Title
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant for Marcos de Niza Public Housing Community (Ordinance S-50652)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to submit a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant application for up to $500,000, or the maximum award to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Marcos de Niza Public Housing community planning effort, and to enter into program contracts and agreements and to take any and all actions deemed necessary or appropriate to apply for and implement a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant, together with its City-approved consulting partners to assist with the grant application and planning processes. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept and the City Controller to disburse all grant, partner leverage, and match funds for the life of the grant.
Report
Summary
The objective of the HUD Choice Neighborhoods program is to support locally driven solutions for transforming neighborhoods using place-based strategies to address the interconnected challenges of distressed housing, low education attainment, poor health, crime, and lack of capital. Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant funds would be utilized over a 24-month period to create a comprehensive neighborhood transformation plan with extensive input from the community. The transformation plan would be structured around the three core elements of the Choice Neighborhoods program (Housing, Neighborhood, and People) and would serve as the community’s vision for housing redevelopment, neighborhood revitalization, and supportive services.
A planning process with residents and stakeholders would develop strategies to replace existing public housing in the Marcos de Niza community with mixed-income housing, improve educational outcomes for youth and families, and encourage public and private reinvestment to increase economic and housing stability. The goal of the community planning process is to create a resident and community-driven transformation plan that would meet the criteria to apply for a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant in the future.
The Housing Department has successfully applied for and received three HUD Choice Neighborhoods Grants for the Edison-Eastlake Community (EEC): $1.5 million for Planning and Action, $30 million for Implementation, and $10 million for supplemental implementation to redevelop 577 public housing units as well as revitalize the surrounding neighborhood and provide supportive services in the EEC, located approximately 3.5 miles east of the Marcos de Niza site.
This Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant effort will focus on the Marcos de Niza public and affordable housing community and the surrounding neighborhood. Marcos de Niza is located at 305 W. Pima Road and has a total of 374 units (281 Public Housing and 93 Project Based Voucher) in 124 buildings on 30.5 acres (Site). Major cross streets are West Buckeye Road and South Central Avenue, with the Site bounded by South 1st Avenue to the east, West Yavapai Street to the north, and West Mojave Street to the south. The Site is immediately adjacent to Harmon Park as well as Lowell Elementary School. Marcos de Niza, originally constructed in 1942, will require long-term development planning and is positioned close to downtown, with many family-oriented amenities nearby. It is also located within walking distance of a new station along the South Central Light Rail Extension.
The Housing Department will apply for a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant as soon as HUD’s 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity is released, which is anticipated this spring. The grant application also requires at least a dollar-for-dollar match, which the Housing Department has secured from partners. After completion of the community planning effort, the resulting Transformation Plan will qualify for application to the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant program. The Housing Department anticipates to apply in 2026 or 2027. The Housing Department will return to the City Council to seek approval for the anticipated Implementation Grant application. The Housing Department has initiated the application planning process by engaging a planning coordination consulting team, which was approved by City Council on Dec. 13, 2023. This team will assist the Housing Department to complete the grant application, create community engagement strategies, assess needs, and conduct the planning process.
Contract Term
If awarded, the Housing Department will execute the appropriate contract agreement(s) with HUD.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant is a federally funded program.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On Dec. 13, 2023, via Ordinance S-50414, City Council approved entering into a contract with The Liou Choice, LLC, to provide planning and coordination services in connection with the development of a neighborhood revitalization plan and preparation of a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant application for the Marcos de Niza community.
Location
305 W. Pima Road and surrounding neighborhood
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Housing Department.