Aurora Housing Authority

Newsroom

Media Contact

Linda Jaster
720 .251 .2067ljaster@aurorahousing.org

AURORA HOUSING AUTHORITY ACHIEVES 100% SEMAP SCORE

Aurora Housing Authority has received a 100% High Performer rating for the FY2007 Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP).  This is the third year in a row that AHA has achieved this rating. 

The Section Eight Management Assessment Program measures the performance of the public housing agencies (PHAs) that administer the housing choice voucher program in 14 key areas. They are:

• Proper selection of applicants from the housing choice voucher waiting list
• Sound determination of reasonable rent for each unit leased
• Establishment of payment standards within the required range of the HUD fair market rent
• Accurate verification of family income
• Timely annual reexaminations of family income
• Correct calculation of the tenant share of the rent and the housing assistance payment
• Maintenance of a current schedule of allowances for tenant utility costs
• Ensure units comply with the housing quality standards before families enter into leases and PHAs enter into housing assistance contracts
• Timely annual housing quality inspections
• Performing of quality control inspections to ensure housing quality
• Ensure that landlords and tenants promptly correct housing quality deficiencies
• Ensure that all available housing choice vouchers are used
• Expand housing choice outside areas of poverty or minority concentration
• Enroll families in the family self-sufficiency (FSS) program as required and help FSS families achieve increases in employment income.

AURORA HOUSING AUTHORITY WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Aurora Housing Authority (AHA) staff and supporters gathered to welcome Craig A. Maraschky, the new executive director of AHA, at a reception at the 1st Ave Residences Thursday, March 27.

Maraschky presented a commemorative plaque to Linda Jaster in recognition of her service as interim AHA executive director. 

Maraschky has 15 year’s experience in the affordable housing community and most recently served as the founding executive director of the Douglas County Housing Partnership where he helped start up many programs and operations.

Previously he served the Adams County Housing Authority as Manger of Planning and Operations.  There, he oversaw program operations and development of single and multifamily housing inventory. 

Maraschky earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University and his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado.  In addition he is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and also certified as a Housing Development Financial Professional by the National Development Council.

Aurora Housing Authority Announces New Executive Director

Craig A. Maraschky has been named the new executive director of Aurora Housing Authority effective February 11, 2008. 

Maraschky has 15 years of experience in the affordable housing community and most recently served as the founding executive director of the Douglas County Housing Partnership where he helped start-up many programs and operations.

Maraschky’s background includes redevelopment, refinancing and management of a diversified multifamily housing portfolio, in addition to public housing, Housing Choice Voucher program, Community Development Block Grant, HOME, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Mortgage Revenue Bonds.  Maraschky also served as a vice president of the Aurora Housing Corporation Board of Directors.

He served the Adams County Housing Authority as Manger of Planning and Operations.  There, he oversaw program operations and development of single and multifamily housing inventory. 

Subsequent to five years of military service, Maraschky was executive director for Rutland West Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. in Rutland, Vermont; Housing and Neighborhood Services Manager, City of Thornton, CO, and Housing Administrator for Arapahoe County. 

Maraschky earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University and his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado.  In addition he is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and also certified as a Housing Development Financial Professional by the National Development Council. 

Two Top Awards for AHA at Vail Conference

The Aurora Housing Authority won two of the top awards at the 19th Annual Housing Colorado NOW! Conference in Vail Oct. 1- 4.

AHA received the prestigious Eagle award for outstanding leadership and accomplishments related to affordable housing and supportive services in Colorado.  The agency also received the People’s Choice Award, which was created in 1999 as an opportunity for conference attendees to evaluate cutting edge work in the affordable housing field.

The 19th Annual Housing Colorado NOW Conference, Colorado's premier affordable housing event, attracted over 500 housing professionals to Vail, October 1-4. The four-day conference featured keynote presentations from national experts, a Colorado Public Policy panel, over 30 juried workshops on best practices and housing trends, and exhibits.

 

 

Preston Prince to leave Aurora Housing Authority

September 27, 2007

Preston Prince, executive director of the Aurora Housing Authority, has announced he is leaving to become executive director of the Housing Authorities, City and County of Fresno, California.

In his new post, Prince will be overseeing an annual operating budget of approximately
$100 million and 210 full-time employees.

