a Better Bubble™

Tower Grove CDC

HomeScreen Partners with MRI Software to Drive Increased Access to Affordable Housing

2 years 2 months ago

St. Louis-based HomeScreen establishes its first technology integration with an enterprise property management platform to grow the impact of tenant screening services

 

[Saint Louis, MO, January 25, 2022] – HomeScreen, a nonprofit tenant screening service that works to create more equitable and stable rental housing within communities, announced that it has partnered with MRI Software, a global leader in real estate solutions. The partnership will expand the reach of its services to help even more landlords and property managers nationwide meet the demand for an inclusive and innovative tenant screening process. 

 

HomeScreen is a product of the Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation and is the only tenant screening service available that actively works to end the national affordable housing crisis. The net revenue generated from HomeScreen’s application fees is directly reinvested in creating more affordable housing. 

 

“HomeScreen allows both tenants and landlords to feel confident in their choice of a safe, affordable place to live,” said Janice Drake, Board President, Tower Grove. “We are pleased to be the only certified nonprofit partner to integrate with MRI.”

 

HomeScreen believes that affordable housing is a racial justice issue. The company has restructured the way tenant screening has historically been performed by incorporating alternative forms of data for credit invisible or justice-involved applicants. Using innovative, thorough, technology-driven and progressive screening criteria, HomeScreen recommends over 85% of the applicants that come through the platform, resulting in housing secured for tens of thousands of renters. 

 

“Since using HomeScreen, I have a 100% success rate,” said Jason Lukasek, a HomeScreen landlord since 2019. “No evictions as a result of using HomeScreen.”

 

“We are excited to announce that HomeScreen is now a certified MRI Solution Partner, affirming the solution has a scalable integration that is live and ready for implementations,” said Sean Slack, vice president of partnerships at MRI Software. “This partnership demonstrates our support of HomeScreen and the work they’re doing to end the affordable housing crisis, which aligns with MRI’s own commitment to strengthening and advancing underserved communities globally.”

 

HomeScreen selected MRI as its first enterprise property management software integration due to the company’s strong affordable and public housing footprint, thriving partner ecosystem, and mission alignment. MRI partners with more than 200 technology companies, included several tenant screening solutions, but HomeScreen is the only certified nonprofit partner. 

 

HomeScreen’s integration with MRI allows MRI clients to be onboarded quickly, delivering an exceptional experience for joint clients. The revenue generated from this partnership will also be used to enrich ARCH by HomeScreen: At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing. ARCH is a database of available rental units shared with nonprofit organizations and was created in response to COVID-19’s economic impacts, especially on low-income renters. ARCH by HomeScreen launched in March 2021 and has led to hundreds of housing leads for the housing insecure.  

 

About HomeScreen

HomeScreen is a nonprofit tenant screening service that works to create more equitable and stable rental housing within communities. A product of the Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation launched in 2019, HomeScreen is a web-based software developed using grant funding through the Equifax Foundation. 

 

Tower Grove has served Saint Louis through supporting responsible development and creating affordable housing for over 40 years.

 

Contacts:

 

HomeScreen

Ella Gross

Manager

ella@towergrovecdc.org

Ella Gross

Energy Efficiency Updates at TGNCDC Properties

2 years 3 months ago

TGNCDC is committed to making all rental properties more energy-efficient, especially our own portfolio.

We invested in energy efficiency improvements at (2) four-family buildings, utilizing Ameren’s Income Eligible Rebate program, co-delivered with Spire. We worked with Ameren’s program implementer, International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology, for audits and rebates and provided feedback on program delivery to the utilities at the Missouri Energy Efficiency Advisory Collaborative - Low Income Work Group.  Grants from the U.S. Bank Foundation helped make the projects possible.

At 3606-08 Bamberger the project included:

  • installing (26) energy star rated windows

  • (4) 15.5 SEER central A/C

  • (4) 96% efficient gas furnaces, programmable thermostats

  • LED bulbs

  • shower and faucet aerators

  • total cost = $41,096.30,

  • ·rebate = $10,015.68

  • U.S. Bank Foundation contributed = $25,000

  • projected annual electric savings = $635

  • projected annual natural gas savings = $1,340

At 3169-71 Alfred, the project includes

  • installing (36) energy star rated windows

  • (2) 9% efficient gas furnaces

  • programmable thermostats

  • LED bulbs

  • shower and faucet aerators

  • (4) energy star gas water heaters, to be installed

  • Estimated total cost = $25,227

  • Estimated rebate = $6,848

  • U.S. Bank Foundation contributed = $30,000

  • projected annual electric savings = $765

  • projected annual natural gas savings = $914.  

In addition to working on our properties, we also worked with many like-minded organizations on the Energy Efficiency for All Grant, logging more than 800 hours advocating for healthy, energy efficient, affordable housing.

We look forward to continuing this work in 2022!  

Ella Gross

Conversation with an ARCH Landlord

2 years 4 months ago

As we enter the holiday season, we are reflecting on our newest program, ARCH by HomeScreen: At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing. ARCH launched in March of this year to help renters whose housing was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to secure housing in an unsecure time. ARCH can help renters with all types of housing barriers, including recent evictions, a criminal conviction, or credit issues.

Since launching, we have on-boarded over 90 landlords with over 380 properties to be shared with local nonprofits seeking housing for their clients. We have over 130 nonprofit users from 43 organizations currently using ARCH.

We have successfully housed a growing number of renters through ARCH and are gathering feedback from our landlords after a few months of tenancy. We wanted to share one success story, while sharing all parties’ privacy. 

HomeScreen: Thank you again for being one of the first landlords to sign up for ARCH and accept an applicant through the portal. Can you describe the process of meeting with your tenant for the first time? 

Landlord: Absolutely. I listed my property on the platform and got a phone call from the Caseworker. We discussed the Tenant and his criminal background. The Caseworker asked if I would be interested in moving forward. I was, so we all met face to face to view the property, including the Tenant and his son. At the meeting, I got a good impression from the Tenant and the Caseworker’s program, so I asked them to fill out an application. The background check verified what we already knew, so I was expecting the criminal record, but there were no other surprises. Next, we completed the occupancy and other inspections. The Caseworker’s boss came to the next meeting, which really gave me the sense that the Tenant was supported. I trusted the system they had created for the Tenant and he has been on time with payments every month since moving in in April. We have had no issues at all. 

