Johana Casanova

Johana Vargas Casanova has over 25 years of real estate and engineering experience. Licensed professional engineer and real estate development professional in residential and commercial real estate. Passionate about supporting mission driven developments with community development impact.

• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE)
• Licensed Real Estate Broker

MULTI-FAMILY  

North Sheffield Development, Chicago, Illinois

The North Sheffield Development, is a $200M innovative mixed-income, multi-generational living and community space providing 80 new family units, 11 new senior apartments and renovating 394 existing senior apartments in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago. The financing includes leveraging 4% LIHTC, Chicago Housing Authority and IHDA financing with a RAD conversion. 

Avalon on Montreal, Clarkston, Georgia

Analyzed multiple strategic scenarios to acquire, develop, hold and sale scenarios for this 168 apartments community. Initially a competitive 4% LIHTC award and bond allocation initiated the preservation of this development for affordable housing. The community located in Dekalb County was built in 1975 and renovated in 2011. The redevelopment plan included a partnership with DeKalb Housing Authority to rehabilitate the apartments with 4% LIHTCs/tax-exempt bonds. However, ultimately, DeKalb Housing Authority purchased the valuable asset to preserve this property as workforce housing serving up to 120% AMI residents of the Clarkston Community. South Boulevard shores, Evanston, IL, In response to an RFP released by the City of Evanston, Johana led the team that won the proposal for this innovative mixed-income, affordable, family development. The proposed 5-story building would bring 60 new affordable apartments to a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) area in the City of Evanston. In addition to thoughtfully designed community spaces, the building will be designed to achieve Enterprise Green Communities Enterprise Plus Net Zero Certification. The financing structure includes 9% LITHC, Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits, Cook County Home Funds, and 45 L Solar Credits, among others. 

Winchester Lakes & Crosswinds, Columbus, Ohio

Crosswinds Village is a 232-unit property in the southwest suburbs of Columbus—and Winchester Lakes—a 150-unit community in Canal Winchester—these properties were revitalized and preserved as affordable housing options for families earning up to 80% of AMI. The rehabilitation of both properties, facilitated by 4% LIHTCs and bonds, included a combined development budget of $70 million.

Pullman Artspace Lofts, Chicago, Illinois

Pullman Artspace Lofts is a mixed-use affordable live/work space for artists and their families. The project provides the opportunity to integrate historic preservation with cutting edge new construction and an iconic set of buildings that anchor Pullman’s eastern boundary. The project includes 38 affordable live/work units, exhibition space, and ample community space. Financing includes LIHTC, State Donation Tax Credits, State Historic Tax Credits and conventional financing. 

Heiwa Terrace, Chicago, Illinois

$20M, 200 unit senior affordable housing in the Northside of Chicago. Proposed refinancing includes 4% LIHTC with tax-exempt financing and HUD financing. 

Access West Cook, Chicago, Illinois

$20M integrated rental housing for people with disabilities across the west suburbs of Chicago. Rehabilitation of 50 abandoned and foreclosed scattered sites 2-4 units. Financed with LIHTC, HUD Transit Oriented Development Grant, Cook County HOME and IHDA first mortgage. 

Evergreen Towers I, Chicago, Illinois

$26M acquisition and rehabilitation project. The 100-units, eleven-story building was upgraded with green and energy-efficient features including a solar thermal water heating system, a photovoltaic (PV) array, LED lighting in common areas, low-flow plumbing fixtures, Energy Star rated appliances, and energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems. These improvements improved operation costs by 40%. Financing included 4% LIHTC, tax exempt bonds, IHDA Risk Share Permanent Loan and HOME grant. 

PhilHaven, Wheeling, Illinois

 $15M new construction, permanent supportive housing apartment (50 units) for families with disabilities. Developed financial structure, completed PUD and zoning process, secured financing through IHDA 9% LIHTC, FHLBC AHP, Cook County HOME, DCEO and Village Bank. Project includes project based vouchers through Housing Authority of Cook County and Illinois Department of Mental Health. 

