AMCAL Receives 40th Anniversary Commendation from the City of Los Angeles

Photo of the City of Los Angeles Commendation to AMCAL on the company's 40th anniversary in 2018

AMCAL is happy to have received a special commendation from City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on AMCAL’s 40th Anniversary. It reads:

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, I am pleased to extend congratulations to Percy and Lux Vaz, upon the 40th anniversary of AMCAL. With recognition of the various contributions made to Affordable, Student and Market Rate over the past 40 years. I commend your strong work ethic to service and to always placing the community first.

 

AMCAL Secures #7 Spot on List of Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers of 2017

Exterior photo of Meridian apartments

Rising to the 7th spot in this year’s Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers as ranked by Affordable Housing Finance Magazine, AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. boosts its 47th spot ranking from last year.

Read more here.

It still looks to be a glass-half-empty kind of year for affordable housing developers, writes Deputy Editor Donna Kimura, in her recent article “Cautious Optimism” in the April/May 2018 issue of Affordable Housing Finance magazine. Kimura goes on to write: They anticipate a better but tough road ahead in 2018. Even with the uncertainty of tax reform behind them, more than 48% of recently surveyed developers expect housing finance conditions to worsen by the end of the year. About 31% say conditions will improve, and 20% say they’ll be about the same.

Read more here.

AMCAL Secures Financing for Two Developments

Artist's rendering of apartment building

AMCAL Multi-Housing and AMTEX Multi-Housing have taken big steps toward developing workforce housing communities in Santa Ana, Calif., and Austin, Texas.

William Hezmalhalch Architects Designed by William Hezmalhalch Architects, First Street Apartments in Santa Ana, Calif., is scheduled to be completed by developer AMCAL Multi-Housing in September 2019.

In partnership with the city of Santa Ana, AMCAL Multi-Housing announced that it closed financing on a new 69-unit apartment community in Santa Ana. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is serving as the equity investor as well as the construction and permanent lender for the project. Construction will commence at the site in May with the demolition work of an existing deteriorating office building.

Read more about this here.

AMCAL Receives Prominent “Powering the Future” Award

Photo of a group of people including Percy Vaz, CEO of AMCAL

AMCAL received the prominent “Powering the Future” Award on March 24 at Sacramento’s Power Inn Alliance 24th annual award luncheon for its Sacramento student housing project “The Crossings.”
This award is given to the person, persons and/or company who played the most significant role in changing the direction of the district by creating a vision to move the area forward.

It could be given to a catalyst project, a significant investment to one of the Alliance’s key tenets. This year, it was given to AMCAL Equity, LLC’s CEO Percy Vaz.

City of Sacramento: In 2008, the Alliance and the City began work on a Specific Plan that would become the designated Sacramento Center for Innovation (SCI). That plan was ratified by City Council in 2013 and the City has been working with the Alliance and community leaders to bring its vision to life.

AMCAL: AMCAL, one of the nation’s most successful multi-family developers, understood the impact and opportunity in bringing The Crossings student housing project to life. AMCAL’s vast experience in quality design and construction, and their commitment to excellence makes them an ideal partner on this catalytic development within the SCI. Coleraine Capital: Coleraine Capital was the initial real estate partner in identifying The Crossings site, near the Ramona Avenue road extension project. They saw the potential in creating a much-needed niche student housing project, with a focus on amenities and innovation.

The luncheon highlighted important area updates, and guests heard from Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Councilmember Eric Guerra, and Keynote Speaker, Bill Gaines, as he talked about the Importance of Manufacturing in the Community and the Role of the Workforce. Community award winners were announced, as well: 2018 Powering the Future Award – The Crossings and Ramona Ave Extension (City of Sacramento, AMCAL, and Coleraine Capital) 2018 Power Partner Award – Procter & Gamble 2018 Tom Burress Community Service Award – The Cannabis Planning and Development ad hoc subcommittee (Burnie Lenau, Lawnman, Inc; Dennis Shanahan, Shanahan’s Auto Body; Mike O’Brien, Mark III Construction; and Bernardo Hubbard, Jackson Properties)

Under Construction – Ramona Avenue Extension in Sacramento Will Link AMCAL’s Student Housing Community to Sac State

Groundbreaking ceremony photo for the start of construction of the Ramona Avenue extension in Sacramento

On Thursday, April 5, Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Councilmember Jeff Harris, Councilmember Eric Guerra, Assembly member Kevin McCarty, and community partners broke ground for the Romona Avenue Extension Project.