HomeScreen: Was this the first time you have ever rented to someone with a criminal conviction before? 

Landlord: Yes, this was the first time, but I felt like as a smaller landlord I was compelled to take a chance on someone that a larger company might rule out automatically. 

HomeScreen: Oh that’s interesting. I always had a sense that smaller landlords might be more risk averse than larger companies. 

Landlord: Well, as a police officer for 20 years, I have a different set of life experiences than other landlords may have. I have a unique perspective on the criminal system and especially on someone who has spent many years in jail, like the Tenant had. The fact that the Tenant had a support system - his son, his Caseworker and her boss - standing behind him, made me comfortable with moving forward with the lease. They were all a part of his homecoming and had a plan in place to be successful. 

HomeScreen: And what would you say to a landlord who is on the fence about participating in ARCH? 

Landlord: I would say follow your heart and your mind. Each applicant is unique and has their own story and each landlord accepts tenants that fit their unique perspectives. 

HomeScreen: I love to hear you say that because we wanted to design ARCH to be a connection point for landlords and nonprofits who all share in our mission, but still give landlords control over their decision making process. 

Landlord: Exactly. I feel like I am working with a tenant I am drawn to.

HomeScreen: Well thank you again! I am excited to share your story with others. 

If you are considering becoming an ARCH Landlord, please reach out to us at info@myhomescreen.org. We are happy to help answer your questions about the program. And don’t forget to check out our new video explaining the program!

Ella Gross

The Popcorn Bar opens at 3802 Gravois this weekend!

2 years 4 months ago

We are so excited to announce that The Popcorn Bar's grand opening is this Saturday November 20th from 1pm-4pm. The Popcorn Bar is the first business to open at 3802 Gravois which was previously a long term nuisance property. Our goal for the space was to support small, locally owned businesses and The Popcorn Bar is a perfect example!

"We have always loved Popcorn! One day we were in the kitchen experimenting and we came up with this popcorn recipe that was super delicious. Ever since then we have been out in the community letting others try it for free! We are an all female team who wish to succeed one pop at a time."

- Patricia Overton co-owner of The Popcorn Bar

Ella Gross

Good News! Landlord and Rehabber Training is back for 2022

2 years 4 months ago

Good News!  Our grant proposal was approved for the 2022 Landlord & Rehabber Training.  We will be collaborating with North Newstead Association and the Vacancy Collaborative on the delivery of this program.  The 2022 topics are:

  1. Mediation and other Practices to Avoid Eviction

  2. Funding Sources for RE Acquisition & Rehab

  3. Vetting & Hiring Contractors

  4. Creating a Healthy Home

  5. Housing & Utility Assistance Programs

  6. Marketing and Adhering to Fair Housing Laws

  7. Nuisance & Abandonment Lawsuits

  8. LRA, Tax Sales & Prop NS

  9. Leases & other Property Management Tools

  10. Missouri and Federal Tax Credits & Tax Abatement

The goal of this Collaborative Landlord and Rehabber Training Program is to stabilize our communities by building an eco-system of educated landlords, rehabbers, and small developers empowered to reduce vacancy and nuisance.  The program will enlist professionals from real estate, property management, law, accounting, preservation, & finance industries to share their knowledge on acquiring and developing real estate and implementing property management best practices.

Come to our trainings to learn, be empowered, and make a positive impact in our city.

This activity is funded by a HUD Community Development Block Grant via the St. Louis Community Development Administration.  We are grateful for their support.

Please direct speaker suggestion for any of these topics to dana@towergrovecdc.org.


Ella Gross

Energy Efficiency Improvements Continue

2 years 4 months ago

Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC continues to make energy efficiency improvements on select properties, thanks to a U.S. Bank Foundation grant, Ameren, and Spire rebates.

Improvements at a four family building in Tower Grove South neighborhood at 3606-08 Bamberger were completed in the fall of 2021. Improvements included Energy Star rated windows, faucet and shower aerators, LED light bulbs, high efficiency gas furnaces and central air conditioning. The project is anticipated to produce annual savings of $414 on natural gas and $635 on electric. These are savings generated for the tenants.  Other anticipated benefits include improved indoor air quality, greater comfort, less drafts, reduced maintenance calls, and peace of mind.

We are grateful to U.S. Bank Foundation, Ameren, and Spire for supporting this project! Learn more about the opportunities from Ameren and Spire for your own properties!

This winter, utility prices are expected to increase. If you or your tenants need utility assistance, see the below programs below from Ameren and Spire. on the Covid-19 Resources Page.

Covid-19 Resources
Ella Gross

Sticking to the Mission

2 years 5 months ago

The Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC mission is to promote responsible development, affordable housing and diverse character and vibrancy in the neighborhoods surrounding Tower Grove Park. We serve as a resources and vowed to keep our tenants safe and in secure housing throughout the pandemic. When tenants fell on hard times, we offered programs and resources to help. Our goal was to ensure that all of our tenants would be able to meet their basic human needs: food and shelter.

Over the past 18 months we have:

  • secured $127,600 for rental assistance in total. We worked with Prosperity Connection & Red Dough to provide $32,100. When state funds were released, we secured $95,500 in rental assistance through ERAP (Emergency Rental Arrears Program) and SAFHR (State Assistance for Housing Relief). As the pandemic continues, we will continue to support our tenants in need of rental assistance. 

  • provided $875 of grocery gift certificates to those who needed support.. The majority of our 90 tenants are low to middle income and many are or were employed in industries hit hard by the pandemic.

  • connected with our tenants and encourage tenants to shelter in place and build community within the buildings. We kept our tenants informed by sending emails about city guidelines and how to stay safe. We supported tenants with creative ways to relieve stress like backyard gardens, fire pits and community spaces helped tenants socialize safely.

  • compiled an extensive list of resources for tenants and procedures for property management and maintenance during Covid-19. This list includes free mediation services, as we encourage all landlords to use these resources before filing an eviction during this time.

We want to express our gratitude to TGNCDC’s Asset Manager, Kristan Nickels, who lead all of the efforts to date and continues to help our tenants and other members of the community navigate new programs. Because of her dedication, we can continue to provide safe, stable housing to our tenants now and in the future!

