Loan Closings

CARMEL, Ind. (March 28, 2023) — Leading multifamily financing provider Merchants Capital today announces it has secured financing for the development of The Farm, a class A, market-rate property located in Zionsville, Indiana. With 400 total units, the project will be the only one of its kind in the area. Situated at the intersection of Michigan Road and Sycamore Street on more than 48 acres of land, The Farm will bring 400 units to Zionsville with an additional 225,000 sq. ft. of retail and commercial space. The development’s prime location will give residents direct access to the city’s major interstates, allowing convenience to downtown Indianapolis and its surrounding suburbs. Property amenities will include a modern and professional fitness center, co-working spaces, golf simulator, gourmet coffee bar, pickleball court, pavilion with fire pit, upscale dog park, rooftop patio and more. Residents will have access to garage spaces as well as covered bicycle parking. To finance development of The Farm, Merchants Capital secured a Merchants Bank of Indiana (MBI) construction loan for the key developer, Scannell Properties, and co-developer Pittman Investors. Headquartered just east of Zionsville in Carmel, Merchants Capital is a national leader in multifamily financing, with expertise in deal structures supporting multifamily, market-rate and affordable housing properties. Merchants served as a financing partner on The Farm alongside other local parties including Lake City Bank and the National Bank of Indianapolis. “Our roots as a company are in Indianapolis and its surrounding suburbs, and we consistently make it our priority to partner on projects that will benefit our local communities and its residents,” said Anthony Cossell, Transaction Manager at Merchants Capital. “The Farm’s design is authentic to the history of Zionsville and blends premier quality with scale in order to be the perfect addition to the town, an area historically scarce in rental properties.” Construction of The Farm will serve as Phase 1 of the larger Planned Urban Development (PUD) project outlined by the Town of Zionsville. Coined the “Gateway District,” the concept is to improve walkability and accessibility for locals by joining residential living with retail shops, convenience stores, dining and more. Phase 2 of the project will focus on the commercial aspect. “We are thrilled to launch development of The Farm at Zionsville and thank our lender partners at Merchants Bank of Indiana and Merchants Capital for their assistance in getting us to the launching pad. We look forward to working closely with the town and our business partners to ensure The Farm will be a welcoming focal point for living, working, shopping and dining,” said Shawn Hitchcock, Director, Scannell Properties. Debut of The Farm in early 2025 will bring much-anticipated multifamily units to Zionsville, currently a heavily undersupplied rental housing market. Upon its completion, the property will be a state-of-the-art project that will provide the best-in-market rental housing to individuals and families in the region. Pre-leasing is expected to commence in May 2023. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Developments to provide more than 650 affordably priced units for NYC residents CARMEL, IN (Mar. 29, 2019) – Mortgage banking firm Merchants Capital has secured financing for two affordable housing developments, totaling more than $180.6 million, in the New York City area: MEC 125th Street and Caton Flats. Both transactions executed a novel risk-share structure between Merchants Capital, Freddie Mac and New York City Housing Development Corporation (NYCHDC) as the local housing finance agency. These risk-share loans are structured as permanent forward commitments to take out the new construction loans. “The creativity of these two transactions is unparalleled. We are incredibly thankful to our partners at Freddie Mac and NYCHDC for their inventiveness, as well as to our clients for their commitment to ensuring the development of truly transformative projects,” said Mathew Wambua, executive vice president at Merchants Capital. “These projects are a testament to our continued mission to provide quality affordable housing to workforce and low-income families.” Located in East Harlem, MEC 125th Street is a 19-story, 404-unit mixed-use, mixed-income complex that will bring much needed affordable and market-rate units to this revitalized neighborhood. In coordination with NYCHDC, New York City Housing Preservation and Development (NYCHPD), New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC), Freddie Mac, Citi Community Capital, Blank Rome LLP and Sidley Austin LLP, MEC 125th Street is key in providing greater affordability to residents in Manhattan. The development was financed through a $120 million, 35-year Freddie Mac Forward Commitment loan secured by Merchants Capital on behalf of The Richman Group Development Corporation. “We are excited to be partners in what will be a remarkable addition to thriving East Harlem and to be part of the community,” said Kristin Miller, president of The Richman Group Development Corporation. “This is the culmination of the efforts of many talented people and organizations, as well as over 10 years of hard work and perseverance. It will be amazing to see this project come to fruition.” Fifty percent of the project’s apartments will be offered at rents ranging from 37 percent of the area’s annual median income (AMI) to 80 percent AMI. An additional 23 percent of units will have rents ranging from 130 percent AMI to 145 percent AMI, and the remaining 27 percent will be market rate. The development site is conveniently located one block from the 125th Street Subway and two blocks from Harlem 125th Metro North Station, providing easy access throughout the city and the greater New York Area. The second development, Caton Flats, is the much-anticipated revitalization of the Flatbush Caton Market (FCM), a destination of Caribbean commerce, entertainment and culture in New York City. The approximately 280,000-square-foot, 255-unit project is being developed by BRP Development, Urbane Development and the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) in coordination with the NYCHDC, the NYCHPD, NYC EDC, Freddie Mac, Citi Community Capital, Blank Rome LLP and Sidley Austin LLP. Loan proceeds will fund the development of mixed-income housing, ground floor retail, space for community groups, a business incubator, and a new home for the Flatbush Caton Market. Merchants Capital secured the loan through the new Freddie Mac Non-LIHTC Forward Commitment on behalf of BRP Development Corporation. Non-LIHTC forwards are unfunded, forward commitments for affordable housing developed by nonprofits and subsidized, rent-restricted affordable housing that for-profit developers can use for their new multifamily construction or substantial rehabilitation projects. “The financing secures the future of Caton Flats as an incredible source of affordable housing and economic opportunity for community residents and entrepreneurs,” said Andy Cohen, director of development for BRP Companies. “In addition to providing the neighborhood with much-needed housing, Caton Flats will also serve as a center of commerce, entrepreneurship and culture for Flatbush and the surrounding community.” Ten percent of the Caton Flats apartments will be priced affordably at 37 percent AMI. Fifteen percent of the units will be set at 57 percent AMI, and another 25 percent set at 90 percent AMI. The other half of the Caton Flats apartments will have rents capped at 130 percent AMI.