Nampa's iconic Golden Glow Tower secures future with LEAP Housing purchase

NAMPA, Idaho (CBS2) — According to a recent news release, one of Nampa's most recognizable landmarks, which has provided housing to the city's senior residents for over 50 years, was purchased by LEAP Housing.

Golden Glow Tower, the tallest building in Nampa, located at 1108 7th St. S. in Nampa, currently houses sixty-six senior residents, many of whom are living on social security as their primary source of income.

Constructed under the HUD 202 program, Golden Glow Tower was built in 1969 by Nampa First Christian Church, which had formed the nonprofit Nampa Christian Housing to operate the property.

With NCH's stewardship over the last 50 years, GGT has provided the lowest unsubsidized senior rents in Nampa and quite possibly the United States, serving households with incomes as low as $6,000 per year and rents as low as $158 per month, including utilities.

In partnership with NCH, the tower has gained necessary funding through an award of project-based vouchers from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administered through the local housing authority, Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Housing Association (SICHA), which will ensure residents remain in place.

As NCH considered its priorities in transitioning ownership to another like-minded organization. Its main goal was to protect the elderly residents from housing displacement.

During a visit to Idaho, Richard Monocchio, HUD's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing, took a tour of GGT.

"Using vouchers to preserve housing that would otherwise become unaffordable is one of our key tenants," Monocchio said. "As a nation, we are millions of apartments and homes short; we need to house our existing population, so to have a building like this remain affordable is key. Preserving affordable housing is just as important as creating a new unit."

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