CREA Partners with Local Firm for River Chase Housing

Sunset over Nashville with historic brick buildings in the foreground

Riverchase Reimagined: Enter Holladay Ventures

Prominent real estate company, Cypress Real Estate Advisors, has teamed up with Nashville’s own Holladay Ventures to redefine affordable living in Nashville. At the heart of this transformation lies the RiverChase Apartments, set to undergo an unprecedented redevelopment in East Nashville’s McFerrin Park area.

Holladay Ventures is set to purchase nearly three acres of the existing RiverChase site from Cypress Real Estate Advisors (CREA) for the construction of 140 units purposed for affordable housing. This redevelopment is a vital section of a larger, mixed-income community plan that will boast a staggering 1,150 residences in total. This includes a promise of 105 affordable units to be built by CREA to address Nashville’s rising housing costs. If you’re interested in exploring more, you may also like to discover the features and offerings of Modera Gulch.

The Clarion Call for Affordable Housing

Aerial view of downtown Nashville at dusk with prominent buildings

The project underscores a commitment to meet Nashville’s growing need for affordable housing. CREA Development Manager, Stephen Buchanan, has expressed excitement over the partnership with Holladay Ventures, and their shared mission to provide reasonably priced housing for families committed to staying in the urban center. Holladay Ventures has been recognized for its knack for delivering quality affordable housing communities and bringing innovative solutions to complex challenges.

The vision is clear: To provide an affordable, high-quality living situation for those desiring an urban lifestyle. To this end, the project is raising the bar by offering 245 affordable units, which is a voluntary increase from the originally announced 225 units.

A Comprehensive Development Plan Set 

The ambitious project will commence in 2023 and is slated for completion by 2026. The architecture across the mixed-income community will remain consistent, and construction will commence in phases to maintain efficiency. Here’s a snapshot of the development details:

Meridian Mixed-Use:

  • Current: Riverchase Apartments;
  • Future: Diverse Development;
  • Lead Developer: CREA;
  • Architectural Design: Hastings;
  • Landscaping: Hawkins Partners;
  • Civil Engineering: Barge Cauthen & Associates;
  • Engineering: KCI Technologies;
  • Address: 301 North 2nd Street;
  • Nashville District: 5.

Affordable Housing Statistics:

  • Developer: Holladay Ventures;
  • Allocation: 140 out of 245 Affordable Units;
  • 24 units at 40% AMI;
  • 92 units at 60% AMI;
  • 24 units at 80% AMI.

Past initiatives by Holladay Ventures such as the multi-phase 484-unit mixed-income development, Shelby House, and the affordably priced 311-unit community, Stone Bridge Lofts, have set a high standard. These projects speak to Holladay’s expertise in bridging the affordability gap while maintaining, if not exceeding, the quality standards expected from newly built communities.

RiverChase Redevelopment’s Comprehensive Benefits

Nashville skyline with AT&T Building and surrounding architecture

In addition to providing affordable housing, the RiverChase redevelopment project also includes various community benefits. These range from a 30-year binding agreement securing the affordability conditions of the property, an innovative “housing navigator” program, a robust construction safety scheme, and a financial partnership with the local neighborhood association.

Furthermore, the project involves commitments such as a $40,000 donation to the neighborhood association and a $100,000 towards traffic calming in the neighborhood. These community-oriented initiatives ensure the broader benefits of the project reach beyond its residents.

Holladay Ventures Selected for RiverChase Redevelopment

The selection of Holladay Ventures was made through a competitive RFQ process. Before and after the process, CREA met with Nashville’s affordable housing and community stakeholders to ensure key RFQ objectives were met and best practices were considered when selecting a partner for this project. The move reflects CREA’s commitment to maintain transparency and involve the community in decisions.

Post-construction, a novel ‘legacy residents’ proposal will allow former RiverChase residents to return to their revamped homes, accepting housing vouchers upon the completion of this upgraded development. This empathetic initiative underlines the project’s broader mission – that of inclusive and sustainable urban living.

Conclusion

The RiverChase redevelopment project is a pioneering venture toward affordable and sustainable housing solutions. It sets a blueprint for future housing initiatives that balance affordability, quality, and community engagement. The partnership between CREA and Holladay Ventures signifies a collaborative endeavor to face Nashville’s affordable housing challenge directly. Ultimately, it is the community that stands to gain, with a vibrant, affordable, and sustainable residential environment to call home.

The collaborative partnership between Cypress Real Estate Advisors (CREA) and Holladay Ventures is set to carve a new path in the affordable housing landscape of Nashville. With the redevelopment of Riverchase Apartments, they propose to provide a high-quality, inclusive living space that caters to the financial realities of many Nashville residents. Not only is the venture creating affordable housing options, but it’s also fostering a better community spirit through various benefits, traffic calming efforts, and the unique ‘legacy residents’ initiative. This project, slated for completion in 2026, exemplifies a promising step toward addressing Nashville’s affordable housing challenge.