MHDC Awards Rise and Partners for Affordable Housing Projects

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Inquiries:

Larry Perlmutter, Rise Communications and Development Manager

314-333-7008

[email protected]

MHDC Awards Rise and Partners for Affordable Housing Projects

Rise and its partners are awarded $49MM to develop 149 Affordable Homes and apartments in St. Louis

St. Louis – December 23, 2021-On December 16, 2021, the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) conducted its regular meeting to consider staff 2021 Affordable Housing Development funding recommendations. The commission approved staff recommendations and Rise Community Development (Rise) along with several partners were awarded over $49MM for 4 development projects.

The approved projects include Baden School Apartments, a 50-unit mixed-income development, Marquette Homes a 60-unit historic rehab/infill new construction that includes housing for veterans, Elliot Place, a 39-unit affordable housing project providing housing for families with special needs, and the mixed-income, mixed-use 48 Fields Place providing homes for seniors aged 62 and up

The partners involved include Lutheran Development Group for Baden School Apartments and Marquette Homes, DOORWAYS on Elliot Place, and Efficacy Consulting and Development and North Newstead Association on 48 Fields Place. Rise will serve as the development consultant on all of the projects, with the exception of Marquette Homes where Rise will serve as the developer and managing general partner.

“What if you found out you were going to be able to restore an amazing, historic school in Baden and provide 50 affordable homes. And, what if you just found out you would be able to help 39 families living with HIV/AIDS move into permanent, supportive housing?” exclaimed Mark Stroker, Director of Real Estate Development at Rise. “And….what if you found out you’d be developing 50 units of affordable senior housing and a really cool grocery store in a food desert. And, then realized you’d secured funding to restore historic buildings and build new homes helping stabilize Gravois Park and Dutchtown, a couple of the coolest neighborhoods in the city. And, what if it all happened in one day. With the help of so many….it happened today. What a day.”

 “Rise is privileged to be able to partner with diverse groups like DOORWAYS, Lutheran Development Group, Efficacy Consulting, and the North Newstead Association to improve the living conditions of so many people within the St. Louis metropolitan region,” said Terrell Carter, President and Executive Director of Rise. “The areas where these projects will occur all hold a certain level of personal significance to me as well. I either grew up going to various churches in these neighborhoods or I patrolled them as a police officer for the City of St. Louis in the late 90s and early 2000s. I’m honored that Rise has the opportunity to help others make a positive impact in these communities.”

About Rise (www.risestl.org) Rise is a nonprofit organization that partners with communities to build stronger, more equitable St. Louis area neighborhoods.  Rise develops both affordable and market-rate housing, particularly in neighborhoods with the potential to enhance economic diversity. Rise acts as a resource and partner to the greater St. Louis community, providing expertise that helps the region grow in an equitable way. Bringing together neighbors, non-profit organizations, financial institutions, and government, Rise is working every day to make successful neighborhood revitalization possible.

About Lutheran Development Group (www.ldgstl.org) Lutheran Development Group strengthens communities near our city’s churches through real estate development, community initiatives, ministry investment, and church engagement.

About DOORWAYS (www.doorwayshousing.org) DOORWAYS is an interfaith non-profit organization that provides housing and related supportive services to improve quality of life and health outcomes for people affected by HIV/AIDS.

About Efficacy Consulting and Development (www.efficacycd.com) Founded in 2007 Efficacy Consulting & Development is a M/WBE firm focused on providing affordable, quality housing for inner-city St. Louisans.

About North Newstead Association (www.northnewstead.org) The North Newstead Association (NNA) is a Missouri not-for-profit corporation designated by the City of St.   Louis as a Community Based Development Organization, or “CBDO” for purposes of the Community Development Block Grant Program and it is designated by the City of St. Louis as a Community Housing Development Organization, or “CHDO” for purposes of Home Investment Partnerships Program.

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Rise Partners with UMSL for Community Data Support

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RISE PARTNERS WITH UMSL FOR COMMUNITY DATA SUPPORT

Rise and the St. Louis Regional Data Alliance at UMSL come together to help expand Rise’s Informed Community Development Data

ST. LOUIS, MO (October 1st, 2021) –Rise Community Development (Rise) formed a partnership with the St. Louis Regional Data Alliance (RDA) at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) for ongoing data support that continues Rise’s focus on data-informed community development while combining more flexible and expansive data expertise that RDA and UMSL offers. 

This partnership will result in collaborative opportunities between the organizations that will combine Rise’s mission-driven affordable housing technical expertise with RDA’s data management expertise which is strengthened through connections across UMSL — including a partnership with UMSL’s Geospatial Collaborative, which champions research, technological innovation, and community engagement to help local stakeholders make the best policy decisions to improve our neighborhoods.

