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Introduction
Patrice J. Harris, a former assistant general counsel in HUD Headquarters and the Chicago HUB, brings her clients almost 20 years of transactional and regulatory experience in FHA multifamily programs, public housing and bond/tax credit transactions.
She represents developers and lenders in acquiring, rehabilitating and/or financing affordable housing developments nationwide.
My focus
Developers
I represent for-profit and nonprofit developers acquiring federally and state assisted multifamily rental housing properties. I also work with owners who are refinancing and recapitalizing their multifamily assets for long-term preservation with tax-exempt bonds; tax credits; various forms of federal, state and local soft debt and grants; and Section 8 rent increases. I recently assisted a developer in acquiring and redeveloping a Section 236 property, which included syndicating low-income housing tax credits and converting an existing Rent Supplement contract and enhanced vouchers to project-based vouchers.
Government
I have strong connections in the affordable housing finance industry that are valuable to developers and local government entities. For example, I represented a governmental entity that planned to ground lease some land to a developer to build a new affordable development in an affluent community. The negotiated ground lease, finalized through public rulemaking, conflicted with FHA lease requirements, but we were able to get HUD to make substantial concessions to allow the transaction to move forward.
Mission-oriented Organizations
I also have a passion for mission-oriented organizations! Some of my favorite transactions have been working with nonprofit clients to provide decent, safe and affordable housing for society’s most vulnerable, including the homeless and the elderly.
Looking ahead
With the increased squeeze on funding, we’re constantly looking for new, creative ways to leverage public and private resources to address the continuing and growing need for affordable housing.
Insights
- “Holistic Development in Overlooked Areas,” Bisnow DC Metro Affordable Housing Summit, Washington, DC, March 20, 2019
- “Federal Housing Administration Multi-Family Housing Transactions,” Lawline CLE webinar, June 13, 2014
In the news
- CoStar News
Nuveen to buy 12,000-plus apartments in major affordable housing bet
May 11, 2023This article mentions NP for serving as regulatory counsel in Nuveen’s acquisition of a 12,000-unit affordable housing portfolio from Omni Holding Co. The NP deal team was led by New York City Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Joe Lynch and included Affordable Housing & Real Estate deputy practice leader and strategic policy advisor Deborah VanAmerongen; Boston partner Julie Stande; Washington, DC counsel Patrice Harris; associates James Allen and Avery Ryou of New York City, David Hornstein of Washington, DC, and Ali Sisson of Boston; New York City paralegal Brian Murphy; and New York City affordable housing specialist Antonik Kristofer, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice.
- Affordable Housing Finance
Nuveen acquires Omni Holding’s affordable housing portfolio
May 10, 2023The following articles mention NP for serving as regulatory counsel in Nuveen’s acquisition of a 12,000-unit affordable housing portfolio from Omni Holding Co. The NP deal team was led by New York City Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Joe Lynch and included Affordable Housing & Real Estate deputy practice leader and strategic policy advisor Deborah VanAmerongen; Boston partner Julie Stande; Washington, DC counsel Patrice Harris; associates James Allen and Avery Ryou of New York City, David Hornstein of Washington, DC, and Ali Sisson of Boston; New York City paralegal Brian Murphy, and New York City affordable housing specialist Antonik Kristofer, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice.
- Multi-Housing News
Nuveen buys 12,000-unit affordable portfolio
May 10, 2023The following articles mention NP for serving as regulatory counsel in Nuveen’s acquisition of a 12,000-unit affordable housing portfolio from Omni Holding Co. The NP deal team was led by New York City Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Joe Lynch and included Affordable Housing & Real Estate deputy practice leader and strategic policy advisor Deborah VanAmerongen; Boston partner Julie Stande; Washington, DC counsel Patrice Harris; associates James Allen and Avery Ryou of New York City, David Hornstein of Washington, DC, and Ali Sisson of Boston; New York City paralegal Brian Murphy, and New York City affordable housing specialist Antonik Kristofer, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice.
Admitted to practice
District of Columbia
Maryland
Illinois
Education
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.
Stanford University, A.B.
John Marshall Law School, LLM, Real Estate
Professional activities
Patrice Harris is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Maryland Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the National Bar Association.
Recognition
- Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 in the field of Real Estate Law; listed in Best Lawyers since 2023
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllDeborah VanAmerongen
Strategic Policy Advisor / Deputy Practice Group Leader, Affordable Housing & Real Estate- New York
- Office:+1 212.940.3054
- dvanamerongen@nixonpeabody.com
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Aaron J. Yowell
Partner
Chief Innovation Officer- New York
- Office:+1 212.940.3161
- ayowell@nixonpeabody.com
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