Hoppe Development Breaks Ground on Tallgrass, a New Mixed-Income Neighborhood in Papillion, Nebraska
Hoppe Development broke ground on the first phase of Tallgrass, an innovative 600-unit mixed-income, mixed-product new neighborhood at 72nd and Capehart in Papillion.
The Hoppe Development team took a holistic, neighborhood-scale approach to designing the Tallgrass neighborhood. The development serves as a new model for mixed income housing by offering a unique blend of affordable and market rental and ownership opportunities side-by-side in one neighborhood. Tallgrass is also one the first developments in Papillion to make high quality architectural design and first class amenities accessible to families below the poverty level.
"Tallgrass represents a novel way of considering neighborhood development, where affordability is considered a community asset and is integrated in a new suburban neighborhood design," says Fred Hoppe, Principal of Housing Development. "If we are going to address the affordable housing challenges of our communities, we have to build affordable housing at scale alongside market rate housing, in highly desirable areas of town with strong schools, and supportive community infrastructure. This project delivers on these goals."
Neighborhood amenities at Tallgrass include pocket parks, a fitness center, walking trails, pickleball courts and community spaces. It features a “town center” concept with commercial first floor and residential second floor to create a unique sense of place. The development’s first phases, which are currently under construction, includes 198 rental units affordable to families at 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) and below.
Other project facts include:
130 rental homes providing opportunities for families at 40% to 60% AMI funded through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program in collaboration with Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA)
34 rental homes providing opportunities for families 40% to 60% of AMI funded through the LIHTC program in collaboration with NIFA and Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program administered by Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED)
34 rental homes providing opportunities for seniors at 40% to 60% of AMI funded through the LIHTC program in collaboration with NIFA and CDBG-DR program administered by NDED
30 for-sale homes targeted to families 60% of area median income and below in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity and Cobalt Credit Union
18 for-sale homes targeted to families 120% AMI and below in collaboration with the Housing Foundation for Sarpy County and the Nebraska State Affordable Housing Trust Fund program administered by NDED
A mixed-use town center featuring 13,300 square feet of small-scale commercial space to support commercial and retail businesses that reinforce community and placemaking efforts
A remaining inventory for future development of 350 units of additional market rate housing that will be supported with a Class A amenity package including leasing office, fitness center, and swimming pool that is accessible to all phases of the development
Solar systems and high efficiency heat pump mechanical systems to be installed on the first phases of affordable housing to lower the utility costs for the tenants
The development was supported by Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Relief funding and State Affordable Housing Trust Funds administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, a land acquisition loan provided by Front Porch Investments, and project and infrastructure financing provided by a consortium of financial institutions including US Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Midwest Housing Equity Group, First National Bank of Omaha, Cobalt Credit Union, Sugar Creek Capital, and Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust.
The project also features unique partnerships with Omaha Habitat for Humanity and the Housing Foundation of Sarpy County to facilitate affordable home ownership opportunities.Finally, the project features solar energy and energy efficiency improvements in collaboration with Omaha Public Power District.
Architectural and neighborhood design services were provided by Deold Andersen Architecture, engineering by Foley Shald, interior design by IE Design, and landscape architectural services by Vireo.
Contact Reagan de Koning at info@hoppedevelopment.com for more information.