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Portfolio
POLICE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA
Project Name: Police Administration Building
Address: 400 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Description: Redevelopment of the former Inquirer Building into the Police Administration Building (Police Headquarters) for the City of Philadelphia. Project included the renovation of this historic building into a public safety facility housing Police Administration, three Police District Offices, a unified 911 Call Center, and the Medical Examiners Office. The site also includes a parking garage for several hundred vehicles. The renovation was funded using City bond funds and Historic Tax Credits.
Role: Lead the acquisition/lease negotiations for this privately owned structure on behalf of the City of Philadelphia. Negotiated the construction scope and facilitated discussions between the building owner, General Contractor (GC) and various city departments to ensure the project budget and schedule were adhered to. This project was a unique public/private partnership, whereby the building will be leased from the owner during the historic tax credit compliance period and will then be purchased for the appraised, as used value. Although the renovation was funded with City bond funds, the renovations were privately contracted between the property owner and the GC. This allowed the City to get Best Value pricing on the redevelopment of the project.
Project Name: Spring Arts Point
Address: Three blocks in the area of 10th & Wallace Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Description: New construction of a mixed-use, mixed income community. Project consisted of 53 townhomes with rear parking. Corner units included live/work space. Ten percent of the units were sold at affordable prices with the purchase price subsidized by the sales proceeds of the market rate units.
Role: Served as project executive overseeing the acquisition of the property from several public agencies including the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Housing Authority. Secured project entitlements, selected development team and oversaw the entire development process.
SPRING ARTS POINT PHILADELPHIA, PA
Project Name: West Poplar Nehemiah Homes
Address: Vicinity of 13th & Poplar Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Description: New construction of 176 units for homeownership. The financing for the project included CDBG funds, a Section 108 guaranteed loan, and HUD Nehemiah dollars. City Captial funds were used for infrastructure improvements and street construction.
The development reconfigured the existing street pattern and created a Village Green community park, which is maintained by the Homeowners’ Association. The project was instrumental in transforming a blighted, abandoned area located between Center City and Temple University.
Role: Served as project manager, on behalf of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, which included oversight of land condemnation, relocation activities, project planning and site planning, reconfiguration of streets and project financing.
WEST POPLAR NEHEMIAH PHILADELPHIA, PA
THE PROVIDENT MUTUAL BUILDING PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA
Project Name: The Provident Campus
Address: 4601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
Description: Redevelopment of an historic publicly owned structure into a private, mixed-use commercial campus in West Philadelphia. The project is 15-acre transit-oriented development encompassing 325,000 square feet of public health, clinical and educational uses. The site has also received entitlements for approximately 1200 units of housing. The project was initially funded with City Capital dollars to stabilize the building prior to being disposed of to a private developer through an RFP process for redevelopment. The renovation of the property into active use was funded with private monies.
Role: Oversaw the development and administration of the RFP process on behalf of the City of Philadelphia. Reviewed all of the RFP respondents and selected final developer. Participated in negotiations finalizing the sales and redevelopment agreement with the developer.
HOUSING ACTION PLAN PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA
Project Name: Housing for Equity: An Action Plan for Philadelphia
Address: Citywide Philadelphia, PA
Description: First ever citywide comprehensive housing plan encompassing all sectors of the housing market from homeless to luxury housing. Based on data analysis, the plan identified the gaps and needs of the housing market in Philadelphia. The Plan is focused on implementation and how best to meet the comprehensive housing needs of the city by emphasizing and resourcing existing programs and identifying additional efforts needed to achieve housing equity for all Philadelphians. Completion of the plan resulted in the implementation of several new housing programs and additional resources being dedicated to housing efforts in Philadelphia, including the issuance of $400 million in Neighborhood Preservation Initiative (NPI) bonds. More information on the success of the plan can be found here: https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-planning-and-development/about/our-results/housing-action-plan-dashboard/.
Role: Initiated and oversaw the entire project. Ensured the vision of a reader friendly, accessible plan was achieved. Identified and created a series of steering committees to encompass a broad base of voices and perspectives. Chaired the Resources committee. Oversaw final document and implementation of the program and policy recommendations.
