CORONADO PARK II/QINTALI VIEW
Coronado Park II/Qintali View in Eagle River, AK won a 2021 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award in the Small Metropolitan Area category.
Coronado Park II/Qintali View, developed by Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA), is the second phase of a mixed-income neighborhood development consisting of multifamily senior housing, townhouse condos, and affordable family rental housing. This second phase of development consists of 6 affordable rental duplexes (Coronado Park) and an affordable multifamily 27-apartment senior housing building (Qintali View). The 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) was used to finance the property, with syndication provided by R4 Capital.
The site of a former trailer park, Coronado Park was redeveloped to offer affordable housing to residents of Eagle River, Alaska, near Anchorage. The design and planning of Coronado Park took into consideration the Eagle River Central Business Revitalization Plan and the Chugiak-Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Update, which aimed to provide positive investment in Eagle River and locate new housing within walking distance of the downtown area’s businesses, services, and associated job opportunities. The decision to build six ranch-style duplexes allowed for a smaller building footprint, which best fit the challenging site and Alaskan topography. As a result of the varied types of housing, residents were given choices between rental townhouse-style apartments, rental ranch-style apartments, homeownership condos, or senior rental apartments located in multifamily buildings. These options bring a diversity of residents to the Coronado Park neighborhood, and subsequently produced a strong multi-generational community at the properties.
CIHA provided a robust offering of resident engagement activities and opportunities for senior residents and families. The CIHA Resident Engagement team worked with partners to deliver high quality, effective programming to keep residents engaged with their neighbors and community. Programming available to residents includes volunteering, group exercise and art classes, and field trips to destinations selected by residents. Coronado Park II families can also take advantage of financial literacy, cooking, and homebuyer preparation classes. CIHA’s Community Resource & Referral Program connects residents to local social service resources, and legal and tax assistance. CIHA also partnered with the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center (CERSC) to extend an invitation for Qintali View residents to attend their weekday congregate lunch, as well as access to their fitness room and engagement with other programming, while providing CERSC bus service to help transport senior residents to the site.
An intentional plan to include a large green space or park as a central feature of the neighborhood allows residents access to community gardens, a play area and gathering space and gives meaning to the Coronado Park name. It’s a space that anchors the neighborhood and builds community. Qintali View residents enjoy a view of Mount Baldy, a prominent local landmark. The Dena’ina, who are indigenous to the lands upon which Coronado Park II/Qintali View were constructed, call the mountain “qintali,” meaning “wide ridge.” CIHA is an Alaska Native organization, and in order to honor the traditional and current lands of the Dena’ina, the organization uses place names that recognize and uplift the culture in the present day.
Learn more about how the Housing Credit serves Native Americans here.
Congressional Recognition
Remarks from U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Senator Murkowski shared in a congratulatory video, “These developments will provide safe and quality affordable housing to so many Alaskans… Cook Inlet [Housing Authority] often goes above and beyond developing buildings and housing. They work with the natural landscape to honor Native traditions and consider the unique needs of their community members to thrive…These affordable housing units were developed using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which I have long supported. This Congress, I’m a co-sponsor of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act which works to expand the Housing Credit… these changes are crucial to meet the growing need for affordable housing.”
Remarks from U.S. Representative Don Young (R-AK)
“Access to safe, stable, affordable housing is one of the most important ways we can empower Alaskan families to live productive and dignified lives. This is especially true as we continue to recover from the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Representative Don Young. “For nearly five decades, the Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA) has helped hundreds of Alaskans secure housing; they have left a decisively positive impact on our state. The Coronado Park/Qintali View development is impressive, and I am very proud that it has won the 2021 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards in the small metropolitan category. This project was made possible in part by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which is one of the most essential federal tools to help Americans from all walks of life secure housing. I have been a long-time supporter of this tax credit, and continue to work to ensure its solvency and success. I am proud to be CIHA’s partner in Congress and remain committed to solutions that help Alaska’s families keep roofs over their heads.”
Rep. Young also shared his congratulations on Twitter and Facebook.