Ella Gross

Hard to Say Goodbye

2 years 6 months ago

When TGNCDC purchased 3600 Bamberger in 2015 it was known as “the drug house on the corner.” The property had 117 calls for police service over 3 years for drug sales, assaults, and four calls for “shots fired.” 3600 Bamberger was an obvious target for our first property in The Wedge, the area located south of Gravois, north of Chippewa, and west of South Grand, because of its high profile corner location and nuisance issues. This property and our tenants have been the anchor for our redevelopment efforts in The Wedge for the past six years.  

In October of 2015, after some renovations and tenant screening through HomeScreen, new tenants started moving into 3600 Bamberger including Jessica.*  Jessica stayed with us as we set up a police substation in her building and worked to abate nuisance behavior on the block. She saw calls for service drop 71% in the first year. Jessica stayed with us as we purchased and rehabbed 11 other buildings with 40 rental units in the Wedge. Jessica stayed with us as we formed a partnership between HomeScreen and Prosperity Connection and took advantage of their free financial coaching. Now, bittersweetly, Jessica is moving on. She has purchased a house for herself and her family, one of her long-term goals. 

At TGNCDC, our mission is to make sure our tenants are supported and feel like valuable members of our community. Jessica has been a prime example of how our mission comes to life through our tenants. We will miss her! Please read the statement below from Jessica about her time as our tenant. 

When I moved to St. Louis I found myself in the classic slum-lord situation. They wanted all the money with none of the maintenance. After the first year they raised my rent and I thought “okay, that sucks”, but rolled with it. Over that year they would just show up and do things to my place without notifying me and my presence was not needed. Coming home to stuff being moved around, messes made, to find someone has finally fixed a drippy faucet months after you sent the maintenance reports was unsettling. The following year they raised my rent again and so I decided it was time to move on from the unkept building I found myself in.  A friend approached me and introduced me to TGNCDC. When they showed me the place I was soon to reside in it was like all of my hopes and dreams were coming true. The place had the right price, the right location from work, and gave peace of mind, with a police substation below my building.  

To say they are an excellent company to rent from could only be an understatement from my perspective. If it was broken they promptly fixed it, and did it with excellent communication. Often telling me the day before so I could have the opportunity to make a mad dash to clean around the house so I wouldn’t be ashamed. They are what one would expect from a rental agency but are hard to find. 

The thing that makes them exceptional is how they are there for you on another level. When the Ferguson Riots came to my neighborhood they reached out to make sure I felt safe. When life had ups and downs they were there for me. They would connect with me. They didn't abuse or betray my trust. When Covid-19 left me out of work for several months they were ready with programs to apply for rent and necessities assistance. Including them walking me through how to apply for food stamps.  

When my parents started feeling unwell I started to pressure them to move next to me. My step-father is disabled and on parole and could not move to my state without an address to go to. I talked to them and they allowed me to put my address as his landing spot.  Over a year later I got a call telling me my step dad was going to be paroled to me in two weeks.  Two weeks was not enough time to find a place for myself and my step dad. So I went on the process of buying a house.  They were more than patient during this rough transition. Letting my step-father stay there while I made ready the house. They also referred me to electricians and contractors that I felt I would need, being a first time home buyer. It was in no small part due to TGNCDC that I was able to get the house. They never once raised my rent. The money I would have spent on the trajectory that my previous rental company was charging equates to a large part of my down payment. 

Leaving my apartment is by far the hardest part of my move. It feels like losing a part of myself.  Although the door on that part of my life is closing as I walk through to the next adventure, I foresee myself missing that apartment throughout time. A place that wasn’t just my apartment, it was my first home.

If you would like to support TGNCDC’s efforts to create more safe, stable housing in the Wedge, please donate!


Donate Today
Ella Gross

Building By Building, TGNCDC Saves 3635 Hydraulic Ave. to Create 2 Newly Updated and Affordable Housing Units

2 years 6 months ago

While Austin and Charlotte are examples of cities expanding now, let’s not forget STL City ran out of space to grow in the 1950’s! We had our growth spurt and while more is needed, not many cities can compare to STL CITY. Our housing boom started in the 1870’s through 1940’s, which means our solid red brick building stock is old and frequently needs attention. TGNCDC bought 3635 Hydraulic Ave. as a vacant property in 2015 then made improvements to keep the units occupied as affordable homes. We noticed some cracking along the front façade and hired an structural engineer to take a look. The structure was built in 1913 and over the years the front façade started pulling away and failing. Our board was faced with a very familiar decision, save the property and keep the block intact or demo the structure and create a vacant lot. They choose the former and work began. The result was over $70,000 of additional investment to create TWO newly updated and affordable two bedroom units rented at $700-$750 per unit. The building is now stable and positioned to last for decades to come! Attached are some photos of the before (when we purchased) and after.

Sean Spencer

New Opportunities Popping Up at 3800 Gravois

2 years 6 months ago

In 2018, the Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC purchased a long-time nuisance property at 3800-02 Gravois in our continued attempt to stabilize the southern part of Tower Grove South, known as The Wedge. The property is our first mixed-use (commercial/residential) building. We invested a lot into the property because this corner is important to the stabilization and growth of the neighborhood. 


3800 - 3802 Gravois before
3800 - 3802 Gravois after
3800 Gravois after
Future home to James Jackson Group Home consignment shop
3802 Gravois after
Future home to The Popcorn Bar STL

Completed in late 2019, the upstairs residential units were rented to amazing tenants. The pandemic set our plans back a bit, so the commercial spaces waited for the perfect tenants. Our goal for the commercial spaces was to add value to the residents of the area. We knew the importance of finding the perfect tenants (non-profit organizations/local businesses) versus just getting the spaces filled. It was a long road, but we are happy to announce that both spaces have been filled!

3800 Gravios, the larger of the two spaces, will become a consignment furniture store run by a local non-profit organization. The James Jackson Group Home for Pregnant Teens provides services to help pregnant teens develop skills necessary to independence and life as healthy productive adults, as well as responsible and capable parents. The store will benefit an amazing cause, and an affordable furniture store in an area with a high amount of affordable rentals will benefit the neighborhood as well.