At AHA, Prince has managed an annual budget of approximately $21 million with 63 employees. In the five years he has been with AHA, he has increased the Authority’s housing inventory by 36%, from 2,207 units in June 2002 to approximately 3,000 units in June 2007. Prince has also managed the Aurora Housing Corporation, increasing its inventory by 77% in five years.

Kay Barnes, Chair of the Aurora Housing Authority Board of Commissioners credited Prince as the driving force in creating a strong, financially independent agency.

“Preston has diversified the Authority’s portfolio which has enabled the agency to move away from dependence on traditional federal housing programs.   In the five years he has been at the Aurora Housing Authority he has shown great leadership, not only within the agency but within the City, State and also the region.  He will be missed and we wish him the best in Fresno,” Barnes said.

The Fresno authorities administer a variety of affordable housing programs, including public housing, farm labor and migrant farm worker housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program. They own and/or manage more than 17,000 housing units.

Prince has served as AHA executive director since 2002, and is credited with transforming the agency into a creative and entrepreneurial enterprise. His most significant achievements include tax credit projects that have increased affordable housing opportunities in Aurora. In 2006 alone, AHA was involved in six tax credit projects.

Reflecting on the past five years, Prince said, “The team at the Authority comprised of the Board of Commissioners and staff have worked closely with the City of Aurora and its elected officials, staff, and community members to transform the affordable housing landscape.  I have been lucky to have worked with such amazing and passionate people who have had an immensely positive impact on the lives of our families.

In 2007, Prince was honored with the Extra Mile award for his contributions and service to Rocky Mountain NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials).

The 2007 state NAHRO conference earlier this spring named Prince the Outstanding Director. AHA was also awarded Best Annual Report, Best Newsletter and the Presidents Award, in recognition for its high performance in 2006. AHA staffers received the Outstanding Staff Member, Affordable Housing Design, and the Community Revitalization Award at the state NAHRO conference.

 

Self assistance program honors hard workers 

September 25, 2007

(Aurora, CO) Fifteen graduates of the Aurora Housing Corporation’s (AHC) STRIDE program were honored September 19 at the annual Celebration of Success. Honorees gathered with their families and other guests to be recognized for their accomplishments, which ranged from completing college programs to becoming homeowners.

 

 

Graduates included Everline Tinner, Debra Kelly, Ramona Hayes, Keacha Barnes, Gwen Stafford, Jennifer Dale, Latanya Austin, Carisa Scaggs, Adrienne Norwood, Sharletta Evans, Kari Grisby, Gerald Abeyta, Eva Ballone, Angila Weatherspoon-Carlis and Shonetta Cooper.

 

Graduate Sharletta Evans offered special thanks to the staff and program of STRIDE for her success.  Evans worked with program directors to recuperate from the loss of her three-year-old son, Casson, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1995.  She related how STRIDE helped her overcome her grief, improve her education and put her life back together.  The program enabled her to start her own non-profit organization Redcross Blueshield Gang Prevention Inc.  “STRIDE provided me with the mentality to move forward”, said Evans, “…every step I have made is an achievement dedicated to the program and I am grateful to all in STRIDE and AHA.”

AHA Executive Director, Preston Prince and STRIDE Board President Cindy Cannon presented awards to the graduates and also honored the contributions of AHA employees Tanya Morris and Terri Marquantte as well as John Paulus of Christ Lutheran Church who donates household goods, and holiday baskets for STRIDE clients each year. “This is a very special night of the year for Aurora Housing Authority when we take the time to praise the accomplishments of our honorees," Preston said.

Cannon, an alum of the program shared the myriad life changing experiences she has witnessed while serving the program.  She congratulated the evening’s honorees and commended the dedication of the program’s participants.  “These graduates are elite and outstanding…They are the ones who do the hard work and make the difference she said.”

Magician Robert Nedbalski of Ned’s Mile High Magic & More entertained the crowd who dined on a fried chicken dinner catered by Katherine’s French Bakery.  Each family had their portrait taken by Ryden & Associates.

 

 

 

Aurora Housing Authority Touts Honors from 2007 NAHRO

The Aurora Housing Authority (AHA) brought home four top awards from the Regional NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) annual conference in St. George, Utah, June 7.  Representing AHA were Preston Prince, Executive Director; Penny VanderWall, Director of Assisted Housing; and Jennifer Maldonado, Lead Housing Specialist for Section 8.