Myers Place, Mount Prospect, Illinois

$13M new construction, permanent supportive housing apartment (39 units) targeting the disabled. Provided assistance in tax credit closing, managed construction and completed final closing. Project includes financing with 9% LIHTC, CDBG Ike grant, private first mortgage and DCEO. The project is LEED certified and includes a geothermal system. 

Walnut Commons, Muncie, Indiana

 $9M new construction apartments (44 units), targeting disabled individuals and veterans at risk of homelessness. Developed partnership with local health service provider. Identified land, completed site control and obtained financing with LIHTC and FHLBI AHP. Negotiated City of Muncie financial support for off-site improvements and local HOME funds. The project is seeking ICC Silver National Green Building Standard and Enterprise Green Communities certifications. 

The Glen at Cobblestone Ridge, Muscatine, Iowa

$7M new construction affordable rental homes for families in Muscatine. Completed LIHTC application and developed social services partnership with local provider for the project’s proposed special needs population. Identified new sources of financing through the State of Iowa, in a very short timeframe that decreased the total project costs in order to meet the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) project limits. Led efforts to value engineer design in order to decrease construction costs by approx. $1.5M to meet the project limits for the LIHTC application. 

COMMERCIAL 

LifeSource, Rosemont, Illinois: $19 million, 140,000 square-foot speculative four-story Class A office building sold to Life Source for their headquarters facility. LEED Silver certified. 

Edwards Medical Office Building, Plainfield, IL: 60,000 square-foot medical office facility in the Edwards Hospital campus. Hospira, Lake Forest, $13 million build to suit, 135,000 square-foot, three-story Class A office building. 

Taft Distribution Center, Niles, IL: $14.7 million redevelopment of a 220,000 square-foot warehouse. Park 55, Romeoville, Led entitlements and permitting for the development of 2 million square-foot of industrial warehouse. 

Butterfield East Park, Aurora, IL: Largest land acquisition ($40 million) in the history of Duke’s Chicago Market. This site involves permitting through electrical (ComEd), rail (EJ&E) and gas (Nicor) companies, wetlands, floodplain, soils, infrastructure and planning challenges. This industrial and office park will support 3.7 million square feet of space. Development and project management of $10 million infrastructure budget. 9800 Balmoral, Rosemont, Industrial site acquired for an office park redevelopment ($16 million land purchase). Highlights include challenging environmental investigations (Phase II, No Further Remediation program (NFR) and asbestos mitigation) and negotiating with FAA the increase of the total building height from four stories to five stories, increasing the total buildable square feet to the park to 550,000 square feet. 

Triangle Corporate Park, Gurnee, IL:  $13 million land acquisition. Planned Unit Develoment process and negotiations with the Village of Gurnee. Project management of $2.5 million infrastructure budget. The office park can support 450,000 square feet of office, medical, retail or flex space 

Crossings Cantera Business Park, Warrenville, IL: Planned Unit Development of 23 acres office campus. Site development, subdivision, permitting, economic incentives negotiations and project management. The park included over 200,000 square feet of office space. Airport Road and Route 47, Morris, Managed land lease due-diligence and negotiated annexation agreement with the City of Morris and easement with adjacent landowners. Agreement included infrastructure incentives from the City in excess of $3 million. The total infrastructure budget is $5 million. 

Northwestern Memorial Prentice Woman’s Hospital, Chicago, IL: New construction of a one million square feet facility, which ranks as one of the top three maternity centers in the United States. LEED Silver certified. 

Wrigley Innovation Center, Chicago, IL: Redevelopment of the northern of the island into a $84.3 million research and production complex. The project includes 250,000 square feet of office, laboratory and manufacturing space on a vacant seven acres site by the Chicago River. LEED Gold certification. 

Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL: $60 million 185,000 square feet expansion of two-level underground structure which includes a state of the art compact storage, laboratories, offices and collection area.