3802 Gravois is the first retail storefront for a great, local, family-owned business. The Popcorn Bar STL will bring healthy snacks and jobs into the area. After running a successful business at Soulard Market, the PopCorn Bar STL is expanding into Tower Grove South.

We are excited to welcome both of these businesses to the Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC family! We can’t wait for them to open up over the next couple of months. 

A huge thank you to ArtScope and the neighborhood kids for creating a great mural for 3800 Gravois as well.  A little art makes a big difference in communities! 

To see more projects like this completed, please donate to Tower Grove Neighborhoods!

Donate Today
Ella Gross

Lessons from the MOWHA Conference

2 years 6 months ago

Last week, we had two staff members attend the 2021 Missouri Workforce Housing Association (MOWHA) Annual Conference. We are grateful for this opportunity to build relationships within the affordable housing industry and learn from the outstanding panelists, especially as we begin to adjust to the “post-Covid” reality.

Here are our key takeaways:

The US housing market does not have enough homes to meet current demand — and is short by 3.8 million, according to a new report from mortgage giant Freddie Mac. The supply crunch increased 52% between 2018 and the end of 2020, helping to drive up the price of homes in the US, according to the report, which was released in April 2021.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition compiles data for each state on housing needs. Here are Missouri’s stats

  • 27% or 215,751 renter households are extremely low income. 

  • $25,750 is the maximum income for a 4-person extremely low-income family in MO.  

  • Our state has a shortage of 122,075 rental homes affordable and available for extremely low income renters.  

  • $34,662 is the annual household income needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home at HUD’s Fair Market Rent

  • 65% of extremely low-income renter households have a severe housing cost burden.

In a Technical Update session, we heard about the DASH Act, The Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All Act, which includes proposals that would increase affordable housing production by 2 million affordable homes over the next decade.

Finally, affordable housing funders, developers, and insurance providers shared lessons learned over the past year, highlighting that

  • insurance providers are now requiring higher limits

  • a 25% increase in material costs is anticipated for 2022

  • suggest developers include a cushion for both costs and the construction timetable

Despite rising costs and other complications caused by Covid, demand for affordable housing remains extremely high. We have to work together in order to produce the housing that our community needs. Use the link below to donate to TGNCDC and support our continued efforts to build, renovate, and manage affordable housing in our community.

Donate to TGNCDC
Ella Gross

ICYMI: Landlord Training on Asking for Money and Preparing Your Pitch

2 years 7 months ago

We had a great discussion for the August 24th Landlord & Rehabber Training on Asking for Money and Preparing Your Pitch, led by Colleen Hafner, CDFI Director for Rise Community Development. (CDFI = Community Development Finance Institution).

Colleen reviewed the CDFI’s focus on lending to small neighborhood-scale real estate developers and minority-owned contractors. In our training session, Colleen brought her extensive wealth of knowledge on housing finance. She reviewed the information needed when asking to borrow money and shared her insights on how to prepare your application and development plan so the outcome is favorable.

In case you missed it the recording will be available and meeting materials will be accessible until September 10th. You will need to request access below.

Request Access

Be sure to join us for the last session of 2021 on September 28th as we cover Missouri and Federal Tax Credits.

The 2021 Landlord & Rehabber Training is a Northside-Southside Collaboration between North Newstead Association, The Vacancy Collaborative, and Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC. This FREE training is open to all landlords, property managers, rehabbers, developers, and interested parties. Zoom is ADA compliant with exceptions. If you need special accommodations, please contact dana@towergrovecdc.org.

The goal of the Landlord & Rehabber Training Program is to stabilize our communities by building an eco-system of educated landlords, rehabbers, and small developers empowered to reduce vacancy and nuisance. The program will enlist professionals from real estate, property management, law, accounting, preservation, & finance industries to share their knowledge on acquiring and developing real estate and implementing property management best practices.

Ella Gross

Upcoming Rental Assistance Event

2 years 7 months ago

This weekend, the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council (EHOC) is putting on a two-day event to help City Residents* apply for rental assistance. 

  • When? Friday August 20th from 10am - 6pm and Saturday August 21st from 10am - 2pm

  • Where? Gym of St. Louis Community College Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63110. 

  • Why? To help renters who have fallen behind on rent due to Covid-19 obtain direct payments to pay debt to landlords

Register to Attend

Pre-registration is required to attend. 

If you have questions about how to register or what to bring to the event, contact EHOC at 314-441-5660 or clipsey@ehoc-stl.org.

*If you are a Saint Louis County resident, check out the ongoing assistance programs through the St. Louis County Library

Although rental assistance has been a large portion of the funding released through the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan, municipalities have had difficulty getting the funds to those most in need. Earlier this month, Mayor Tishaura Jones administered an executive order allowing funds to go directly to renters to then pay to their landlords, hoping to relieve some of the administrative burden that has held up the funds to this point. The event this weekend will be the first event of its kind since this change has been made, and hopes to expedite and streamline the process for getting relief to renters at-risk of eviction. 

The City of Saint Louis has extended its eviction moratorium until October 3rd, creating a deadline to get the rental assistance funds out the door and into the pockets of landlords who are owed. By allowing direct-to-renter assistance, the funding should help some of the 3,000 people who currently have evictions pending on the docket in the City of Saint Louis pay their back rent and keep up to date with payments going forward. 

We been focused on helping those most at-risk of losing their homes since the pandemic hit. Through CARES Act Funding we created ARCH by HomeScreen: At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing. 

ARCH connects local nonprofit agencies, working with those who face eviction, with HomeScreen’s network of landlords. The landlords participating in ARCH by HomeScreen recognize the affects the pandemic - not to mention historic housing laws - has had on low to moderate income renters and disproportionately renters of color. 

ARCH by HomeScreen landlords and want to be a part of the solution by providing safe and stable housing to those who have a barrier to housing, like late payments or balances owed to a past landlord. In order to meet the needs of our community, we are actively recruiting more landlords to participate in the free program. 

Landlords who have not rented to a person with a housing barrier may be hesitant to join the program, but with ARCH by HomeScreen, all of the renters will be supported by one of our trusted nonprofit partners. In addition, ARCH still allows landlords to screen applicants coming from the ARCH platform and ultimately approve or deny the applicants once the screening is complete. Each nonprofit program is different and offers varying types of financial and other support depending on the clients they serve. We are looking for a wide variety of landlords and properties to meet the wide needs in our communities.


