Union Gospel Mission
The Vineyard on Lancaster, the first phase of Union Gospel Mission's affordable housing
Union Gospel Mission announced plans Thursday for its second affordable housing development in its East Lancaster Avenue complex in the last three years.
The mission has applied for a grant through the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs for about $8 million of the projected $12 million cost of building The Crossroads, a 68-unit complex planned on the site of Union Gospel Mission's existing donation center. The mission has applied for a second, companion grant for at least $3 million through the National Housing Trust Fund that would cover much of the remainder of the costs, Don Shisler, Union Gospel Mission's president and CEO, said in an interview.
"We'll know by mid-July if we get that grant or not," Shisler said of the TDHCA application.
The $8 million grant would be in housing tax credits, which Union Gospel Mission would monetize by selling them. Both grants would largely cover the estimated cost, Shisler said. "We can get it built for $11 million," he said.
The mission wants to break ground as early as this fall on The Crossroads. The Crossroads would be 100% affordable housing, targeted at applicants earning 30-50% of area median income. the 30% target is considered a key need in affordable housing in Fort Worth.
The building, designed by Schwarz Hanson Architects, is estimated to be 55,930 square feet, with apartments that are 650 square feet in size.
The apartments would each have one bedroom, full kitchen and bathroom, and washer/dryer connections. The apartments also would have secured entry, with 24/7 camera monitoring.
If Union Gospel Mission builds The Crossroads, it would have to move its large donations center. The likely site would be 2.5 acres Union Gospel Mission bought a year ago on Kentucky Avenue nearby, Shisler said.
The Crossroads would be similar to the first affordable housing development - The Vineyard on Lancaster, 1401 E. Lancaster Ave., which has 88 one-bedroom apartments of 690 square feet apiece, and 16 two-bedroom apartments of 920 square feet apiece. The Vineyard, which Union Gospel Mission did in partnership with the City of Fort Worth and the JPS Health Network, has been 100% leased since April 2020.
Community leaders, led by Mayor Betsy Price, will dedicate The Vineyard, 9 a.m. June 8 in a ceremony at the mission, 1321 E. Lancaster. City Manager David Cooke, District 8 Council member Kelly Allen Gray, and representatives of area social service agencies are scheduled to participate. A tour of Union Gospel Mission's Healing Shepherd Clinic, on the ground floor of The Vineyard, will follow.
An estimated 104 people live at The Vineyard, Shisler said.
“The global pandemic, vast unemployment and our community’s recent population boom has continued to overtax an already stressed housing challenge,” Shisler said. Despite The Vineyard's success, "to be honest, it's simply not enough.”
Tenants of The Vineyard and The Crossroads are offered the on-site case management available to all Union Gospel Mission residents, on-site preventative medical care at the clinic, meals, access to the mission's food pantry, and Bible study.
In February, the Texas Apartment Association gave The Vineyard on Lancaster the Affordable Housing Award for innovation in new affordable housing construction. Affordable Housing Finance Magazine gave the development its 2020 Readers Choice Award in the Special Needs category.
The two-building Vineyard is 102,679 square feet and cost $22 million to complete, including $12 million in housing tax credits from the National Housing Trust Fund and the Affordable Housing Program.
Additional funding for The Vineyard on Lancaster was provided by private foundations, including The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Amon G. Carter Foundation, Leo Potishman Foundation, The Morris Foundation, The Ryan Foundation and Wells Fargo Housing Philanthropy NeighborhoodLIFT and Priority Markets Program.
The Vineyard is also 100% affordable housing, with a 30-50% area median income target.
Schwarz Hanson Architects was architect, Scott Price at Fort Construction was general contractor, and Alpha Barnes of Grapevine provides leasing services.