Real Estate, was also present at the DIBA meeting and commended Sloan for his efforts to help employees acquire housing.

"I don’t know of a better way to build loyalty," said Kingsbury. "It’s pretty powerful."

Sharon Snook hopes to feel at least a tiny bit of that "power" if she officially gets a chance to move to the island. At a time when escalating real estate values have made it increasingly hard to live "the American dream", Snook, Braswell and other interested island employees are one step closer to getting their own piece of the pie.

Tom Ratzloff contributed to this story.

Affordable housing on Daniel Island has been controversial since the Charleston City Council approved a general outline of the Affordable Housing Plan on Oct. 30, 2001, "over the objections of petition-wielding residents who questioned both the concept and the details of the plan," according to a Charleston Post & Courier story.

The Affordable Housing Plan was developed out of agreements that were reached back in the early 1990s, shortly after the island’s annexation to the City of Charleston in 1991. The Guggenheim Foundation, which then owned the island, hired a team of New York architects and planners to develop Daniel Island’s Master Plan. Guggenheim Foundation President Dr. James A. Hester had definite ideas about how the island should be developed. Hester embraced the ideas of the "New Urbanism" movement in architecture and urban planning, and he had a deep personal appreciation for the natural beauty of the area, having lived in Charleston as a boy. According to news reports at the time, Hester wanted a plan that would incorporate environmental preservation with humane urban design, and include a variety of housing options for people at various income levels. The housing would include affordable housing for the island’s middle and lower-income workforce. City officials, including Mayor Joe Riley, agreed with these concepts.

A summary of News & Courier reports at the time and a review of source documents explains the process. The Guggenheim Foundation created the Daniel Island Development Co. to develop the island. The Daniel Island Master Plan was approved by the City Council in 1993 and a comprehensive Development Agreement was executed in 1995 (pursuant to a 1991 Memorandum of Understanding). The agreement called for Daniel Island Development Co. to sell 20 acres to the City of Charleston for affordable housing. It was also to use 10 percent of its profits to set up a fund with the Trident Community Foundation to support affordable housing and minority and small-business development, and to help ease any negative effects on low- to moderate-income areas near Daniel Island. The 10-percent-of-profits pledge was nullified in 1997, when the Guggenheim Foundation and the Daniel Island Development Co. sold 3,000 acres to The Daniel Island Co., a new company headed by Frank Brumley. (The Daniel Island Development Co. dissolved, never having made a profit because of high costs in putting in roads and other infrastructure.) Brumley re-negotiated the 10-percent pledge, agreeing that 5 percent of profits would go to the fund, and reaffirming the commitment to sell 20 acres to the city.

The 2001 Affordable Housing Plan calls for the developers to sell 20 acres to the city at cost for scattered site affordable housing (as previously pledged), and states that the developer’s goal is for 5 percent of all residential units built to be affordable to low and moderate income families. With 4,500 residential units planned for Daniel Island, the 5 percent would equal 225 affordable housing units.

The plan calls for three programs to provide affordable housing to families earning up to 150 percent of the area’s median income (AMI), defined at the time as $46,300 for a family of four: A Home Ownership Program would target families with incomes of 80 percent ($37,050) to 150 percent ($69,450) of AMI , with a goal of 75 single family homes or attached townhouses, priced from $175,000 to $225,000. A Rental Housing Program would target families with incomes ranging from 60 percent ($27,780) to 80 percent ($37,050) of AMI, with a goal of 75 subsidized units. This rental housing could consist of units in townhome facilities or in small scale multifamily facilities (duplexes or triplexes) scattered throughout the community. Each facility should also include non-subsidized units. And finally, a Multifamily Rental Housing Program would provide housing for individuals and families whose income is less than 60 percent ($27,780) of AMI. The plan calls for 75 units to be developed and set aside for such families, utilizing the low-income housing tax credit program. The plan calls for integration of these units in such a way that they are not identifiable as low-income units, by developing 200 to 300 multifamily rental units in several locations and including the 75 subsidized units in them. Qualifying families would pay rent equal to about 30 percent of their monthly income. The units would remain available to qualifying families for 30 years for the housing tax credits.