Prince was honored with the Extra Mile award for his contributions and service to NAHRO.  AHA was awarded Best Annual Report, Best Newsletter and the Presidents Award, in recognition for its high performance in 2006.

Prince was moderator for the National Outlook on Housing session and Building Bridges forum session.  He also spoke at the Development and Tax Credits and NAHRO Vision 2031 lectures.  Penny VanderWall was featured speaker on Section 8 Occupancy – Landing on a Dime.  Jennifer Maldonado was a featured speaker at the PIC/EIV lecture.

AHA also swept the state NAHRO awards earlier this spring.  Prince was named Outstanding Director while Tania Morris, AHA Manager of Assisted Housing, was named Outstanding Staff Member.  The Affordable Housing Design Award went to Jennifer Siegel for the Plaza Townhomes at Macon/Moline, and the Community Revitalization Award was presented to Elizabeth Gundlach-Neufeld, for the 2006 Aurora Community reinvestment Program. 

More information about Colorado NAHRO and the Aurora Housing Authority is available online at www.conahro.org or www.aurorahousing.org.

 

Grand Opening of RESIDENCES AT TROLLEY PARK 

September 25, 2007

The Aurora Housing Authority (AHA) hosted the Grand Opening celebration for the Trolley Park residences at 1445 Dallas Street August 30, 2007.  Nearly 100 people gathered for the event and were treated to tours of the nearly-complete units.

Edward J. Tauer, Mayor of Aurora, Congressman Ed Perlmutter and City Council members Bob Broom, Brad Pierce, Deb Wallace, and Renie Peterson were escorted on tours of the property. Also in attendance were Pat Noonan, Arapahoe County Commissioners Office and Aurora City officials, including Ron Miller, City Manager, Diane Truwe, Director of Development Services, Nancy Sheffield, Director, Neighborhood Services and Joseph Garcia, Manager, Community Development.

Odell Architects and AHA designed and built the 38-unit development. 17 units will be available to households earning 40% of the Area Median Income.  Seven units are available to those at or below 50% of AMI and 14 are available for those at 60% AMI. The 7-acre site was formerly a parking lot for the police sub-station that was moved to the new Martin Luther King Library.  The land was deeded by the City of Aurora to Dallas Street Affordable Housing LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the AHA.

AHA Executive Director, Preston Prince gave special thanks to Mayor Tauer and his staff for their strong support and contributions.  Tauer commented, “This is community housing not affordable housing…the keyword is TEAMs.” 

Also recognized as important project partners were: Tony Antista, President, FirstBank of Aurora; Andy Jetter, CEO, Federal Home Loan bank of Topeka; John Carson, Regional Director, (HUD); and Kimberly Pardoe, Vice President, MMA Financial.

Perlmutter praised the effort, saying, “The enthusiasm for this project has become infectious…teachers, nurses and the fabric of the community will live in this housing…I want to compliment and congratulate the project and all who participated.”

 

Senior Ball

Residents from Aurora Housing Authority’s two senior complexes, Buckingham Gardens and Fletcher Gardens, attended the 2007 Senior Ball on September 25 at CentrePoint Plaza in Aurora.

In keeping with the tropical luau theme, each guest received a lei as they entered the brightly decorated room. The Hawaiian menu; included a whole roast pig donning sunglasses and sporting an apple in its mouth.  Several guests had their picture taken with Mr. Pig.  This centerpiece was great fun during the evening, not to mention serving as a delicious entree.  Vegetarian fare was also provided.

Guests were entertained by a charming and very skilled professional dancer who entertained them with various styles of Hawaiian dancing and music, as well as dances from other native and Polynesian cultures.   Audience members were coaxed to the front of the room to learn the Hawaiian hula, complete with a discussion of the meaning of the arm movements and dance steps in this graceful art. 

The evening concluded with a beautiful “Tres Leches” cake, a concoction of flavorful cake, crème and fresh fruit.  The music continued as guests danced to Hawaiian, doo wop and a variety of other popular music.

 

AmeriCorps/HealthCorps Volunteers Give First Aid to Villa Verde

April 10, 2007

Americorp/Healthcorp volunteers lent their time and resources to educate Villa Verde children on emergency safety tips throughout the month of March.  The non-profit organization initiated an after school program mentoring children in proper conduct during a medical emergency. Volunteers helped children to understand what should be done when encountering an emergency situation.  The children learned when to call 9-1-1 and the necessary dialogue required to report a medical emergency.

