Federal Partnerships Work: HUD and BLM Providing Affordable Housing for Seniors

(Left to right) - Lynn Fulstone, Lionel Sawyer & Collins; Alan Molasky, Ovation CEO; Lorri Murphy, VP Ovation; Gayle Marrs-Smith, BLM Field Manager, Las Vegas Field Office; Robbie McAboy, BLM Acting Assistant Manager, Field Division of Lands; Michelle Leiber, BLM Realty Specialist; Phyllis Hargrove, Las Vegas Field Policy and Management-HUD; Jim Stobaugh, BLM National Project Manager.

Exterior view of Agate Avenue Apartments.

View of interior apartment.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been working together since 1999 to bring affordable housing to Southern Nevada. The latest development that is being developed through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) is the Agate Avenue Senior Apartments. SNPLMA allows BLM to convey federal land for the purpose of affordable housing in consultation with HUD.

On July 2, 2014 HUD and BLM staff gathered to meet and tour a senior apartment complex called Tempo. Tempo was developed by Ovation Development and will be the same developer of the Agate Avenue Senior Apartments.

The purpose of the visit was to give HUD and BLM a glimpse of what the Agate Avenue apartments will look like. The CEO of Ovation Development said that Tempo is the template for the Agate Avenue Apartments.

The Agate Avenue Senior Apartments phase one is currently under construction. The development will consist of approximately 110 one bedroom and 72 two bedroom units for senior citizens.

The development will feature the same amenities as Tempo which will include a pool and spa, an exercise room, a media and game room, a beauty salon (for residents only), an added feature of a doctor's office and much more. The units will lease from $481-$724 excluding utilities.

The Agate Avenue apartments are being developed through a multi governmental partnership including HUD and BLM, the State of Nevada, Clark County, Ovation and ASI housing developers.

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