White Lotus Group: Kay Apartments

ID

45

OrgName

White Lotus Group

PhysicalAddress

118 North 31st Street Omaha, Nebraska 68131

MailingAddress

10404 Essex Court, Suite 101 Omaha, Nebraska 68114

Website

www.whitelotusgroup.com

SocialMediaAccounts

Name

Andrea Macias

Title

Development Coordinator

EmailAddress

amacias@whitelotusgroup.com

Phone

+1 (402) 346-5550

Team

Yes

TeamExplanation

Arun Agarwal (CEO), Drew Sova (EVP/General Counsel), Eric Wolfe (Architect/Construction Manager), Andrea Macias (Dev Coordiator), Darienne Pokorny (Controller/Auditor/CPA), Crystal Cantrell (REgional Prop Mgr), Shawn Johnson (SVP - Ops)

OrganizationalChart

see attached

OtherCompletedProjects

White Lotus Group, headquartered in Omaha, with offices in QCT, has been actively developing projects in North and South Omaha throughout our history. Projects that may be of note include, but limited to: 30 Metro Place, Prairie Springs, Turner Court Apartments, 1401 Jones (new public library), RTG Medical (NMTC - corp HQ in Fremont), Hotel Deco, Ames Plaza, Ames Innovation, Ames Rows, Learning Community of South Omaha, Blackstone, Baxter Auto, Nebraska Realty. Recent Awards: State of Nebraska DHHS, DMV and Veterans Campus in GI. Accomplishments include approximately $100MM of investments in north omaha with no philanthropy awards. Over 500 units of affordable housing totaling housing for nearly 2000 people. We have aided in over 1,000 jobs created or positions earned since inception within Omaha alone.

ProposalTitle

Kay Apartments

TotalBudget

2099189.0

LB1024GrantFundingRequest

1384311.0

ProposalType

Capital project

BriefProposalSummary

Kay Apartments located at 118 North 31st Street, OMaha, NE 68131. It serves as an anchor to Gifford Park area located on the Northeast corner of 30th and Dodge. The project includes the redevelopment of 10 units within a historic structure offering workforce housing opposite to Midtown Crossing. Often, we discuss the gentrification of neighborhoods and mega redevelopment efforts that price residents out of neighborhoods that they have and wish to continue to reside within. The project has historically catered to Creighton University students and service professionals within the area. The project has already been approved for tax increment financing. The project has been designed. The project can start within six (6) months of being awarded. Management currently owns and operates the Turner Court Apartments. The project would revitalize a property that had been vandalized. Coupling changes in code and requirements of historic preservation have caused significant obstacles to the project. Project assistance is needed to bridge the cost to preserve the historic structure and rehabilitate the shell back into functioning units made available as workforce housing units. If awarded, ownership will earmark a ten (10%) goal of subcontractors that are minority-owned or disadvantaged.

Timeline

See Schedule attached; however, note that the project is designed, approved, estimated and would be completed before year end 2023.

PercentageCompletedByJuly2025

1.0

FundingGoals

Fundamental Change (i.e., a proposal that will continue to elevate North or South Omaha's presence and perception within the region, significantly improving the lives of area residents through physical development) Transformational (i.e., a proposal that will help energize, recharge, or spur significant and favorable advancements in North or South Omaha's function or appearance)

Community Needs

Multimodal Transportation (i.e., enable connectivity through driving, biking, taking transit, walking, and rolling) Policy (i.e., develop or improve context-sensitive education, finance, health, training, zoning, etc.) Quality of Life (i.e., create or enhance natural spaces, mixed uses, parks, safety, etc.) Sustainable Community (i.e., create or enhance housing, services, education, civic uses, recreation, etc.)

OtherExplanation

ProposalDescriptionAndNeedsAlignment

We believe that this housing stock that A). represents the neighborhood’s historic characteristics. B). is approachable in terms of costs for our workforce. C) has access to multi-modal transportation (ORBT - .1 miles). D). is adjacent to demand drivers for those residents in need (service retail and education) E) provides workforce housing, in particular, to those part time college students who cannot afford campus living F) functions adjacent to public parks for families to enhance quality of life. G) is adjacent to a mega redevelopment (Midtown Crossing) while still provided workforce housing opportunities.

VisioningWorkshopFindingsAlignment

1). Housing (Workforce) was a common theme throughout the visioning summary 2). Proximity to employment 3). Multimodal transportation (.1 miles to bus station) 4). Walkability to services (health and grocery) 5). Proximate to education (YATES and Creighton University) 6). Redevelopment of a vacant building will improve safety and improve perception of North side of omaha which is often impaired by displacement, unintentionally, by large scale redevelopments (ie. Midtown Crossing). This improves Safety

PrioritiesAlignment

Accessible workforce housing while also creating opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses to be part of the solution to their own neighborhood. Improving vacant buildings will enhance safety and improve service businesses in the area by enhancing demand.