Of course, the development of Daniel Island was well on its way by the time the Affordable Housing Plan was adopted, and controversy had already erupted about affordable housing. In 2000 and 2001, the Daniel Island Company, working with the non-profit Humanities Foundation, came up with a proposal for a 190-unit multifamily facility to be located adjacent to the Town Center, including 76 Affordable Housing Units that would be rented to families with incomes at or below 60 percent of AMI. However, in March 2001, the South Carolina Housing Finance Authority did not award the necessary low-income housing tax credits for the project.

Subsequently, in February 2005, another project was announced, this one a 72-unit affordable housing development on Daniel Island Drive at Seven Farms Drive. This project drew sharp criticism from the Daniel Island Neighborhood Association, which charged that residents had not been adequately informed of the project before it was announced. DINA objected to the fact that the project concentrated the units in one place, and charged that the project violates the Affordable Housing Plan. The organization filed suit, claiming zoning violations and that no traffic study had been done for the project, as required by city ordinance. DINA recently voted to drop those lawsuits.

DINA was again critical when the Parkside Condominiums development was announced in April 2006. The 84-unit development is a joint venture of the Daniel Island Company, Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) and the Charleston Bank Consortium (CBC), and will be located on the Blakeway Street, on property behind the new Daniel Island Elementary and Middle School. The 2- and 3-bedroom units will be offered at below-market value, between $220,000 and $250,000, and targeted to first-time homebuyers making between 100 and 150 percent of AMI. The minimum family income, for a family to be able to afford the units will be $55,000 to $60,000. Those who qualify will receive assistance in the form of an interest-free second mortgage that will offset the down payment. The loan will not come due until the unit is resold. In addition to the condominiums, TCR will be building 28 identical units within the Parkside Condominium development for the City of Charleston’s Housing Authority, which will offer them as rental units to families making 80 to 150 percent of AMI. Rents are expected to be $1,050 to $1,200 per month.

DINA members again complained that they had not been apprised of the plans or consulted beforehand, and criticized the plan for putting all the units together rather than scattering them around the community. The plan received city council approval, however, and is going forward. DINA President Tim Callanan recently met with Daniel Island Co. President Matt Sloan to iron out some of their differences, and DINA members voted to withdraw their lawsuit against the Humanities Foundation Project. That project, also, is going forward.

The Humanities Foundation Project almost fulfills the Daniel Island Company’s obligation to provide 75 units of multiple-family rental units for people whose income is less than 60 percent of AMI (72 units are included in the plan). Parkside Condomiums, due to be completed by mid-2007, will fulfill the requirement for 75 home ownership units for people making 80 percent to 150 percent of AMI. The 28 rental units within the Parkside development partly fills the 75-unit requirement for the middle bracket, people making 60 percent to 80 percent of AMI. That leaves 52 rental units and 3 multi-family units still to be built. Asked where those units would go, Sloan said he had no ideas at this time.

It’s no secret that Daniel Island has become one of the most desirable places to live, not only here in the Lowcountry, but nationally as well. That interest has helped spark an amazing rise in real estate prices on the island since the development’s inception in 1996.

While many island residents are enjoying a tremendous surge in home equity, others interested in relocating here have found the real estate prices too steep to take the plunge. As a result of to a series of affordable housing initiatives on the island, more opportunities are now available. To the right is a list of all three - two rental programs and one home ownership initiative - available to qualified applicants.

Parkside Condominiums
Location: Blakeway Street behind the Daniel Island School
Expected Price Range: $220,000 - $250,000
Number of Units: 84
Size: 1139 to 1351 square feet

Special Features: These two and three bedroom units, each with two baths, will feature crown molding, maple cabinets, tile flooring in the kitchen and bath areas, solid surface countertops in the kitchen, and cultured marble countertops in bathrooms.