Please share this information with any renter in-need of assistance or any landlord looking to register for ARCH by HomeScreen. We’re all in this together!

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Ella Gross

ARCH by HomeScreen adds Pre-Screening Application to provide Criminal and Eviction Data to NonProfit Users

2 years 9 months ago

In February, Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (TGNCDC) launched ARCH by HomeScreen. ARCH, an acronym for At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing, is a platform that expands TGNCDC’s tenant screening platform, HomeScreen, to nonprofit organizations searching for rental properties for their clients. At its core, ARCH is an apartment listing service and since launching, we have onboarded 60 landlords and 76 nonprofit users from 28 nonprofit organizations. 

We recognize that the demand for affordable housing is extremely high and nonprofit agencies have a difficult time securing the supply from landlords across the region. ARCH by HomeScreen strives to facilitate and expedite the housing process by acting as the centralized database of available affordable rental units to all nonprofits. However, to that end, we recently introduced our Pre-Screening Application to the ARCH by HomeScreen platform. The Pre-Screening Application allows our nonprofit users to obtain background information on their clients, even if no available apartments are suitable at the moment. With the Pre-Screening Application, we offer a national criminal background check and national eviction record that can be used to prepare for ongoing apartment searches, obtain benefits or housing vouchers, or secure a job. We plan to work extensively with Employment Connection, which subcontracted CARES Act Funding to TGNCDC to create ARCH by HomeScreen, to provide the background checks needed for their employment programs. We believe that knowledge is power and having this information as the clients prepare for new housing is necessary. Our nonprofit users have access to this information for $25 per report. 

Revenue generated through HomeScreen and ARCH by HomeScreen is used to support community development activities and is directly invested back into the City of Saint Louis. TGNCDC is a real estate-focused community development corporation that has facilitated 100s of redevelopment projects with a focus on eliminating blight, created 84 affordable rental units in the last five years, supported infrastructure projects, delivered landlord/rehabber training seminars, and advocated for energy efficiency programs for low-income renters. 


If any nonprofit organization is in need of this service, please contact Ella Gross at ella@towergrovecdc.org to get set up with an ARCH by HomeScreen account.

Ella Gross

Announcing ARCH by HomeScreen: At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing

3 years 1 month ago

Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (TGNCDC) has a mission to promote responsible development, affordable housing, and diverse character and vibrancy. One of the ways we achieve that mission is through our tenant screening program, HomeScreen, which was specifically designed to reframe the traditional tenant screening model and to fill vacancies in a nondiscriminatory way. Since launching in 2019, HomeScreen has provided progressive, data-driven tenant screening solutions for landlords and property managers who are looking to create more equitable housing within their communities. The vast majority of the nearly 5,000 applicants we have screened since launching HomeScreen are approved because of our unique approach that combines modern screening criteria, rooted in the Fair Housing Act, and landlord education of best leasing practices. 

Last year, Covid-19 highlighted the systemic issues in housing that have existed for decades. Low-income renters saw reduced income as employers were forced to decrease or eliminate their work hours or they chose to stay home to social distance or help care for children, causing many to fall behind on rent. Eviction moratoriums helped ensure people were not displaced at the height of the pandemic, but the moratoriums will not last forever. In the meantime, the virus continued to spread, the economy continued to stall, and rent and late fees continued to stack up. HomeScreen, like many, fears that there will be a massive wave of evictions when the pandemic finally comes to an end. 

When Employment Connection approached us about using HomeScreen as a tool to create a database of landlords willing to rent to tenants with barriers like evictions, we jumped on the opportunity. Through CARES Act funding we were able to make updates to the HomeScreen software that allows our over 1,000 registered landlords to participate in a new program, ARCH by HomeScreen: At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing

“Employment Connection is pleased to have forged a partnership with Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC and HomeScreen to develop and launch the new ARCH by HomeScreen database. Both Employment Connection and Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC understand the importance of quality, affordable housing and we are confident that this new product will revolutionize the relationship between families who are seeking housing and landlords who are searching for quality tenants.”

 Sal Martinez, Chief Executive Officer, Employment Connection  

ARCH by HomeScreen gives our landlords the ability to fill their vacant units quickly with someone in need of safe and stable housing by advertising their available rental units for free to non-profit social service providers seeking housing for their clients. By participating in ARCH by HomeScreen, our landlords will work with tenants who are most at-risk of homelessness. The applicants will likely have less than perfect applications that have acted as barriers to safe, secure housing in the past. ARCH by HomeScreen requires that these applicants will have supportive services from non-profit organizations throughout the region, who are constantly trying to find landlords willing to rent their properties to applicants with barriers. ARCH by HomeScreen will give social service providers a modern, easy-to-use system to submit applicants with their clients. HomeScreen will securely store apartment applications and will only charge the nonprofit organization for one screening per month, resulting in savings for nonprofit organizations over time. Finally, ARCH by HomeScreen will build upon our existing partnership with Prosperity Connection to offer one-on-one financial coaching to all applicants to establish and create an action plan to meet their financial goals. 

ARCH by HomeScreen was created due to the accelerated crisis caused by Covid-19, but this was always the vision we imagined for HomeScreen. Evictions, criminal convictions, and other barriers to housing have had long-lasting effects on low-income renters before Covid-19. Unfortunately, we know for a fact that these barriers have a larger effect on people of color as well. We are hopeful that this tool can be used for many years in the future to reframe landlords’ thoughts on renting to applicants with barriers of any kind and to create a more equitable housing system in our communities. We would not have been in a position to seize this opportunity to make such a long-lasting impact without our custom HomeScreen software. The software, created through a grant from the Equifax Foundation in 2018, allows HomeScreen to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise, and adjust as the world changes. Thank you to the Equifax Foundation for allowing us to be in this position! 

Existing HomeScreen landlords can opt-in to ARCH by HomeScreen today from their dashboard. 

New to HomeScreen? Register as a Landlord here.

If you are a part of a non-profit organization looking to view the ARCH by HomeScreen listings, contact Ella Gross at ella@towergrovecdc.org for more information. 

