Charlton Hamer is senior vice president and head of Habitat Affordable Group, the affordable housing division of The Habitat Co.
Established in 1971, The Habitat Co. began as an affordable housing developer in Chicago and has since grown into one of the largest multifamily developers, owners, and managers in the country. The company’s management portfolio comprises more than 22,000 units across five states, including more than 10,000 affordable housing residences.
In 2017, the company established Habitat Affordable Group, uniting its public and affordable housing management divisions with its community development operations.
Previously, Hamer served in leadership roles at different real estate firms, including Redstone Urban Properties, Vesta Corp., and Shore Area Community Development Corp.
What was your first job and what did it teach you?
My freshman year of high school I worked in a bacteriology lab at the University of Wisconsin. I thought my passion was research science. After a summer in the lab, my passion for science was extinguished. It also taught me the importance of washing your hands…thoroughly!
What was your path into affordable housing?
My formal education was in urban planning, both undergraduate and graduate. I began my career as a municipal planner. I worked on a number of different land-use concerns, and I felt my work didn’t directly have an effect improving the lives of people.
When I left municipal planning, I worked for quasi-governmental and not-for-profit agencies dedicated to affordable housing. I’ve also worked as an economic development manager, developed industrial/commercial space, and created two property management and development consulting businesses. However, the greatest enjoyment I’ve received in my work is creating and/or managing a community for those with limited housing options.
Tell us about an affordable housing project that you’re currently working on.
We’re working on the redevelopment of the Chicago Housing Authority’s former North Lawndale complex. The Habitat Co. along with our partners, Sinai Health Systems and Cinespace Studios, two major stakeholders in the community, were awarded the project, Ogden Commons, after a competitive proposal process. It will encompass 10 acres with approximately 400 mixed-income units and 100,000 square feet of retail/commercial space. This is a very exciting endeavor in which we have the opportunity to bring affordable units and amenities to an area that was previously neglected. Cinespace Studios and Sinai Health Systems employ approximately 10,000 people and are located immediately adjacent to the redevelopment site. Sinai Health Systems has been serving the community for more than 90 years, and Cinespace Studios is a marvel of adaptable reuse, having converted heavy manufacturing facilities into one of the largest film studios in the world.
What did your last project teach you?
The development process is the same whether large or small. However, each project is unique. Always maintain structured and consistent communication with ALL team members involved in the deal.
How is The Habitat Co. changing?
The Habitat Co. is a developer of market-rate multifamily, traditional affordable multifamily, condominiums, and public housing. We manage throughout each discipline.
Just over a year ago, we combined all of our affordable housing endeavors under the Habitat Affordable Group. We merged our community development group with the affordable and public housing management portfolios. We believe this gives us a competitive advantage encompassing a knowledge base with a seamless expanse from development to operations.
How are your affordable housing developments changing?
In designing affordable housing developments, we try to emulate function, flow, and aesthetics of market-rate developments. However, there are significant cost constraints. Some of the most significant changes are technology based. These include automatic debiting or online rent payments, automated service requests, automated applications and income certification. The evolution of technology regarding customer service is quite modest in comparison to market-rate developments, but it is a tremendous enhancement for our residents.
Please tell us about any funding sources or programs that you’ve recently used for the first time.
Opportunity Zone funds!!!!!! A new way of bringing equity to affordable housing deals via a conduit for investors to shelter their capital gains. The Ogden Commons development mentioned previously is located within an Opportunity Zone, and we are seeking investors.
What do you have planned for 2019?
We are very optimistic in our development strategy. As we continue to move our current development projects to fruition, we will aggressively seek to expand our affordable housing development endeavors to where we currently have a management footprint. These areas include Minneapolis, Southeast Michigan, and the Tampa-Orlando, Fla., area.
Favorite amenity or design feature in one of your affordable housing developments:
I’m quite positive that when asking this question to others they have discussed a number of different amenities and design features that are the latest or most advanced features. I tend to gravitate toward the areas where people can commune and interact. Open and spacious community areas where adults and children can interact continue to be in demand.
Best advice you’ve received:
The prerequisite for success begins with Matthew 6:33.
What advice would you give other developers?
Patience is a virtue but know the cadence of sprinting.
Cubs or White Sox?
Yankees! I spent 16 years in Connecticut and became a fan.
Besides the usual work items, what’s in your office?
A small plaque commemorating the 135th anniversary of track and field at the University of Illinois. Go Illini!
If you could take a crash course on any subject, what would it be and why?
I love to connect with people; therefore I’d take a crash course in a foreign language, preferably Portuguese. My wife is a bilingual teacher, and I’ve been taking a crash course in Spanish for the past 23 years. To date, I’m not fluent so I’ll blame the teacher.
