Responding to Community Housing Needs


Development Services Success Stories

"If it wasn’t for NCALL, this development might never have happened."

In 1992, local residents formed New Road Community Development Group of Exmore, Inc. on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. They began with the mission to revitalize this historic African American community. They had to start by bringing an essential sewer system to the area. Due to some NIMBY opposition, this first goal took over nine years to realize. 2009 saw their second goal come to fruition. New Road Village Apartments was completed this year and will provide 16 units of desperately needed multi-family rental housing to this area.

“We really wanted better housing for the people of New Road,” says Ruth Wise, Executive Director of New Road Community Development Group. “These units will make a tremendous difference in the lives of it’s residents. If it wasn’t for NCALL, this development might never have happened. They have been with us for years and years. They wrote the applications for funding and have given us various levels of technical support. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

According to Collin Kean, from East Coast Property Management, the response to the units has been overwhelmingly positive. They received many calls from interested households and finally took in 39 applications for the 16 units. Most applicants seem to be moving out of overcrowded conditions with other family members.

Given that the need was so great, New Road Community Development teamed up with Accomack Northampton Housing Authority and the Eastern Shore of Virginia Housing Alliance to bring more affordable housing to the New Road community. This partnership created another rental community. Crispus Attucks Apartments also opened this year, providing an additional 22 units of affordable rentals to this area.

When these two developments were completed, the sponsoring organizations held a grand opening celebration. Despite some dreary weather, the community came out to show their support. They enjoyed tours of the buildings, special music and food.

In addition to the technical assistance NCALL provided on this project, the Loan Fund participated with other lenders to provide construction financing for New Road Village. Permanent financing for these apartment communities has been secured from USDA Rural Development, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, FHLB of Atlanta, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits purchased by Virginia Community Development Corporation. The units have rental assistance so that tenants pay no more than 30% of their monthly income for rent and utilities.



“NCALL stays with the development process all the way
through and gives us expertise we don’t have."

In 1972, when Better Homes of Seaford’s (BHS) Chandler Heights was developed, it was the first affordable housing complex in Seaford, Delaware. By 2004, the 12 buildings that make up the Chandler Heights community needed an update. Structurally, the 91-unit complex was still sound, but all of the systems were outdated. Another concern was maintaining the Section 8 rent subsidies for the future. That is when BHS’s Executive Director Bill Roupp turned to NCALL.

“NCALL is best at completing the detailed financing applications for our developments. They have been our partner since 1990 and have helped us develop each of our apartment communities,” said Mr. Roupp.

This undertaking turned out to be more extensive than originally planned. Construction began in 2005 and went to permanent closing on May 2008. All the buildings were completely gutted during the renovation. Highlights of the transformation include making all of the units handicapped accessible, adding 5 handicapped units, installing air conditioning and improving the buildings’ security and energy efficiency. One of the buildings that previously housed three apartments and a small office was converted into a much needed community center, complete with a library, computer room, kitchen and meeting space. The complex now has 88 apartments that range in size from one to three bedrooms. The residents are all 50% of median income or below and their rent is subsidized by HUD to be affordable based on their income.

According to Mr. Roupp, “NCALL stays with the development process all the way through and gives us expertise we don’t have. I am the sole employee of BHS; we are a lean organization. Working with NCALL keeps us from having to hire additional staff. They fill the void as far as development is concerned as well as following through on construction.”

This partnership has worked very well, as BHS is the largest nonprofit apartment producer in Sussex County.