Villa Verde is a small apartment community located in the 1600 block of Alton in old Aurora. Aurora Housing Authority completed rehabilitation of the apartment complex in 2004 including a community room offering residents and the neighborhood helpful services and beneficial resources.  

Americorp/Healthcorp volunteers used the community room to provide youngsters with the experience of giving descriptive information to an imaginary 9-1-1 operator.  The event concluded with the children constructing first aid kits, learning how to identify different wounds and then the necessary bandages to dress them.

Over the past year, volunteers have engaged the children in crafts that are fun and educational.  For example, they made paper turkeys while sharing what they’re thankful for during the Thanksgiving holiday.  In February, they made valentines for their neighbors and friends.

The community room has also hosted many other activities including the City of Aurora Mobile Playground, Girl Scouts, a computer lab, and after school homework help.

 

Fletcher Gardens Apartments Renovated, Rededicated

December 26, 2006

After a year of time and over $2.3 million spent in renovation, the 93-unit Fletcher Garden senior apartments held a rededication ceremony and open house Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006. Owned and managed by the Aurora Housing Authority (AHA), the eight-story building at 1401 Emporia St. in Aurora has provided affordable housing to low-income seniors since 1978.

Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer spoke at the rededication ceremony, praising the revitalization efforts of the Aurora Housing Authority, and telling the residents and many guests gathered for the event that “the people here deserve” to live in an upgraded and beautified home.  Preston Prince, Executive Director of the Aurora Housing Authority, thanked the many people in the public-private partnership who helped make this significant achievement possible. 

Financing for the project was made possible by City of Aurora Private Activity Bonds, and the allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.  US Bank did a private placement of the bonds, which provided reduced interest loans for the renovation and the permanent debt.  Apollo Housing Capital was the equity investor who purchased the tax credits.

Residents Ron Cushing and Lois Keener complimented the dedication and friendliness of the AHA construction staff, who performed most of the renovations.  Ms. Keener also commented on the new colorful façade, “I’m proud to call this new arts district landmark my home.”  She added the most exciting part about the renovation is the new common space for resident activities.

Originally opened in December 1978, the property was still functional, but “tired”.  The year-long renovation project included interior, exterior and system renovations. The new façade was painted in vibrant colors, complementing other nearby East Colfax Avenue community revitalization projects.  In each unit, residents received individual air conditioning units and new energy efficient windows, plus new carpeting, paint, light fixtures.  Kitchens were completely renovated with new cabinets, flooring and appliances, and bathrooms were also updated with new flooring, vanities, light fixtures, and tiled tub enclosures.  Common areas were upgraded with new furniture, carpeting, paint and artwork.  The updated community room now has access to a secured outdoor patio area, and also received a new kitchen.  A computer lab and hair styling salon are among new amenities for the residents. Parikh Stevens Architects provided design expertise in the renovations.

The rededication was attended by almost 200 residents, guests, and dignitaries.  In addition to Mayor Tauer, several representatives from CHFA, US Bank, Apollo Capital. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the City of Aurora, and the AHA Board of Commissioners were present.  Also present were two of the founding Board of Commisioners, who had been present at the initial dedication 28 years earlier.  Sister Michael Mary Eagan and Mr. Agnar Swanson fondly recalled the original opening of the Fletcher Garden apartments. 

Mr. Prince noted that Fletcher Gardens is one of six development projects for the AHA this year – a significant achievement.  These six developments, all of which are public-private partnerships made possible with the allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, comprise 472 units of affordable and sustainable housing for workforce Aurorans.  Fletcher Garden apartments provides for low-income seniors who are able to qualify for federal rental assistance.

To qualify for an apartment at Fletcher Gardens, applicants must be 62 years or older and earn at or below 50% of the Area Median Income.  (In Aurora, the AMI is $25,100 for a single individual.)  The majority of Fletcher Gardens residents have incomes below 30% of the AMI.  Through rental assistance provided by HUD, residents pay only 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent; the remainder of the rent is subsidized by HUD. 

The Aurora Housing Authority’s mission is to develop and promote quality housing while supporting and encouraging economic opportunities leading to self-sufficiency and independence. For information about Fletcher Gardens or the Aurora Housing Authority contact Elizabeth Gundlach Neufeld at 720-251-2075.