“Rise is excited to partner with the Regional Data Alliance to fulfill the data needs of our partners and projects,” said Terrell Carter, president and executive director at Rise. “Data is a valuable asset in the community engagement process. It can provide valuable information that can make good community engagement efforts even better. Paul Sorenson and staff are committed to helping people understand and utilize data as a means to address the many inequities that we find in St. Louis, including housing and access to other needed services.”

“Rise has been an essential partner of the RDA since our inception,” said Paul Sorenson, Director of the St. Louis Regional Data Alliance at UMSL. “We couldn’t be more excited to help expand their impact on equitable neighborhood development across the region through the use of responsive, community-oriented data — and can’t wait to see what we can do together.”

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About Rise: (www.risestl.org) Rise is a nonprofit organization that partners with communities to build stronger, more equitable St. Louis area neighborhoods. Rise develops both affordable and market-rate housing, particularly in neighborhoods with the potential to enhance economic diversity. Rise acts as a resource and partner to the greater St. Louis community, providing expertise that helps the region grow in an equitable way. Bringing together neighbors, non-profit organizations, financial institutions and government, Rise is working every day to make successful neighborhood revitalization possible.

About the RDA: (www.stldata.org) The St. Louis Regional Data Alliance (RDA) is housed at the University of Missouri – St. Louis’s Community Innovation and Action Center (CIAC). Over the past three years, the RDA has built a strong data community of over 350 local data practitioners and has developed infrastructure to support data efforts across local governments, social services, public health stakeholders, and education providers.  

Contact: Larry Perlmutter

[email protected]/314-443-8282     

TERRELL CARTER CHOSEN AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RISE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      

TERRELL CARTER CHOSEN AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RISE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Replaces Long-Time Leader Stephen Acree

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 16, 2021) – The Board of Directors of Rise Community Development announced today that Terrell Carter, 47, has been chosen as their new Executive Director effective July 1, 2021. Carter, a St. Louis native with extensive and varied experience empowering people and communities, was chosen unanimously. “Terrell is clearly passionate about St. Louis and helping people improve their communities,” says Rise Board Co-Chairperson Mary Campbell. “He will take ownership in Rise’s mission of partnering with communities to build stronger, more equitable neighborhoods.”

Carter has enjoyed a wide-ranging career bringing about positive changes in the St. Louis region’s diverse communities.  He most recently served as Chief Diversity Officer at Greenville University in Greenville, Illinois, where he created and implemented the institution’s first ever diversity and inclusion plan. He has led two local non-profits, successfully serving Northside residents and seniors in the region, and he has experience in construction and residential development project management. Carter began his community-focused career as a St. Louis City police officer, an experience that informed his thought leadership in the authorship of a number of books, including Walking the Blue Line: A Police Officer Turned Community Activist Provides Solutions to the Racial Divide and Healing Racial Divides: Finding Strength in Our Diversity. Carter holds a Doctorate of Ministry from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, focusing his work on organizational leadership.

As executive director, Carter will work closely with staff to build trust and work towards identifying new opportunities that will lay the foundation for the continued success of Rise.  “My calling in life is to serve others by helping them improve their life circumstances,” says Carter. “Rise is the preeminent St. Louis organization that not only improves the lives of individuals but the outlook of our region. It is a privilege to join this organization.”

Carter will succeed Stephen Acree who announced his retirement last year. Acree joined the Regional Housing and Community Development Alliance (RHCDA), later rebranded as Rise, in 1999 and became Executive Director in 2001. Under his leadership, Rise completed $300 million in residential development, with over 1,200 units of affordable housing in St. Louis, was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and more recently, has taken an active role in neighborhood planning that focuses on racial equity and emphasizes community engagement.

“Leading Rise for such a large share of my career has been an honor and a privilege,” says Acree. “I have been fortunate to work with some amazing people, including a highly talented and dedicated staff, a supportive board of directors, and many strong partners throughout the community. “

There will be a gradual transition over the next few months as Acree works with Carter to ensure a smooth transfer of leadership.

For photos of Carter and Acree, please click here.

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About Rise Community Development

Rise Community Development (www.RiseSTL.org) is a nonprofit organization that partners with communities to build stronger, more equitable St. Louis-area neighborhoods. As a community lender, Rise develops affordable and market-rate housing, particularly in neighborhoods with the potential to enhance economic diversity. Rise also provides capacity-building and technical assistance to community-based development organizations. Additionally, the organization maintains a variety of data and mapping for areas throughout the region and assists in the collection and creation of data specific to developments and neighborhoods.

Contact: Larry Perlmutter
[email protected]/314-443-8282