Program features: This is a privately-led initiative between the Daniel Island Company, Trammell Crow Residential and the Charleston Bank Consortium. It is designed to offer first-time home buyers, and others who meet the income requirements, an opportunity to own a home on Daniel Island. Those who qualify will receive assistance in the form of an interest-free second and third mortgages (that will not need to be repaid until the property sells) for down payment expenses or sales price reductions and a loan interest rate that is ½ percent below Fannie Mae. In addition, Trammell Crow and Daniel Island Real Estate will reduce their profit structures and commissions to be able to offer the units at below-market value.

Income Requirements: Must make between 100% to 150% of the area’s median family income.
Income Requirements:
Number in Family/Maximum Income
(150% of Avg. Median Income)
1 $59,250
2 $67,650
3 $76,200
4 $84,600
5 $91,350

Restrictions: Purchasers are restricted for five years on resales. If, during the initial five year period, the homeowner needs to sell the property, it can only be sold to qualified buyers. Rentals are prohibited for ten years as these units are to be "owner-occupied".

Anticipated Completion Date: Spring 2007

To apply: Contact Renee Reinert or any other Daniel Island Real Estate Agent at 971-7100. Approximately 42 of the units will be available through a first release "drawing" of qualified applicants (first-time home buyers and those displaced from their homes), scheduled for October 30, 2006.

Blakeway Street Apartments
Location: Within the Parkside Condominium complex on Blakeway Street
Expected Rent Range: $1050 - $1200
Number of Units: 28
Size: same as Parkside Condominiums listed above.

Special Features: Exterior features will be identical to the Parkside Condominiums. Interior specifications will vary slightly.

Program features: This initiative is a special project of the Charleston Housing Authority. A Property Management firm will be hired to oversee the units.

Income Requirements: Units will be offered only to individuals or families making no less than 80 to 150% of the area’s median income (for example: if the median income is $30,000, applicants must make between $24,000 and $45,000 to qualify).
Anticipated Completion Date: February 2007
To apply: Contact the Daniel Island Real Estate office at 971-7100 or Noah Williams or Charley Dilliard at the Charleston Housing Authority at 579-3023.
Seven Farms Apartments
Location: Intersection of Daniel Island Drive and Seven Farms Drive, across the street from Holy Cross Episcopal Church.
Expected Rent and Unit Size:
1 bedroom/1 bath, 709 square feet
$461
2 bedrooms/2 baths, 942 square feet $554
3 bedrooms/2baths, 1130 square feet $632
Number of Units: 72
Special Features: Apartments will include a balcony or patio, washer and dryer hook-ups, microwave oven, garbage disposal, dishwasher, ceiling fans, and insulated windows with blinds. In addition, the complex will feature a computer center with internet access, playground, covered picnic area and a laundry facility.
Program Features: This community will be operated under a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC). The LIHTC is authorized and governed by section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code. All applicants must have a favorable rental/mortgage and credit history, as well as a favorable background check.
Income Requirements: Total monthly gross income must be at least equal to 2 ½ times the monthly rent of the apartment for the purpose of demonstrating the ability to pay rent, unless applicant has a voucher or certificate through the Housing Authority. Families can make up to 50% of the median income. The maximum incomes per family size are as follows:
Number in Family/Maximum Income
(50% AMI)
1 $19,750
2 $22,550
3 $25,400
4 $28,200

Anticipated Completion Date: November 2006.

To apply: Applications are available at the Daniel Island Real Estate office. You may also call InterMark Management, the firm managing the property, at (803) 790-2000.

Employees working on Daniel Island can also obtain more information on any of these affordable housing opportunities by contacting the following members of the Daniel Island Business Association: Steve Smith, 278-1600; Renee Reinert, 971-3514; or Doug Coupe, 278-5400.

The Humanities Foundation has kept some 14,000 people off the streets by offering financial assistance to prevent landlords from evicting tenants.

Through the ShelterNet program started in 1995, the Humanities Foundation provides one-time emergency funds to low-income individuals and families that have fallen behind on their bills. Last year, the foundation kept 645 families from homelessness. According to the foundation, it can take as little as $150 to prevent a family from losing its home, but cost as much as $1,800 to move the family back in.

