Monarch and Placita Dolores Huerta Near Completion, Welcoming New Real Estate Development Team Members
Closing 2023 with Bright Opportunities Ahead
CHOC’s newest affordable housing communities, The Monarch Apartment Homes in Palm Springs and Placita Dolores Huerta in Coachella, are nearing completion; these communities will mark a fresh start for many families and an exciting new chapter for our organization.
“The Monarch and Placita Dolores Huerta are the critically needed doorways through which new and existing residents will walk,” says Vincent Nicholas, Vice President of Real Estate Development. “This brings new homes for working families, but also the further stabilization of those families.”
Latest photos of Palm Springs’ Monarch Apartment Homes. Photos courtesy of Noé Montes
Moreover, CHOC’s real estate team is growing. We are delighted to welcome Ryan W. Johnson, Vice President of Finance and Capital Markets, and project managers Sachin Yadav, Mehmet Alademir, and Pete De La Torre.
The growth of our real estate development team contributes to a promising year ahead filled with further expansion of services to the communities we serve. With the steady growth of our team, we can now provide even more to our existing and potential communities throughout California; CHOC continues to build its pipeline of projects, as well.
“These new multifamily affordable homes, in both Palm Springs and Coachella, become a point of pride for new and/or returning residents and the greater community,” adds Vince. “We have built safe, secure, and beautiful communities where residents may go about their daily lives, to work and school, and thrive in the immediate locality.”
Latest photos of Coachella’s Placita Dolores Huerta | Photos courtesy of Noé Montes
As we near completion of both properties, Sterling Asset Management Company, CHOC’s property management subsidiary, recently opened its Placita Dolores Huerta waitlist; a majority of PDH’s residents were relocated during demolition and construction of the new apartment homes and will return once construction is fully completed this year.
“We’re excited by upcoming resident move-ins, at both Monarch and Placita Dolores Huerta,” said Kevin Grani, Sterling’s President. “We recognize that this is a big moment for our new residents, we’re thrilled to be facilitating and managing this process as CHOC’s property management subsidiary.”
Thoughtful details go into the design of Coachella’s Placita Dolores Huerta | Photo courtesy of Noé Montes
Continue reading to get to know our new team members better as they share news about the exciting developments at our real estate development division.
Photo of The Monarch Apartment Homes community by Noé Montes
Our Expanded Project Management Team
The CHOC Real Estate Development team recently welcomed two new project managers, Sachin Yadav, Senior Project Manager, and Mehmet Alademir, Project Manager.
Both are busy with The Monarch Apartment Homes and Placita Dolores Huerta. Alademir is coordinating between electrical providers for both buildings and also working on potential new developments elsewhere in Southern California.
“A harmonious blend of friendly and professional individuals defines our team,” says Alademir. “Hailing from diverse backgrounds, like Sachin in development, Pete in construction, Ryan in finance, and myself with an architectural foundation, we boast a rich tapestry of knowledge and skills, a potential key to our success.”
Meet Ryan Johnson, CHOC’s Vice President of Finance and Capital Markets
Johnson joins CHOC with a background in real estate capital formation, formerly serving as VP of Capital Markets and Real Estate for the Greenville Housing Fund. On behalf of Whitehall Capital, Pacific Mutual Investment Company, and Local Initiative Support Corporation’s Strategic Investments, Johnson has raised over $2 billion in funds collectively. “This naturally leads to CHOC expanding its geographic footprint and mission-based reach in the western region of the U.S.,” he adds.
Johnson has also directed over $70 billion in multifamily development and acquisitions, and issued over $90 million in 501C3 bonds for the creation and preservation of attainable housing across the Carolinas.
“I grew up in a community where housing insecurity was prevalent,” says Johnson. “Being with CHOC allows me to use my professional skills to preserve opportunities for the next generation.”
Employee Spotlight: Sachin Yadav
As Senior Project Manager, Mr. Yadav works with internal and external stakeholders on the pre-development process; this includes the process of securing financing for new and existing projects in CHOC’s pipeline. With an undergraduate degree in Architecture, Sachin recently completed his Master's in Real Estate Development at UC Berkeley, which included studies on various affordable housing and market rate developments. With an additional 12 years of experience in Indian real estate development, Sachin has successfully worked with top-tier developers, handling various aspects of inclusive housing, commercial, and industrial projects. In his spare time, Sachin enjoys meditation, hiking and exploring new cities and cultures.
Employee Spotlight: Mehmet Alademir
Mr. Alademir joined CHOC in 2023 as a Project Manager. For the last 10 years, Alademir worked as a San Francisco-based project designer. His projects included public schools, high-end residential, commercial and multifamily affordable housing, the latter during the five years he worked for a different nonprofit affordable housing developer. With a Bachelor's and Master's in Architecture, Alademir is in the process of sitting for his California registered architect license exams. In his free time, he likes to read, draw and volunteer; Alademir holds a non-profit chair on the board of Calle 24, located in San Francisco’s Latino Cultural District.
We are proud to welcome new members to our real estate development team and look forward to building additional affordable housing communities throughout California. Additionally, CHOC’s Community Impact Division will be implementing programming for all residents at The Monarch Apartment Homes and Placita Dolores Huerta, led by VP Terri Smyth Canillo and her team.
“These programs shape the day-to-day, adult, and young resident experience,” says Vince. These efforts build community on-site, and connect residents to greater community organizations and services.”
Vince Nicholas on the construction site of the developing and near-completion Placita Dolores Huerta | Photo courtesy of Noé Montes
Updates from Our Project Coordinators
Veronica Platt, a project coordinator at CHOC, has been an integral member of our Palm Springs team. She has assisted in the management of The Monarch and Placita Dolores Huerta extensively, working closely with Chief Strategy Officer Joy Silver and Vince Nicolas, VP of Real Estate Development.
As one of the more recent additions to our team, Veronica has transitioned smoothly into the culture of our organization.
“I have met some of the most professional and accomplished people during my time with CHOC,” Veronica says. “I felt immediately at home and supported by the entire team.”
She shared a few sentiments regarding the upcoming grand openings of Placita Dolores Huerta and The Monarch:
“I can’t wait to see these homes occupied by well-deserving communities and families. I have an overwhelming sense of pride to contribute in any way to the production of these projects.”
CHOC extends great thanks to our valued Monarch Apartment Homes and Placita Dolores Huerta construction partner davisREED Inc. Visit davisreedinc.com
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Founded in 1984, Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) is a non-profit affordable housing developer, energy, services and property management provider headquartered in Fairfield, CA; we create and manage equitable communities for individuals, families, seniors, and those with special needs. CHOC believes that economically integrated affordable housing is key to self-sufficiency and achievable with enriching, supportive programs that instill pride in residents, stabilize families, and improve local economies. Visit CHOCHousing.org.