Brian Swanton

President & CEO

Brian Swanton transitioned into the role of President & Chief Executive Officer for Gorman & Company in 2018, after serving as the Arizona Market President since 2008. During his tenure as Arizona Market President, Brian led a multi-disciplinary team that designed and constructed over 1,000 units of new housing across the State with an emphasis on permanent supportive housing for families, seniors, veterans, and chronically homeless populations in both urban and rural locations. He also redeveloped some of the first public housing units in the country using HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program.

As President & CEO, Brian oversees all of Gorman’s business units, including design, construction, development, property & asset management, and administration. Prior to joining Gorman, he held various leadership positions in the non-profit sector, where he directed the preservation and construction of over 2,300 units of housing in 29 residential communities across Arizona and successfully refinanced and/or repositioned 1,702 units of existing affordable housing. Brian also spent eight years of his career in the public sector, serving as the Housing Development Manager for the City of Scottsdale, as well as other positions in housing and community development with the City of Glendale, AZ, the Arizona Department of Housing, and the City of Quincy, MA.

Brian holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning, both from Arizona State University where he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in housing finance and neighborhood revitalization. He is also certified as a Housing Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council and is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Arizona Housing Alliance, Arizona’s only statewide affordable housing advocacy organization, guiding that organization through a merger with the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness in 2017. Brian continues to serve on the Board of the newly merged organization, the Arizona Housing Coalition. He is also an active member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Arizona Multihousing Association, the Housing Advisory Group (HAG), the Affordable Housing Developers Council (AHDC), and the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition where he advocates on the federal, state, and local levels to advance affordable housing resources across the U.S.

Glendale Paves the Way with Arizona’s First Development Funded by State Housing Credits

Centerline, Glendale, AZ

Glendale Paves the Way with Arizona’s First Development Funded by Housing Credits

Gorman & Company partnered with local stakeholders to leverage Arizona’s new State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), a vital financing tool to pioneer the development of Centerline on Glendale, the first affordable housing community of its kind in state history.

This permanent supportive housing development encompasses 12.9 acres and houses 368 units of solar-powered multi-family housing.

Through collaboration between Maricopa County, the City of Glendale, the Arizona Department of Housing, the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and other state agencies, Gorman & Company was competitively awarded $2 million in state LIHTC to transform the City of Glendale’s Centerline Redevelopment Area into a supportive, sustainable, and diverse community.

Construction of a $120 Million Development

A Fully Integrated Approach

Each Gorman & Company project is led by a team of industry leaders in development, architectural design, construction, and property management. This allows Gorman to provide the highest level of customer care to our partners.

Market

Learn how Centerline on Glendale is meeting the city's growing need for affordable housing.

Development

Explore the diverse funding sources that made Centerline on Glendale a reality.

Architecture

Learn about the innovative design for this two-phased community.

Construction

Discover how the construction team made innovative designs come to life.

Property Management

Explore how Gorman & Company’s team ensured a seamless transition for residents.

Market

Glendale, AZ faces a growing shortage of affordable housing driven by rapid employment and population growth and increasing demand in the greater Phoenix metro area. Gorman & Company’s Centerline on Glendale addresses this need by offering affordable homes with convenient access to jobs, healthcare, and retail. Learn more here.

Development

Centerline on Glendale was made possible through a mix of federal and state LIHTCs, private investments, AHCCCS funding, and HUD grants. This funding created fully accessible supportive housing with on-site services like case management, job training, and telehealth, addressing both housing needs and supportive care in Glendale. Learn more here.

Architecture

Centerline on Glendale was one of Gorman & Company’s most challenging and rewarding projects. Spanning a large site, the development includes nine buildings with 368 residential units and various community spaces. As Gorman’s first Arizona Affordable Housing Tax Credit project, it presented unique design and coordination challenges. The architecture team worked closely with the City of Glendale, police, and fire departments to create a sustainable, innovative development that sets a new standard for affordable housing. Learn more here.

Construction

Centerline on Glendale showcases GGCs’ expertise in managing complex, large-scale construction with two phases built simultaneously to deliver 368 affordable units on time and on budget. By leveraging strong subcontractor relationships, innovative scheduling, and a commitment to quality, the team transformed a long-vacant site into a vibrant, sustainable community. Learn more here.

Property Management

Residents of Centerline on Glendale appreciate the design and intention that make the property both comfortable and supportive. This community also offers permanent supportive services including case management and comprehensive on-site resources ensuring residents thrive in their new community. Learn more here.

Thank You to Our Centerline on Glendale Partners

Why is Centerline on Glendale a Win-Win?

“Tax revenues generated during construction alone will generate $12.3 million in tax revenues before a single dollar of tax credits is issued by the State of Arizona,” said Gorman & Company’s President & CEO Brian Swanton.

This pioneering 368-unit solar-powered affordable multi-family community offers a wide spectrum of rents meeting the needs of hundreds of families, Veterans, and individuals with serious mental illness.

Centerline In the News

Marcopa County, ”Centerline on Glendale – Arizona’s First State LIHTC Development”
Affordable Housing Finance, “Gorman & Co. Receives First Arizona State Housing Credit Award ”

BEX, “New Affordable Development Planned in Glendale”
Tax Credit Advisor, “Innovative LIHTC Programs Become a Powerful New Tool ”

Gorman & Company Union Corners Case Study Slides_1200x675_628262725-gorman_union_corner-218

Project partners come together to celebrate Centerline on Glendale groundbreaking in 2023.

Gorman & Company Union Corners Case Study Slides_1200x675_628262725-gorman_union_corner-218

Centerline on Glendale overcame traditional funding barriers by leveraging Arizona’s newly established State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program (S.B. 1124). By tapping into this groundbreaking funding source, the first of its kind in the state, Gorman & Company successfully demonstrated how state-level incentives can drive private investment in affordable housing.

Gorman & Company Union Corners Case Study Slides_1200x675_628262725-gorman_union_corner-218

The inclusion of an on-site commercial kitchen, operated by Local First Arizona, is a particularly innovative component that fosters food-based entrepreneurship for up to 50 start-up businesses while providing residents with free cooking and nutrition classes—an approach rarely seen in affordable housing developments.

”Centerline on Glendale is a shining example of how sound public policy in Arizona can lead to amazing results for our community! The state housing tax credit, passed by the Arizona Legislature in a bipartisan fashion in 2021, is the sole reason this project was able to move forward.”

Brian Swanton
President and CEO of Gorman & Co.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome this development to Glendale. At a time when affordable housing is hard to find across the Valley, these units will fulfill a critical need for Glendale residents. This alone will not solve the problem, but it is a step in the right direction.”

Jerry P. Weiers
Mayor of Glendale, AZ

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