"The foundation was started in 1992, (three years) after Hurricane Hugo hit. The disaster brought out some unique issues facing the Charleston area," says John Henry, executive director. "The foundation grew from the disaster and had the vision to see beyond that and the development of new programs."

Some 100 social services, mental health agencies, hospitals, schools and churches rely on this nonprofit to provide, "housing from the heart" for their clients. The Humanities Foundation has plans to expand into Virginia and Florida in an effort to keep the American dream alive for low-income families. However, the biggest challenge is obtaining funds. Since its creation, the Humanities Foun dation has leveraged almost $3 million in Community Development Block Grants; about $40 million in federal funds from the HOME Investment Partnership Pro gram; and tapped into the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Since 1992, the foundation has developed 600 rental units of affordable housing, with another 156 units under construction and 72 units in pre-development providing homes for more than 850 low-to-moderate-income families, including those with special needs, the working poor, people with disabilities, single mothers and senior citizens.

The homes are badly needed. Income levels have remained flat, while housing prices have increased 20%, Henry says. In the Lowcountry, the average two-bed room apartment costs $663 a month. A person would have to make $12.75 an hour to afford that price, basically twice the minimum wage, he says.

Add to that the "condo explosion." As apartment units are turned into condos and prices go up or condos are sold, many families are forced out with nowhere to go. The U.S. Conference of Mayors cited the fastest growing group of homeless people as families with children. They make up about 36% of the people who currently become homeless. The Humanities Foundation is currently working with a profit developer to build a mixed-use community of houses in downtown Charleston adjacent to the South Carolina Aquarium.

"This is not a job where you punch the clock. The staff works hard and we believe in the mission," Henry says. "There's no better reward in this work than when we get to carrying in a bed and pots and pans tor a tenant that's moving into a new home."
Sltaniion Caratinuvh

Humanities Foundation, a Charleston-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness by providing affordable housing through advocacy, education and nonprofit housing, was named one of the Lowcountry's top "innovators," acknowledging the orgnization's significant contributions toward solving this critical need, particularly in an era of spiraling housing costs.

At the reception and awards ceremony at the Dock Street Theatre last evening, the Charleston Regional Business Journal honored its 2006 Innovators, a select group of 10 companies and organizations that demonstrate forward-thinking vision and groundbreaking ideas. To be eligible, an individual or company must have created or introduced the product, service, program or process in S.C. and be based in S.C.

Humanities Foundation was honored not only for its efforts to develop affordable housing, but also for creating a program that helps reduce the need for it. Shelter Net provides emergency financial assistance for families and individuals who are in immediate danger of eviction from their homes or loss of essential utility service. Since its inception in 1995, the program has prevented homelessness for well over 14,000 people throughout Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties by providing one-time assistance with rent, utilities or a mortgage payment. This combination of affordable housing development and prevention was judged to be both a unique and proactive approach not practiced by most affordable housing providers.

"We are proud to stand among so many dedicated, pioneering companies making a positive difference in the Lowcountry," says John Henry, executive director of the foundation, "Humanities Foundation is deeply committed to providing safe, attractive and affordable communities to low-to-moderate-income households."

Humanities Foundation, a Charleston-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness by providing affordable housing through advocacy, education and nonprofit housing, was named one of the Lowcountry's top "innovators" last week.

Since its inception in 1995, the program has prevented homelessness for 14,000-plus people in Dorchester, Berkeley and Charleston counties by providing one-time assistance with rent, utilities or a mortgage payment.

The award from the Charleston Regional Business Journal acknowledges the organization's contributions toward solving this critical need, particularly in an era of spiraling housing costs.

At the reception and awards ceremony at The Dock Street Theatre, a select group of 10 companies and organizations that demonstrate forward-thinking vision and groundbreaking ideas were honored.

To be eligible, an individual or company must have created or introduced the product, service, program or process and it must be based in South Carolina.

