PAH! Hiland Plaza is Albuquerque’s first multifamily affordable housing community designed with and for the Deaf Community and one of only 5 in the nation. Sol Housing partnered with the Deaf Culture Center of New Mexico to create a space that is not only appropriate for individuals and small families with low incomes, but one with specific design elements that accommodate the needs of the Deaf community in New Mexico. These elements include site staff fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), a videophone secured entry, and strobe fire alarms and doorbells in the apartments, to name a few. PAH! Hiland is home to the Deaf Culture Center’s offices and event space. The inclusion of the word, PAH!, is based on the ASL sign that means “finally,” indicating the amount of time and hard work the DCCNM spent in securing a relationship with a developer that would realize its vision. On-site enrichment services are offered for both ASL and non-ASL speakers including after school tutoring, and classes in character building, health and nutrition, computer literacy, financial literacy, job search and resume building, and CPR in addition to health screenings and other community events.

PAH! Hiland Plaza was completed in 2023 with funding by the City of Albuquerque and utilization of Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.

Architect: Hartman + Majewski Design Group
General Contractor: Jaynes Corporation
Development Costs: $23,211,509
Awards: 2022 MFA Housing Summit Housing Innovation Award; 2024 Affordable Housing Finance Reader's Choice Finalist; 2024 ULI Terwilliger Innovation Award