Construction is scheduled to begin this summer on the Reno Housing Authority’s most ambitious affordable housing development to date. The $87.4 million project will bring 199 new units to a 6.5-acre site near the former Hug High School, replacing the now-demolished Hawk View Apartments.

The development, a collaboration between the Reno Housing Authority (RHA) and Brinshore Development of Evanston, Illinois, will consist of seven residential buildings offering a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. General contractor Mohawk Construction is currently completing horizontal infrastructure work, with vertical construction slated to begin by mid-summer.

“We found plenty of things under the ground we didn’t expect to see, but nothing that crippled the project—just the normal things you find that you didn’t expect,” said Brinshore co-founder David Brint, referring to the challenges encountered during demolition.

According to Brint, the new buildings will feature light-gauge steel cladding, a choice made for both safety and long-term insurability. “It’s easier to get insurance for the property with a non-flammable exterior,” he explained. The design, which went through three engineering iterations, was finalized before the onset of steel tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. “When we heard rumors of what was happening, we bought and shipped all the steel before it could hit,” Brint added.

The unit breakdown includes 72 one-bedroom units averaging 669 square feet, 102 two-bedroom units ranging from 860 to 890 square feet, and 25 three-bedroom apartments measuring 1,170 square feet. Rents will be pegged to a range of affordability levels—between 20% and 80% of the area median income.

RHA Executive Director Hilary Lopez credited the project's success to a wide coalition of supporters and funding streams. “RHA is proud to celebrate the soon-to-be addition of 199 new affordable units for our community,” she said. “We appreciate the generous support of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding the vision for this property, and to the State of Nevada, Washoe County, and the cities of Reno and Sparks for awarding Home Means Nevada and Washoe County HOME Consortium monies.”

Brint noted that the project’s financing includes a complex mix of tax-exempt bonds paired with low-income housing tax credits and state-level tax credits—both of which were sold to generate equity. “The Reno Housing Authority added financial resources, along with several other tiers of soft financing,” he said.

This is Brinshore’s second affordable housing project in Northern Nevada. The company is also overseeing a $74.5 million in-place rehabilitation of Silverada Manor, a 150-unit senior housing facility consisting of 22 studio, 64 one-bedroom, and 64 two-bedroom units.

“Silverada is challenging because it is an in-place rehab of a senior project,” Brint said. “You have to be very communicative and make sure that the seniors understand what you are trying to accomplish and what the units are going to look like when they are done.”

Both projects were designed by Frame Architecture, and Brinshore’s involvement in Nevada continues to expand. The developer was also tapped by the Southeastern Nevada Regional Housing Authority for a major redevelopment initiative in Southern Nevada.

Brint praised RHA’s leadership for their commitment to addressing the region’s growing housing needs. “They decided they needed to create more housing and redevelop some of their assets,” he said. “They made a decision to go forward with some pretty aggressive plans to expand their capacity and selected us to be their joint-venture partner. They are going to end up with a lot more housing, as well as the experience to potentially do more development.”

The project represents a critical step forward in addressing Northern Nevada’s housing crisis, with construction expected to provide long-term benefits for hundreds of families and individuals in need of affordable living options.

Originally reported by Rob Sabo in Nevada Appeal.