Humanities Foundation was honored not only for its efforts to develop affordable housing, but also for creating a program that helps reduce the need for it. ShelterNet provides emergency financial assistance for families and individuals who are in immediate danger of eviction from their homes or loss of essential utility service.

This combination of affordable housing development and prevention was judged to be both a unique and proactive approach not practiced by most affordable housing providers.

"We are proud to stand among so many dedicated, pioneering companies making a positive difference in the Lowcountry," said John Henry, executive director of the foundation. "Humanities Foundation is deeply committed to providing safe, attractive and affordable communities to low-to-moderate-income households."

At the reception and awards ceremony at the Dock Street Theatre last evening, the Charleston Regional Business Journal honored its 2006 Innovators, a select group of 10 companies and organizations that demonstrate forward-thinking vision and groundbreaking ideas. To be eligible, an individual or company must have created or introduced the product, service, program or process in S.C. and be based in S.C.

Humanities Foundation® was honored not only for its efforts to develop affordable housing, but also for creating a program that helps reduce the need for it. ShelterNet provides emergency financial assistance for families and individuals who are in immediate danger of eviction from their homes or loss of essential utility service. Since its inception in 1995, the program has prevented homelessness for well over 14,000 people throughout Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties by providing one-time assistance with rent, utilities or a mortgage payment. This combination of affordable housing development and prevention was judged to be both a unique and proactive approach not practiced by most affordable housing providers.

“We are proud to stand among so many dedicated, pioneering companies making a positive difference in the Lowcountry, ” says John Henry, executive director of the foundation. “Humanities Foundation is deeply committed to providing safe, attractive and affordable communities to low-to- moderate-income households.”

Since its founding in 1992, Humanities Foundation® has been a leader in addressing the affordable housing crisis. In addition to its primary mission to develop affordable housing units, it also provides a range of services for residents, and in the community, that serve to alleviate problems associated with homelessness and affordable housing. The foundation has developed over 600 rental units of affordable housing – with another 156 units under construction and 72 units in pre-development - providing homes for more than 850 low-to-moderate-income families, including those with special needs such as the disabled, single mothers and senior citizens.

For more information about Humanities Foundation, please visit www.humanitiesfoundation.org

Article Courtesy of Daniel Island News.

Former Bucknell College defensive back John Henry, Jr. knows what to do when he gets the football.

Pick it up and run.

And that’s just what Humanities Foundation’s new executive director is doing – exporting Humanities Foundation’s non-profit workforce and senior citizen housing model throughout South Carolina and other Southeastern states.

"Our service area was originally in the Lowcountry and we’re now trying to grow our reach," said Henry, 34, who was the foundation’s vice president of real estate until his promotion last month. "We’ve expanded and are working on projects in Spartanburg County and upstate and our intention is to enter markets in Florida and Virginia. I’m very excited about it. Our plan is to grow within the Southeast and eventually expand to other states, too. We have a great model that’s been established."

As a non-profit developer, Humanities Foundation serves as a conduit to access non-profit development monies. It finances the projects, contracts with engineers, architects and builders to complete construction, and provides oversight to market, lease and maintain the property. The foundation also provides emergency financial assistance for housing heeds and education and awareness and technical assistance to organizations needing help in developing affordable housing.

Henry said the foundation expects to finish 240 units throughout South Carolina this year and hopes to expand those numbers to 400 annually throughout the state.

Since its founding in 1992 by Tracy and Robert Doran of the James Doran Company, the Humanities Foundation has developed more than 600 rental units of affordable housing – with another 156 units under construction and 72 units in pre-development – providing homes for more than 850 low-to-moderate-income individuals.

The Seven Farms Apartments, currently being built at 305 Seven Farms Drive on Daniel Island, is a Humanities Foundation project and is expected to be finished in November. It will offer 72 units for families.

Low-income housing tax credits and other code changes in 1986 provided the impetus for nonprofit workforce and senior housing projects in the U.S., Henry said.

"Each state has its own housing authority and our job is to find out the rules of the game in each state and how to play it," he said. "But, at the end of the day, it’s about finding the land and finding the market where you can assist and help people."

