Dr. Wesley Scott Senior Living Community Awarded for Affordability and Environmental Impact

In 1990, the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (General Board) established its Positive Social Purpose (PSP) Lending Program by originating loans to support affordable housing. Over the past 20 years, the PSP Lending Program has financed numerous affordable housing loans, as well as loans for community health centers, homeless and transitional housing centers, and charter schools throughout the United States.

Affordable Housing with Impact

The General Board’s affordable housing program, which is a primary focus of the PSP Lending Program, makes loans available to finance multifamily, senior and special-needs housing. These projects achieve competitive, risk-adjusted rates of return and make a positive social impact on the quality of life for thousands of people. Environmentally friendly development and design, in addition to the creation of new affordable housing, is an important positive social impact. This goal is aligned with the United Methodist Social Principles, which encourage “a wholehearted support of the conservation of energy and responsible development of all energy resources, with special concern for the development of renewable energy sources, that the goodness of the earth may be affirmed” (¶160B, The Book of Discipline 2008).

One property that was financed by the affordable housing program and reflects the General Board’s commitment to invest in projects that represent the values of The United Methodist Church is the Dr. Wesley Scott Senior Living Community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This newly renovated development contains 80 senior apartments and combines affordability with an environmentally friendly and sustainable design.

A History of Reinvention

The Dr. Wesley Scott Senior Living Community building has a history of reinvention. Initially constructed in 1910 as the Wisconsin Bell headquarters and switching station, the property was converted to a college during the 1940s, and then was used as an annex building for Clark Street Elementary School in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1983, the Milwaukee Urban League acquired the building for office space. Then, in 2006, the property was acquired by Gorman & Company, an industry leader in converting historic buildings into subsidized affordable apartments. In addition to rehabilitating the original property, Gorman constructed a 59,000 square foot, four-story addition that increased the total building area to roughly 78,000 square feet.

Environmentally Friendly Design

Gorman focused on incorporating environmentally friendly design elements, including a green roof, solar hot water system and one of the largest residential sets of solar panels in Wisconsin. The environmentally sustainable building is designed to minimize energy expenses, which helps to reduce costs for tenants. For instance, the solar panels provide electricity for lighting throughout the property. In addition to the solar panels, the property features a green roof to assist in the absorption of rain water and to provide additional insulation.

Social Impact

The social impact of the Dr. Wesley Scott Senior Living Community is meaningful. The development’s 49 one-bedroom and 31 two-bedroom units are available to seniors who have low to moderate incomes, with rental rates that are typically only 50% to 60% of the area median income (AMI). Of the 80 units, 36 are dedicated to households that earn 50% of AMI, and 38 are dedicated to households that earn 60% of AMI. The area has more than 13,000 individuals over the age of 65. Within three miles of the property, 43% of households earn less than $25,000 a year.

In addition to providing low-cost housing with an environmentally friendly design, the property offers several amenities to its residents that make it one of the area’s finest senior housing facilities. The property has a chapel, on site laundry facilities, an exercise room, a craft room, a beauty salon, a nurse’s exam room, tenant storage lockers and 35 underground parking spaces. Larger units also offer connections for a washer and dryer.

Community Contributions

The Dr. Wesley L. Scott Senior Living Community has been awarded for its contributions to the community. In 2008, the property’s developer, Gorman, and the Milwaukee Urban League received the Mayor’s Urban Design Award. The award is given to properties that contribute to the character of its surroundings and add value to its neighborhood, contributing to the urban fabric of Milwaukee.