Evergreen Real Estate Group, a leader in the development, construction and management of both affordable and market-rate multifamily properties, including communities for seniors and families, announced Jewell Walton has joined the company in the newly created position of vice president of public partnerships.
Walton, who joins Evergreen from the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), will focus on diversifying the firm’s affordable housing portfolio by partnering with public housing agencies to convert assistance for existing public housing communities to long-term, project-based Section 8 contracts under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jewell to the Evergreen family and know her experience will be invaluable in growing the capabilities of our platform as we enter a new segment of the affordable housing market,” said Steve Rappin, CEO of Evergreen Real Estate Group. “As a firm with a successful track record of developing, renovating and operating affordable housing communities in markets across the country, we are uniquely positioned to help housing agencies address billions of dollars in deferred maintenance, ensuring the long-term viability and affordability of this critical housing stock.”
At the CHA, Walton most recently served as deputy chief of RAD programming. RAD is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that was created to give public housing authorities a powerful tool to preserve and improve public housing properties, whose backlog of capital needs is estimated at over $35 billion. The CHA’s RAD portfolio is the second largest in the nation.
Prior to her time at the CHA, Walton was a project manager for S.B. Friedman & Company for more than 10 years, where she prepared and directed numerous market and financial feasibility studies for family and senior affordable housing developments throughout the state of Illinois.
“I have dedicated my career to affordable housing development and look forward to continuing the next chapter with the exceptional team at Evergreen Real Estate Group,” said Walton. “My collaborative approach and experience in areas like urban planning, development, market feasibility, housing policy and tax increment financing will complement the capabilities of the Evergreen leadership team. I’m thrilled to work alongside people who are as passionate as I am about preserving and creating affordable housing and look forward to helping Evergreen advance its people-focused mission.”
Walton holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University, as well as a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from University of Illinois Chicago.
