Nancy M. MacMillan
Executive Director
Nancy M. MacMillan’s experience is unique in that she has a background in both the public and private sectors, working in the “for profit” and “not for profit” industries, in real estate, affordable housing development, community development, and county government. Nancy graduated from Saint John’s University in Jamaica, New York with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Her original aspirations were to go to Law School at St John’s University but after graduation, she pursued a career in commercial real estate appraising, obtaining a General Certified Real Estate Appraiser License with the State of New York.
As a commercial real estate appraiser, Nancy analyzed commercial real estate including the analysis of valuation, budgets, taxes/assessment, feasibility studies, and market trends. Nancy appraised commercial property for a New York based firm and traveled throughout the United States, appraising real property on a national basis. This analytical ability will assist the Mayor’s Office in repurposing blighted property and returning them to viable uses for the City.
Ms. MacMillan’s work experience employed in Westchester County Government as Director of Housing in the Planning Dept was an invaluable experience in working in local Government, working alongside the County Executive’s office, and Board of Legislators, underwriting and analyzing projects for grants or loans provided by the County. Nancy administered Westchester County funds in affordable housing, community development, and county infrastructure. Her department was responsible for the asset management of over 1500 properties which received grants/loans provided by the County.
As Director of Real Estate Development in New Haven for Common Ground Community, a NYC based not for profit supportive housing development organization, Nancy was the Director who managed their New Haven Office. This was her first opportunity to fulfill a life passion to develop affordable housing. She established a professional development team of qualified professionals, locally in CT and redeveloped the Historic Hollander Building on Asylum Ave in Hartford. This historic building was vacant for years until Common Ground acquired it and it was redeveloped into a 76 unit, $20M mixed-use, mixed-income, historic rehab, and LEADS certified project…the first in City of Hartford. This project was her first exposure to the leveraging of funds process that is involved in applications to CHFA and DECD as well as the City of Hartford and leveraged financing which included LIHTC, HOME, and CDBG Funds, as well as, State Historic Tax Credits. With the partnership of Yale School of Architecture, the West Haven Veterans Administration, and the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund, Nancy was the team leader with Common Ground in creating the first home ownership model for Common Ground Community whereby the Yale students designed and built several two-family homes for moderate- and low-income families. It was the first concept/model for female veterans.
As Executive Director for Loyola Development Corporation in the City of Waterbury, Ms. MacMillan assisted in the revitalization of the South End Neighborhood, and developed Liberty Commons, an affordable housing project for families, on South Main Street. This neighborhood consisted of many blighted buildings which were demolished by Loyola/Carabetta prior to the development of Liberty Commons. Working along side the City, the Carabetta Organization, and the South End Neighborhood Association, she and her Board of Directors addressed distressed properties on South Main Street and developed affordable housing for low income/moderate income families.