This project, along with the upcoming work on Folsom Boulevard, will enhance safety for all modes of transportation — especially for those commuting to and from Sacramento State University. Construction will begin Spring 2018 and is anticipated to be completed by September 2018.

This project not only enhances safety along Folsom Boulevard, but will also connect to a 225-unit student housing project, The Crossings. The housing community will provide 750 beds to serve the students of Sacramento State.

Additionally, the Crossings is being constructed within the 240-acre Sacramento Center for Innovation Specific Plan, an area that is designated to foster the exchange of technical knowledge and expertise between students, faculty and innovative businesses and technology companies.

Read more about the project here.

Long Beach — A place for everyone to call home

Grand opening ceremony photo

Long Beach is thriving. From new jobs and booming construction to important infrastructure improvements and new investment opportunities, the city is undoubtedly growing. And with this growth comes the need for ensuring economic inclusion and a broader range of housing types that serve the needs of all our residents. Working families, seniors, veterans, students, and individuals with disabilities all deserve a safe, comfortable, and affordable place to call home in our city.

Over the past several years, housing burdens have become increasingly urgent nationwide, particularly in California, where rising costs and limited supply are taking their toll on lower- and middle-income families alike. A 2017 report on rental rates found a housing vacancy rate of 4.6 percent and a 4.1 percent increase in median rents citywide.

Read more here.

Downtown San Jose residential tower launch arrives days after mayor touts housing plan

Artist's rendering of The Grad San Jose apartment building with courtyard view

SAN JOSE — October 5, 2017 — The Graduate, a new residential tower geared towards students in downtown San Jose, is poised to be a fresh development venture that can help combat the Bay Area housing crisis.

Developers say The Graduate, an L-shaped project being built at 300 S. 2nd St., is a 260-room high rise a block from the edge of San Jose State University.

The project is a joint venture of San Jose-based Swenson, a realty development and investment firm, and Los Angeles-based Amcal Equities, a long-time residential developer.

“The Graduate will serve as a significant bridge between campus and the SoFA District as well as the surrounding urban amenities of downtown,” said Case Swenson, president of Swenson.

San Jose’s SoFA District is the downtown’s principal arts and entertainment area and stretches along three blocks of South First Street between San Carlos and Reed streets. The new project is between the university campus and the SoFA neighborhood.

This story originally appeared in The Mercury News. Visit that news site to read more.

Former hospitals find new life as apartments and condos

Hollenbeck senior apartment building

When Juana Monroy moved into Hollenbeck Terrace in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in 2015, she learned that the white, towering senior apartment building was once a busy hospital that had appeared in dozens of movies and television shows.

Then she heard the rumors that the old Linda Vista Community Hospital building was haunted. “I was a little scared,” said Monroy, 60.

But she hasn’t seen a ghost yet, and now she loves living in a building with such history. “It’s gorgeous,” she said.

Across the country, hospitals that have shut their doors are coming back to life in various ways: affordable senior housing in Los Angeles, luxurious multimillion-dollar condominiums in New York’s Greenwich Village, a historic hotel in Santa Fe, N.M.

This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Visit the site to read more of this story.

AMCAL Opens 660-Bed Community Near California State University, Stanislaus

The Vista apartments exterior building view

Turlock, Calif. — AMCAL Equities LLC has opened The Vista, a 660-bed student housing community located near California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, California.

The property offers one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. Community amenities include a clubhouse with outdoor volleyball and basketball courts; a resort-style swimming pool; outdoor television lounge; theatre; cyber café with free coffee; and 24-hour fitness center.

Asset Campus Housing is managing the property. Humphreys & Partners Architects LP designed the community, and construction was managed by AMCAL General Contractors Inc. Coleraine Capital Group, AMCAL’s joint venture partner, sourced the land and assisted with the entitlement process.

The story originally appeared in Student Housing Business magazine.

The Clarendon will bring 335 apartments to Woodland Hills

Artist's rendering of Clarendon apartments

Developers AMCAL Equities announced on August 31, 2017 that construction has begun on The Clarendon, a new apartment complex in Woodland Hills, just a block northeast of Topanga and Laurel Canyon boulevards, and right in the crook of the 101 freeway.

The five-story building will hold 335 apartments, running from studios up to three-bedrooms; 26 of the units will be rented to tenants using Section 8 vouchers.

The 4.3-acre complex, designed by Architects Orange, will be served by a six-level parking structure that will include 28 parking spaces for electric vehicle charging stations.

Another eco-friendly addition to the project are the trellis solar panels on the roof, which shade the top of the parking garage and offset a portion of common area energy costs, says a release from the developer.

Read more at Curbed LA.