City collaborates on apartment renovation

July 21, 2010

The City of Belen and YES Housing Inc. announced on Monday night a $1.7-million renovation of La Hacienda Apartments on North Second Street.

The city is working in collaboration with the Albuquerque-based nonprofit community development group.

The two-story La Hacienda Apartments have been the site of criminal activity and a problem for neighbors.

The apartment building was foreclosed on by Charter Bank in late 2009, which gave YES Housing the opportunity to begin to negotiate the purchase.

The project will use neighborhood stabilization funds from the federal government’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

According to YES Housing, the property should be acquired by September and will be under the ownership of YES Housing for at least 20 years.

YES Housing provides a process for tenant screening, selecting tenants with good credit and in good standing at their previous residences.