Revenue generated through HomeScreen is used to support community development activities and is directly invested back into the City of Saint Louis. TGNCDC is a real estate-focused community development corporation that has facilitated 100s of redevelopment projects with a focus on eliminating blight, created 84 affordable rental units (owned and managed) in the last 5 years, supported infrastructure projects, delivered landlord/rehabber training seminars, and advocated for energy efficiency programs for low-income renters. 



Ella Gross

2020 Annual Report- Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation

3 years 3 months ago

After seven years of planned, focused, and intentional community development work as a merged organization, Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (TGNCDC) continues to positively impact St. Louis City and the neighborhoods of Shaw, Tower Grove South, and Southwest Garden through real estate and related services. As our board member Jillian Guenther stated at a recent board meeting, “Community Development Corporations must evolve into entrepreneurial and mission-driven business activities and not rely heavily on grants to continue the important work.” While 2020 has been challenging, TGNCDC has continued and grown our work through persistence in three defined areas:

  1. HomeScreen Tenant Screening

  2. Real Estate Development- For Sale and For Rent

  3. Other real estate related activities such as energy efficiency work, project management/consulting, creating a community resource guide and landlord training/rehabber training seminars.

HomeScreen Tenant Screening and ARCH by HomeScreen

Year to date, TGNCDC and it’s HomeScreen Tenant Screening Program processed 2,617 applications. We have processed 25% more applications compared to 2019 and we expect to hit a 3,000 goal by the end of the year. We have also made 378 referrals to Prosperity Connection to help HomeScreen applicants access free one-on-one financial coaching.

TGNCDC received funding via CARES Act Grant to Employment Connection to create a database (ARCH by HomeScreen) for landlords to list homes for at-risk populations through our HomeScreen application. We currently have 1007 active landlords and 4751 active units in our system. The new database will be launched by December 31st. TGNCDC is working with a variety of nonprofits and landlords to ensure the database meets all stakeholder expectations. We’re very excited about what the completion of this project will mean for HomeScreen and how it will help local nonprofit social service providers secure housing for their clients.  A huge thanks to Equifax for helping fund the creation of the HomeScreen software. Without it, we would not have been in a position to receive funding for the new property listing database.

Real Estate Development

4900 Gravois- Crossroads Senior Living at Bevo Mill

Our 2020 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) application for the Crossroads Senior living at Bevo Mill has been completed and submitted to the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) for consideration. In 2020, TGNCDC accepted a generous donation of the project site from Midwest Bank Centre and now owns 100% of the ground. The project is 53 units of senior housing including onsite support services. The existing bank location has moved across the street and TGNCDC incorporated a commercial space in the new building design for future community development operations or a small business to locate in the commercial district. We’ve made adjustments to our project that will help the competitiveness of the application. We also received support letters from all the area stakeholders including East West Gateway. LIHTC awards will be announced in December 2020.

Here is an article from STLTODAY about the project.

3639-41 Hydraulic Ave Affordable Housing Development

3639 41 Hydraulic at 95% complete

One of our most impressive projects to date, 3639 41 Hydraulic was a long vacant drug house with squatters. With the owner abandoning the building, Bank of America foreclosed and became an important partner to approve our purchase of the property for $10,000. We thank them for their belief in our organization. Over years of decline, the building needed over $30,000 in masonry work and piering. This renovation also included new mechanicals, wall repair, a new roof, new decks, new doors, updated baths and updated kitchens, and more! TGNCDC spent in excess of $160,000 on the renovation. In addition to Bank of America, TIAA Bank and PNC bank helped with grants to eliminate the property as vacant and to stabilize it to prevent further quality of life issues for neighbors and the neighborhood. In addition to the community development revitalization work that the newly enhanced building brings to the block, it also created 4 new affordable apartment units that are rent for $575 per month. Thanks to First Bank for financing the project.

Saint Louis Market President for Bank of America, Marilyn Bush, stated, ”What a transformation! You’re doing incredible work for our neighborhoods. I’m grateful for all you’re doing to create positive change and so glad that we’re connected.”

Other Activities

Energy Efficiency Project at 3732 34 Bamberger Avenue

The 3732-34 Bamberger project started in 2019 with an energy assessment by Ameren, which resulted in recommendations for improving the building’s energy performance and rebates available from the utility company for each measure.  Next TGNCDC applied for and was awarded a grant from US Bank Foundation specifically to help cover the costs of this project. 

The energy improvements include new central air conditioning and furnace motors, replacing all lighting with LED bulbs, faucet and shower aerators, programmable thermostats, filling all holes and cracks on ductwork with mastic, and replacing windows with energy star thermal windows.  The project cost was estimated at just over $31,000.  Ameren rebates are expected to be $11,000 and the US Bank grant will cover the remaining $20,000.  TGNCDC is covering staff time to manage and implement the project, along with benchmarking the building energy use before and after the improvements.

Energy savings are estimated at $1,575 annually, which will result in savings for our tenants.  Further this project will improve the indoor air quality, enhance tenant comfort by reducing drafts, reduce maintenance calls, and reduce the carbon footprint of the building. 

We appreciate Ameren and US Bank for making this project possible!

Nuisance Property Lawsuits

In 2018, TGNCDC coauthored “A Guide to addressing and eliminating vacancy in the City of Saint Louis” with SLU Law Clinic. A part of the guide highlights Nuisance Property Lawsuits as an additional tool to pressure property owners to sell or renovate long-vacant properties. Over the last several years, this tool has proven to be one of the best ways to create positive change.

From Peter Hoffman at Legal Services of Eastern MO:

Community development organizations like TGNCDC have special legal tools under Missouri law to help address vacant nuisance properties. TGNCDC is at the forefront of using those legal tools through their partnership with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative. In 2019, TGNCDC was the first organization in the St. Louis area to successfully use Missouri's Abandoned Housing Act as a revitalization tool - redeveloping the long vacant and deteriorating property at 3964 Parker Avenue (shown above).

Legal Services also assisted the Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood Association to compel an absentee property owner to make repairs on a long-vacant eyesore on Humphrey Avenue.
Currently, TGNCDC and Legal Services are collaborating to tackle six more vacant nuisance properties on Arsenal, Hydraulic, Alfred, DeTonty, Potomac, and Chippewa.
"In some ways, our Tower Grove cases are some of our most challenging. Because the values in the neighborhood are pretty good, Tower Grove is fortunate to not have as many vacant nuisance properties as other neighborhoods - but when the property is deteriorating, we're often sorting through a mess of title problems or dealing with land speculators and absentee shell corporations who only exist on paper. But that's why these legal tools exist - to allow groups like TGNCDC to get these issues in front of a Judge and ask for relief. Through this partnership we're able to find these really troubled properties and set them on a path to be productive and safe again." - Peter Hoffman, Managing Attorney, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.

