A sign of success: New affordable housing apartments specifically designed for deaf community

Oct. 18—Braxton Thomsen, deaf from birth, communicates primarily with American Sign Language (ASL), but his personality — outgoing and full of humor — comes through loud and clear.

"Maybe we should order a pizza while we are waiting," Thomsen, 56, signs as a Journal reporter scribbles diligently in a notebook. "What are you writing — a novel?"

Not a novel, but an article about PAH! Hiland Plaza, a 92-unit apartment community that provides affordable housing and is, according to the Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership, one of only five living complexes in the country specifically designed for deaf, deaf/blind and hard-of-hearing residents.

On Wednesday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official grand opening of the four-story apartment building at 5000 Central SE. But residents, including Thomsen, started moving in at the end of August. More than half the units are occupied.

The Journal visited with Thomsen on Tuesday at PAH! Hiland Plaza. ASL interpreter Tristan Lenzo assisted with the interview.

"I was so thrilled to move in here and have an apartment of my own," Thomsen said. "In my room, the doorbell flashes a light. The same thing with fire alarms. There are a lot of things to meet the visual needs of deaf people. And the location is in the middle of this amazing city. There is access to a wheelchair-accessible bus.

"I moved here for one thing only. To take care of myself."

'Mutually beneficial'

The apartment building is at Central and Jackson, along the Albuquerque Rapid Transit bus line. Hiland in the complex's name recognizes its location in the Highland Business and Neighborhood Association area and also the Hiland Theater, just west of the apartments. PAH is an expression in ASL that means "success" or "finally."

PAH! Hiland Plaza is the culmination of a long journey. For more than 15 years, the Deaf Culture Center of New Mexico, known as DCCNM, had hoped for a place where members of the deaf, deaf/blind and hard-of-hearing communities could live together and that offered conveniences usually taken for granted by the hearing community. A partnership with the Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership, or GAHP, a nonprofit created in 1993 to bring quality affordable and market-rate housing to Albuquerque families, made that hope a reality.

Other partners in the $23 million project include the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, which provided tax credits; the city of Albuquerque, which funneled federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding into the endeavor; and the Albuquerque Housing Authority, which kicked in 23 rental assistance vouchers.

The complex was designed with the deaf community in mind. DCCNM has offices and event space on the first floor, the on-site staff is fluent in ASL and leasing preference will be for residents who are deaf, deaf/blind and hard of hearing. However, the apartments are available for all individuals and families earning between 30% and 80% of Albuquerque-area median income.

For those earning 30% of median income, maximum allowable monthly rent is $424 for a one-bedroom unit, $510 for two bedrooms and $589 for three bedrooms. Monthly rents for those earning 80% of median income are $1,133 for one bedroom, $1,360 for two bedrooms and $1,571 for three bedrooms.

"It's mutually beneficial," said Laurie Frappier, director of communications for GAHP. ""We serve our community and (DCCNM) has realized its dream."

Kelle Senyé, GAHP director of operations, said what DCCNM really wanted was space "for meetings, training, social events and ASL classes."

In addition to features designed for the deaf community, on-site services provided through GAHP include youth character building classes, health and nutrition education, health screenings, application assistance for Medicaid/Medicare and technology training in computers, tablets, iPhones, setting up email and more.

There is even one space on the first level that may be used as a commercial coffee shop in order to help people learn to be good business owners or good employees.

But GAHP's main focus is comfortable, affordable housing that promotes household stability.

"We believe that affordable housing can be beautiful, high-quality and have all the amenities as market-rate housing," Frappier said.

Room with a view

Thomsen lives in a one-bedroom apartment that overlooks Central Avenue.

"I love that I can look at Central Avenue," he said. "I get up in the morning and make coffee, open the curtains and look at the brewery and the restaurant across the street and the Sandia Mountains."

Thomsen was born in Reno, Nevada, and attended a school for the deaf in Washington state. He lived in New Mexico 20 years ago, working as a teacher at a school for the deaf in Santa Fe and with the deaf program at Del Norte High School.

He was living in Rochester, New York, however, when he heard rumors about the PAH! Hiland Plaza project. After confirming the rumors with a computer search, he moved to Albuquerque in 2022 and had been living in a house with three hearing roommates before moving into the complex.

"I love the weather here, the blue skies and geological features and the culture," he said. "I really didn't think I would be moving back (to New Mexico), but after grueling winters in Rochester, I changed my mind."

It was the apartment complex, however, not the weather, that was the deciding factor in his move.

One negative Thomsen noted about the apartment building's location is a lack of grocery stores in the area. A nearby Walmart closed in March, and the Walgreens store at San Mateo and Central will close soon.

Even so, he finds his single-bedroom apartment cozy, regretting only that it lacks a dishwasher, which is available in the two- and three-bedroom units.

"But I'll survive," he said. "I'm a big boy."