Spring 2012 - Retirement Housing Foundation

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RHF HistoryContinuing To Celebrate 50This is part four in a series of articles about RHF’s history.In telling our story, every once in a while we will use oneof RHF’s founders, Clark Harshfield’s words (from his ownnotes).Angelus Plaza opened its doors in 1980 and 1981 - because of theenormity of the project (1,093 units consisting of four 16- and 17-storybuildings and a 6-story senior center), the construction was dividedinto two separate time periods and two separate contracts.The first phase provided for the Los Angeles Community RedevelopmentAgency (LA-CRA) to issue its own tax exempt bonds for atotal sum of $48 million. The second phase was financed bytax exempt bonds insured by the Department of <strong>Housing</strong> andUrban Development (HUD) in the amount of $18.5 million.1) 1979 - Angelus Plaza Construction2) 1981 - Angelus Plaza Dedication3) 1981 - A Completed Angelus Plaza4) 2011 - Angelus Plaza TodayA Key ElementHUD also committed to providing Section 8 subsidies foreach and every apartment - it was the key element to makingthis project work.What few know is that the process that led up to a 1979groundbreaking for this community began in 1963 - whenClark Harshfield and a few members of the RHF Boardbegan knocking on the door of the newly founded LA-CRA. Authorizedby a vote in the late 1950s, LA-CRA had acquired all of the housing andacreage on their redevelopment area - Bunker Hill - in downtown LosAngeles. RHF felt that a major retirement complex was needed in thedowntown area and that Bunker Hill offered that opportunity. The RHFcontingent was received cordially at the CRA offices - but work on theBunker Hill project was still in the planning stages.In 1968, the CRA was again approached by Clark and RHF wasinvited to prepare a plan and a proposal for a 6-acre projectfronting on Hill Street and spanning the Third Street Tunnel.The proposal was received with sympathetic interest, but waspromptly filed away.In 1974 another appeal was made and this time it seemed thatCRA staff was taking it seriously. In January of 1975, the LA-CRABoard of Directors considered the subject officially and published aRequest for Proposal for the development of the 6-acre site, designatedfor low-income senior housing. Two additional groupssubmitted proposals for the site - The Catholic Archdiocese and theVolunteers of America. On May 24, 1975 RHF received the officialletter granting the “exclusive rights to develop” the Bunker HillProject.A process that had begun twelve years earlier was finally goingto become a reality - the largest affordable community for lowincomeseniors in the country was finally more than a dream.-6-
RHF HistoryYears Of Caring About PeopleRelationships MadeIt had taken the efforts of many individuals and organizations tomake Angelus Plaza a reality and the relationships that were madeduring those efforts would play a major role in RHF’s expansion.In 1983 the Forest City Corporation was working with a churchrelatednonprofit organization in Indiana to sponsor two HUD202 projects. HUD had approved the projects, the plans had beendrawn, the contractor selected, and the loans were ready for finalendorsement. Suddenly, the nonprofit group sponsoring theproject was declared to be bankrupt and HUD was ready towithdraw its commitments. The Forest City Corporation hadworked with RHF on Angelus Plaza and asked RHF to step inand try to save the two projects in Indiana.Clark Harshfield flew to Indianapolis and met with the chiefunderwriter of the projects and the director of the Indiana HUDoffice. There were two days of meetings with calls back and forth toWashington, D.C. RHF was approved as sponsor of the communities,paperwork was signed, and within a week construction began withRHF as the owner.I labeled it the “Indiana Miracle” - in forty-eight hours RHF hadprocessed two large HUD loan commitments, costing more thantwelve million dollars for the financing of 306 apartments. Groundbreakingfor the Anderson project (Southdale Tower) washeld the same week as the paperwork was signed - the Indianapolisproject (Crooked Creek Tower) followed a few weekslater.The Birth of a National OrganizationThe response to RHF’s presence in Indianapolis was very positiveand within the year, additional opportunities opened up forRHF.Negotiations began for the Westminster Gardens and YellowwoodTerrace projects; the mayor of Anderson (Southdale Tower)urged RHF to apply for additional HUD 202 allocations (resulting inLongfellow Plaza); prominent citizens in Huntington, Indiana askedRHF to work with them in turning a famous landmark (the LaFontaineHotel) in their community into affordable housing for seniors; furtherencouragement to expand in the state came from the leadership of theIndiana-Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ.Ultimately, the number of RHF communities in Indiana would grow to 17.The 1980s was a time of huge growth for RHF - adding 68 communities toits portfolio of 14 communities and expanding into 17 states and Puerto Rico.Along with huge growth came huge challenges and Clark Harshfield,who had dedicated 25 years to the RHF Mission, was anticipating hisretirement.Where would RHF find its next leader?1) Southdale Tower2) Crooked Creek Tower3) Longfellow Plaza4) La Fontaine Center-7-
Page 1 and 2: Farrfield Manor (Columbus,GA) hoste
Page 3: Celebrating Our MissionRHF Celebrat
Page 8 and 9: Comunity NewsHappy Birthday To You,
Page 10 and 11: A Matter Of Perspective(Continued f
Page 12 and 13: VolunteersDr. Richard LieboffAngelu
Page 14 and 15: Charitable GivingA Spring To-Do Lis
Page 16 and 17: DonorsRHFNationalHeadquartersThe fo
Page 18 and 19: RHF Team GiversOur staff members pe
Page 20: Retirement Housing Foundation911 N.

Spring 2012 - Retirement Housing Foundation

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