THE NATIONAL PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA
Project Name: The National
Address: 121 N. 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA
Description: New construction of 192 units of market-rate rental housing in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia. Project included the reconstruction of the historic orange tile façade as well as the reuse of the original metal signage.
Role: Secured all project entitlements including Historical Commission approval for the demolition and reconstruction of the historic orange tile façade.
NEUMANN NORTH PHILADELPHIA, PA
Project Name: Neumann North
Address: 1741 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Description: Redevelopment of a former hospital into 70 units of affordable housing for seniors. Project was financed using low-income housing tax credits, CDBG/HOME dollars, PHA Capital funds and Section 9 operating subsidies.
Role: The project was developed by a special purpose entity affiliate of the Dale Corporation. Served as the Developer and Project Executive.
Project Name: City Arts II
Address: 1700 Greenmount Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland
Description: City Arts II is a 60-unit multi-family building with studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments available to households at or below 60% of AMI. Preference is given to practicing artists and the building supports a variety of artistic activities, including a dance studio with a fully-sprung dance floor. Development was supported by low-income housing tax credits, project-based Section 8 vouchers, and state and local funding. Three organizations collaborated on the development, Homes for America, Jubilee Baltimore, and TRF Development Partners (now ReBuild Metro).
Role: As the Director of Development of TRF Development Partners (now ReBuild Metro), Martha Cross co-led the development of the building alongside her counterparts at Homes for America and Jubilee Baltimore.
CITY ARTS II MULTI-FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Project Name: City Arts II - Workforce Homeownership
Address: 400 block of E Lanvale Ave., Baltimore, Maryland
Description: Located just a block from City Arts and City Arts II multi-family buildings, City Arts II - Rehab is a seven-unit, for sale, rehabilitation and infill new construction project funded through a mix of private capital and state funds. Units were available to households at or below 120% of AMI and affordability requirements only needed to be met by the first owner, allowing for a wealth building opportunity for buyers. Rehabilitated homes received Baltimore’s CHAP 10-year historic property tax credit.
Role: As the Director of Development of TRF Development Partners (now ReBuild Metro), Martha Cross led the development of these units, including managing architects, engineers, an in-house construction team, and realtor to market and sell the units. Martha also worked closely with the State of Maryland to manage the subsidy funding application, closing, compliance, and reporting.
CITY ARTS II REHAB & INFILL HOMEOWNERSHIP, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Project Name: East Baltimore Historic, multiple phases
Address: Oliver Neighborhood, Baltimore, Maryland
Description: Scattered site rehabilitated historic homes utilizing a mix of local and state funds, federal historic tax credits, and private capital over three phased projects. Vacant and highly dilapidated rowhomes were rebuilt to their historic specifications, including brick, tile, wood trim details, wood windows, and hardwood floor to provide high-quality mixed-income rental units in East Baltimore. All units are restricted to households making 80% of the Area Median Income or less.
East Baltimore Historic II was awarded an ACHP/HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation and a HUD Workforce Grant that helped to fund the rehabilitation of the commercial space at 1301 N. Broadway into CUPs Coffeehouse and Café. CUPs employs at-risk youth through Project I CAN, a non-profit workforce development program.
Role: As the Director of Development of TRF Development Partners (now ReBuild Metro), Martha Cross led the development and production of approximately 25-30 homes per year over several years for East Baltimore Historic II and III, including managing design, engineering, and construction.
HISTORIC REHAB - AFFORDABLE RENTAL, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Project Name: Treasure Philly!
Address: Citywide, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Description: Born out of the Mayor’s Task Force on Historic Preservation, Treasure Philly! is a first-of-its-kind effort to preserve cultural resources in Philadelphia. Treasure Philly! is exploring new ways to identify and record these resources. This pilot project is part of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. The Commission wants to bring to light the many histories of Philadelphia that were previously overlooked. Treasure Philly! is a test to find new ways to improve the Philadelphia Historical Commission's ways of documenting, designating, and protecting our city's history.
Role: Martha Cross was the staff person in charge of the Mayor’s Task Force and led implementation efforts including preservation incentive zoning legislation, a new type of historic district, and Treasure Philly! Martha was responsible for obtaining funding for Treasure Philly! and overseeing the work.
CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY PLAN & PILOT, PHILADELPHIA, PA