Henry developed his expertise on real estate and affordable housing issues while working as an attorney in Washington, D.C. He joined the Humanities Foundation in April 2005 at a time when the Seven Farms Apartments project encountered opposition from some local residents. A lawsuit filed by the Daniel Island Neighborhood Association is still pending.

Henry declined to talk about the controversy because of the ongoing litigation. But he’s optimistic that Seven Farms Apartments will be a great addition to the island.

"We hope that once this is built it will change perceptions of what workforce housing is," he said. "This is not the first time we’ve met opposition to our development projects. But it is disheartening at times. This is such a great project. It is indistinguishable from any other market multi-family project on the island and that’s how we try to change perceptions and views."

Finding land for affordable housing is difficult in the Lowcountry, according to Henry.

"We’ve had a housing boom nationally for four or five years and prices have been going sky high," he said. "Another exacerbating problem is condo conversion. It’s become fashionable to turn apartments into condos and that has reduced the multi-family housing stock. There’s a huge need for affordable housing in the Charleston area and we’re trying to plug that gap. But the reality is that incomes have remained fairly flat at the same time that there has been a huge spike in housing prices and real estate taxes. It’s very challenging for people to get by."

Despite the challenges, Henry said working on nonprofit housing is immensely rewarding. Here is a letter a staff member received earlier this month:

I had to write a note to let you know how much I enjoy my yard! I sit on the patio and read and when I look down my yard is absolutely beautiful. I love it!
Thank you,
Claire

"I was a real-estate attorney for six or seven years and also did a couple developments on my own," he said. "This is the best of both worlds. I really enjoy real estate development and there’s a special feeling when you’re able to help people. We frequently get letters from folks who tell us how much they love living in their new homes. That’s the icing on the cake. It gives you a warm feeling and makes you appreciate what you’re doing. Plus, it makes you work that much harder."

While Humanities Foundation expands its mission throughout the Southeast, Henry stressed that it won’t forget its roots. To date, the non-profit has built eight projects throughout the Charleston metro area. He said Humanities Foundation is also partnering with for-profit developers to create a mixed-use community in Charleston’s wharf district where workforce and senior housing is melded into traditional market housing.

"I’ve been here for a year and I think the future is bright for Humanities Foundation," he said. "We’re working in concert with the city of Charleston to identify land in the Lowcountry for affordable housing. In this business, you have to be creative and explore other opportunities and be willing to change. You have to be very innovative to stay afloat and remain relevant."

Appointments

The Lowcountry Housing Trust Inc. announced its 2006 board of directors: Todd Abedon, Churchill Forge Proper ties; Karen Abram^Prudential Carolina Real Estate; Tom Baker, TBA/SC Inc. Architecture; Blair A. Belk, Colliers/ Keenan; George Bresnihan, U.S. Navy/Amoco, retired; Henrietta Canty- Woodward, Lowcountry Housing and Economic Development Foundation; Michael Chase, Eggus Mortgage; Phillip Ford, Charleston Trident Home Builders Association; Vince Graham, Graham Holdings; Tony Woody, Thomas & Hut- ton Engineering; Dawn Henry, City of North Charleston; Peggy Huchet, New Jersey State Housing Trust, retired; Joan na LeClair, Wachovia Bank; Robert Prioleau, Blue Ion; and Debby Waid, Humanities Foundation.

SEVEN FARMS APARTMENTS 305 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel island
Developer: Humanities Foundation
Architect: Miller, Player & Associates and Looney Ricks Kiss Architects
General contractor: Connelly Builders Inc.
Engineer: Thomas & Hutton Engineering Co.
Estimated completion date: October 2006
This affordable housing community is 3.3-acre multi-family residential development located in the heart of downtown Daniel Island. The project consists of a 72-unit apartment complex with four buildings, 96 parking spaces and clubhouse.

People
Humanities Foundation (Charleston, S.C.): Appointed John Henry, vice president of real estate, to be executive director. This organization develops low-cost housing and provides support services for residents.