The Tyler Wins Sustainability, Historic Preservation Awards

EAST HAVEN, CT — The Tyler, a mixed-income, senior apartment community created by WinnDevelopment inside the former East Haven High School has earned two more awards for its innovative approach using state and federal historic tax credits to incorporate the industry’s strictest standard for energy performance in a residential historic adaptive reuse project.

Patch was there in October 2020 for the opening of the 55-and-over apartment development within the three-story core of the 84-year-old building, the first in the United States to use state and federal historic tax credits for a passive house rehabilitation.

The non-profit Connecticut Green Building Council recognized the 70-unit development with its 2021 Award of Excellence, which honors excellence in green building design and construction that supports the broader goals of using the built to combat climate change within the state of Connecticut and beyond.

The latest awards follow recognition of The Tyler as the nation’s Best Overall Development and Green Building in Affordable Housing Finance magazine’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards, as well as a 2021 Connecticut Preservation Award of Merit.

Designed and built in accordance with the Passive House Institute’s rigorous EnerPHit Standard with applicable historic exclusions, The Tyler is expected to use 20 percent less energy than an ENERGY STAR new construction building. By repurposing the former school building, the development avoided 18,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually – the yearly energy use of 1,900 homes. In addition, a 90-kilowatt solar PV system on the roof is contributing to even greater carbon reductions by producing more than 100,000 kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable energy every year.

In addition to the CTGBC recognition, The Tyler also was honored last week with the 2021 Novogradac Journal of Tax Credit Award for Historic Rehabilitation as a residential development that best exemplifies “major community impact.” Headquartered in San Francisco, Novogradac is a national professional services organization that provides accounting, valuation and consulting expertise with a major emphasis in the real estate sector.

“Projects like The Tyler demonstrate the inherent sustainability of adapting historic structures to meet 21st century environmental expectations,” executive vice president of WinnDevelopment Adam Stein said. “This award-winning effort would not have been possible without the foresight and support of the Connecticut Department of Housing, Connecticut Housing Finance Agency and the State Historic Preservation Office.”

Managed by WinnResidential, The Tyler formally opened in October 2020. The 104,871-square-foot brick building had been vacant for nearly 21 years after serving as the town’s high school since 1936. The WinnDevelopment project preserved and restored the property while transforming the academic core of the building into 67 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units serving the complete range of incomes.

“The Tyler fills a critical need for affordable housing in East Haven," CHFA’s Chief Executive Officer Nandini Natarajan said. "WinnDevelopment’s adaptive reuse of the property has created a sustainable asset that will benefit the community for decades to come."

Financing for the $21.5 million project came from federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the CHFA; historic rehabilitation tax credits from the National Park Service and SHPO; soft debt from the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) Flex Program; construction financing from Bank of America and Citizens Bank; Affordable Housing Program funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston; energy rebates from United Illuminating; partnership equity from Bank of America, and a low-interest permanent loan from BlueHub Capital (formerly Boston Community Capital). As a project partner, the Town of East Haven agreed to a 10-year deferred property tax structure.

“The rehabilitation of the historic East Haven High School demonstrates what preservationists have said for decades - that historic preservation, conservation, and energy efficiency are not competing goals,” according to Julie Carmelich, historic tax credit administrator for the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office. “Our team extends its thanks to WinnDevelopment and their team of architects, contractors, and consultants for all their hard work and vision.”

Financing for the $21.5 million project came from federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the CHFA; historic rehabilitation tax credits from the National Park Service and SHPO; soft debt from the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) Flex Program; construction financing from Bank of America and Citizen's Bank; Affordable Housing Program funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston; energy rebates from United Illuminating; partnership equity from Bank of America, and a low-interest permanent loan from BlueHub Capital (formerly Boston Community Capital). As a project partner, the Town of East Haven agreed to a 10-year deferred property tax structure.

East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora congratulated WinnDevelopment et al and called The Tyler a "true success."

"I was thrilled to learn that Winn had again been honored for its advanced approach to using state and federal tax credits in the development and repurposing of residential historic facilities like The Tyler," he said. "Winn at every level has been a partner, and continues to be a partner in our community, which is why we continue to discuss with them the absolute best purpose for the rear of the 'old' high school, portions of which are also historic."