EconomicImpact

The economic impact should not be simply weighed by the redevelopment project, but the preservation and affordability provided for those in the workforce within the area. The preservation of those positions between 80% and 130% of the Area Median Income (AMI) could enable almost 20 positions. Additionally, 30 more jobs would be created (5 permanent and 25 temporary). Lastly, the set aside of 10% for minority and disadvantaged businesses allows community members to be a part of the solution and ideally enhance their own economics.

EconomicImpactPermanentJobsCreated

5

EconomicImpactTemporaryJobsCreated

30

EconomicImpactWageLevels

$25/ hr

EconomicImpactAlignProposedJobs

We are aiming to create a set aside of 10% for minority and disadvantaged businesses

CommunityBenefit

There are many community benefits. The project is located in a QCT as well as a visible intersection on the north side of Dodge Street. The investment will encourage additional redevelopment projects within the Gifford Park area and will improve safety and encourage more workforce to live where jobs are. The enhanced density will assist employers find employees while providing the employees a culturally significant place to live with associated services in a walkable area.

CommunityBenefitSustainability

The site is within the Gifford Park neighborhood which has parks, schools and other services. WLG has maintained offices in this area since our inception 20 years ago and believe that more proof of investment will encourage others to improve the neighborhood. Quality of Life and safe, affordable housing would be showcased on a stage.

BestPracticesInnovation

OutcomeMeasurement

Creating more skilled jobs through the set aside delivery. Creating more workforce housing for employees to live within the neighborhood in which they work. When siting office space, often employers pin map their staff. Ideally, we create more staff to be located near their place of employment.

OutcomeMeasurementHow

this would be measured by available housing (market data is measured by city), employees living in area (measured by chamber)

OutcomeMeasurementCoinvestment

yes. we believe this project will prove that further investment in Gifford Park could be successful. Additionally, it will expand our skilled labor pool by set aside program. This will make more investment viable by larger supply of subcontractors.

Partnerships

Yes

PartnershipsOrgs

Currently work with area colleges (MCC) for housing referrals (augments their student life)

PartnershipsMOU

Displacement

No

DisplacementExplanation

PhysicalLocation

118 North 31st Street, Omaha, NE 68131 Location is north of Dodge Street adjacent to Turner Court Apartments which were redeveloped 3 years prior.

QualifiedCensusTract

Within one or more QCTs

AdditionalLocationDocuments

PropertyZoning

Yes

ConnectedToUtilities

ConnectedToUtilitiesConnected

Yes

ConnectedToUtilitiesUpgradesNeeded

Yes

DesignEstimatingBidding

Yes

DesignEstimatingBiddingPackageDeveloped

Yes

DesignEstimatingBiddingCostsDetermined

GeneralContractor

Yes

GeneralContractorPublicCompetitiveBid

Yes

GeneralContractorPublicCompetitiveBidWhyNot

RequestRationale

Please see attached proforma to showcase the value proposition.

GrantFundsUsage

Funds will be utilized to implement the substantial renovation of a dilapidated, vacant structure as well as utilizing funds to implement the set aside delivery.

ProposalFinancialSustainability

Yes

ProposalFinancialSustainabilityOperations

Depending on how the program is implemented, Owner will expend funds on the renovation and create monthly payment applications. Either the owner can take a revolving loan to fund and seek reimbursement or make request to program for funding.

FundingSources

Tax Increment Financing has already been approved. Additionally, the project has achieved landmark status dedication.

FundingSourcesPendingDecisions

They are finalized.

FundingSourcesCannotContinue

yes.

Scalability

Project would need to be completed collectively

ScalabilityComponents

FinancialCommitment

Organization will be investing $250,000 on the site and parking improvements already made for the project. Additionally, Development fees would not be taken from the project if ARPA is awarded and would reduce the debt burden.

ARPAComplianceAcknowledgment

1.0

ARPAReportingMonitoringProcessAck

1.0

LB1024FundingSourcesAck

1.0

PublicInformation

1.0

FileUploads

Additional Location Documents (see application for list) Data table of uses (breakdown of how the requested funds will be used for your proposal) Documentation of site control (proof of ownership, option, purchase contract, or long-term lease agreement) Organizational Chart Plans and detailed descriptions, including pictures and a map of the site location/surrounding area Pro Forma Proposal Budget/Sources and Uses Schedule