Saint Joseph Housing Initiative
”Saint Joseph Housing Initiative (SJHI) is a new nonprofit organization with a mission is to create vibrant communities through affordable quality housing where low and moderate income families can thrive, prosper and build wealth.” TGNCDC is a partner with Saint Joseph Housing Initiative to assist with identifying and negotiating properties to develop, creating proformas, determining market feasibility, project management, consulting, and general cheerleading. TGNCDC has assisted with the development of six renovation projects over the last 18 months. As our core service areas have improved, TGNCDC is starting to identify other areas where our expertise and available capital can be deployed. Our relationship with SJHI has opened our eyes to the need for housing related activities in Dutchtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

Check out the promotional video!

Development Facilitation

3719 Bamberger Before

3719 Bamberger After

One great example of our development facilitation work is 3719 Bamberger. Our neighborhood stabilization work relied heavily on marketing vacant and abandoned properties to reputable developers by highlighting market strengths, attractive housing stock, the people, the community, and the location. We also educate developers on the cost to construct, sales prices/comps, tax abatement opportunities, and the State and Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit programs.  3719 Bamberger was long vacant and owned by an out of state “investor.” After being discouraged by the lack of progress, TGNCDC bought the property.  We rebuilt 60% of the front façade and added a TPO roof with a cost of over $20,000.  

Once we completed the improvements, TGNCDC marketed the property to investors who have successful developments in the immediate area.   Jeff Sutton, from Bloomsdale Investments, LLC, took on the project and promised a beautiful renovation.  While the project took longer than he expected, he delivered!  The building is two 2 bedroom units with beautiful finishes.  He invested over $165,000 in the renovation, after the 35,000 we invested (purchase and improvements), and his son did some of the work himself.  3719 Bamberger is successful, in part, because of our initial investment and the real estate market in the area justifying the additional investment to complete the rehab. No tax abatement was used and no historic preservation tax credits were available in this part of the neighborhood.  Rents will be in the $800-900 range per unit.

Other addresses we are assisting with are:
4525 Flad- Burned out vacant property
4603 Cleveland- Long vacant LRA owned land
2817 and 2821 S. Kingshighway Vacant

4525 Flad Ave.

LandLord and Rehabber Training

Landlord Training In Person Seminar

Landlord Training by ZOOM

For the Northside and South Side collaborative programming, we had 475 total attendees for the two in-person & seven Zoom sessions. North Newstead and the Vacancy Collaborative were each paid to help develop the programs and to facilitate the events. These seminars are paid for through a small grant from the Community Development Administration and are FREE training sessions open to all landlords, property managers, developers, and interested parties. Look out for our 2021 schedule coming out soon!

2020 Schedule

Tues Jan 28
Missouri Landlord/ Tenant Law

Tues Feb 25
Creating a Performa and Finance Options When Comps Are Unavailable

Tues Mar 24
Best Practices to Stabilize a Rental Business

Tues Apr 28
Key Elements to Identify a Rehab Opportunity and Evaluate Costs

Tues Jun 23
New Construction on a Vacant Lot

Tues Jul 28
Scope of Work Development and Working With Contactors

Tues Aug 25
Does My Project Need a Permit?

Tues Sept 22
Missouri and Federal Tax Credits and Tax Abatement

Tues Oct 22
Nuisance Abatement and Evictions

Deferred Maintenance Improvements

3635 Hydraulic Masonry Work- During

3635 Hydraulic Masonry Work- After

Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC spent a great deal of time in 2020 addressing deferred maintenance items including multiple apartment renovations, new roofs, new fences, exterior and interior painting, masonry work, landscaping, and mechanical upgrades to our affordable rental portfolio. In total, we’ve spent well over $100,000 in general maintenance repairs to our rental properties in 2020. This work will ensure the buildings are properly maintained going forward and relieve pressure on future leaders to pay for needed repairs.

InvestSTL Collaboration

CURE Racial Equity Training Group Photo

In 2018, TGNCDC, Dutchtown South Community Corporation, Lutheran Development Group, and DeSales Community Development created and committed to a memorandum of understanding around defining, with each of our expertise, actions for implementing important parts of the Gravois Jefferson Neighborhood plan. In 2020, all four entities and other stakeholders participated in CURE racial equity training and action plan development for future goals. One activity we believe is of great importance is an Acquisition Fund to provide real estate investment and development opportunities to minority investors and contractors while removing them from some of the worst actors in the neighborhoods. We look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together!

Covid -19 Response
TGNCDC, through our relationship with Prosperity Connection and Red Dough, provided $32,100 in rental subsidy relief to about 20% of our tenants residing in our 82 unit affordable housing rental portfolio. We also assisted landlords in our HomeScreen tenant screening program with 29 referrals for $39,917 in additional rent subsidies to help tenants stay in their homes and get back to work. Finally, TGNCDC provided $775 in food gift certificates to 15 tenants ($50 to 1-3 person households and $75 to a 5 person household) for emergency grocery purchases. And we are supporting 11 tenants with applying for and receiving CARES ACT rental funding. Most of those applications are pending.

Malissa Cleary, Tenant at 3728 Bamberger:

“The red dough rent loan (became forgivable) was one of the only ways I was able to pay rent at the beginning of the pandemic. It gave me peace of mind during a very unsecure time, as my employer is a small business and was unable to pay us for a month and a half. “

Jezebel Voule Tenant at 3600A Bamberger

“When I applied for the emergency rent loan I had already used what little savings I had to get by. So whether or not the loan was approved for forgiveness I was in need of rent either way. An act of desperation many Americans as well as the world also found themselves in. When the opportunity presented itself that I could go back to work that is when I really appreciated the loan because it gave me an opportunity to catch up in life (on a monetary level) than being a sinking ship for the rest of the year. Thank you so much for the rent loan forgiveness! “

Conclusion

Nonprofit and successful community development work doesn’t happen without a committed board of directors. We thank them for their time and effort to help St. Louis City neighborhoods. In 2020, we lost one of the greats! Our dear board member and friend, Floyd Wight, passed away April 26, 2020 at his home in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. He will be missed as a fierce advocate of City living and attracting investment into our neighborhoods. He was a leader, gentle and kind. His impact will never be forgotten and his legacy will live on in our work. Below is a photo of Floyd receiving the Community Builders Award for Excellence in Resident Leadership. Our board has agreed to name our conference room the “Floyd Wright Community Room” where his contributions to community development will always be remembered.

“Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence,” stated Colin Powell. Thanks to our dedicated staff for working through a difficult year. TGNCDC will continue to invest back into neighborhoods and support neighborhood revitalization for years to come!

Thanks for reading.

Floyd Wright- TGNCDC Founding Board Member and Long Time SW Garden Neighborhood Association leader

Sean Spencer

Last Landlord & Rehabber training and support for tenants

3 years 4 months ago

On October 27, the last Landlord and Rehabber Training of 2020 was hosted jointly by TGNCDC, North Newstead, and the Vacancy Collaborative.  Nuisance Abatement and Eviction was the session topic. Speakers shared alternatives to eviction, provided an overview of the City's problem properties unit, explained the eviction process, and outlined the eviction moratorium due to COVID-19. You can request access to the video at this link until Nov 10th, review the handouts, and fill out a post-video survey for a chance to win a $50 gift card, sponsored by TGNCDC.

If your tenants are behind in rent due to Covid-19, help them complete the CARES Act application for rent assistance.  Be proactive!  There is supplemental information required for the application that only the landlord can provide. Rental assistance payments are sent directly to the landlord.  Here are Covid-19 Resources for Housing Providers and Renters.

The Landlord & Rehabber training series is funded by a HUD Community Development Block Grant via the St. Louis Community Development Administration.

Dana Gray

HomeScreen Partners with Employment Connection to Create New Landlord Database for Non-Profit Social Service Providers

3 years 5 months ago

Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (TGNCDC) has over a decade of tenant screening service experience and has completed over 12,000 applications since 2014. HomeScreen™, TGNCDC’s non-discriminatory, Fair Housing-compliant tenant screening service, quickly delivers objective and thorough information to landlords looking to find and maintain good tenants. HomeScreen was specifically designed to reframe the traditional tenant screening model and to fill vacancies in an equitable way. 

We know that, for decades, systemic injustice has disproportionately affected low-income renters and people of color as they search for affordable housing. In St. Louis alone, an estimated 38% of all households could not afford the median rent before the Covid 19 pandemic hit. Unfortunately, this year, the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn, have further accelerated the affordable housing crisis. As unemployment spiked and additional federal unemployment benefits expired, many renters fell behind on their rent.  Although the City currently has an eviction moratorium in place until November 6th, we are working now to create tools to curb a wave of evictions expected when the moratorium does expire. 

Nonprofits all over the region, including our partners at Employment Connection, have the very difficult task of finding landlords who are willing to rent their properties to people with recent evictions, who are unemployed or are low income, or have past criminal convictions. Employment Connection (EC) is a 501(c)3 founded in 1977 with a vision to break down barriers to self-sufficiency and create a safer and more inclusive community. EC helps clients with job training and has helped over 4,000 individuals find gainful employment, but they also focus on housing. Each year, EC helps 120 homeless individuals and their families find affordable housing through homeless prevention programs, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing. 

HomeScreen was uniquely positioned to partner with Employment Connection as they applied for CARES Act Funding to help those at risk of losing their homes this year. HomeScreen has an existing database of over 1,000 landlords who believe in supporting our mission. Together with EC, we will make updates to our software so that HomeScreen acts as a central database of landlords interested in working with non-profit social service providers to rent to their clients most in need of housing. 

Landlords using HomeScreen will have the opportunity to list their available rental units exclusively to non-profit social service providers (SSPs) at no cost. Landlords will build a profile within their HomeScreen account so that they can fill their vacancies quickly, with an applicant and program that meets their predetermined requirements. 

SSPs will log in to their own HomeScreen accounts, browse listed apartments, review the landlord’s requirements, and reach out to schedule showings or ask additional questions. The HomeScreen database will give SSPs a modern, easy to use system to submit and to securely store apartment applications for their clients. HomeScreen will only charge the SSP for one screening per month, resulting in savings for the SSPs overtime. By tapping into our large network of existing landlords and leveraging the technology we have in place, we expect this tool to be available to use by January 2021.

Revenue generated through HomeScreen is used to support community development activities and is directly invested back into the City of Saint Louis. TGNCDC is a real estate-focused community development corporation that has facilitated 100s of redevelopment projects with a focus on eliminating blight, created 78 affordable rental units (owned and managed) in the last 6 years, supported infrastructure projects, delivered landlord/rehabber training seminars and advocated for energy efficiency programs for low-income renters. 


For more information, please contact Ella Gross, Tenant Screening Manager at ella@towergrovecdc.org

Ella Gross

Today is Energy Efficiency Day

3 years 5 months ago

To celebrate Energy Efficiency Day, TGNCDC wants to showcase an energy efficiency improvement project we are wrapping up at a 4 family on Bamberger.  The project started in 2019 with an energy assessment by Ameren, which resulted in recommendations for improving the building’s energy performance and rebates available from the utility company for each measure.  Next TGNCDC applied for and was awarded a grant from US Bank Foundation specifically to help cover costs of this project. 

The energy improvements include new central air conditioning and furnace motors, replacing all lighting with LED bulbs, faucet and shower aerators, programmable thermostats, filling all holes and cracks on ductwork with mastic, and replacing windows with energy star thermal windows.  The project cost was estimated at just over $31,000.  Ameren rebates are expected to be $11,000 and the US Bank grant will cover the remaining $20,000.  TGNCDC is covering staff time to manage and implement the project, along with benchmarking the building energy use before and after the improvements.

Energy savings are estimated at $1,575 annually, which will be savings for our tenants.  Further this project will improve the indoor air quality, enhance tenant comfort by reducing drafts, reduce maintenance calls, and reduce the carbon footprint of the building. 

We appreciate Ameren and US Bank for making this project possible!

Dana Gray