Item 2C: Approval of Funding for Housing Project for Low-Income Persons and att'sA-C

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to those earning below 50% and 60% of Area Median Income (AMI), including four units set aside for VetLIFT clients. SVdP requested $300,000 in HOME funds and $188,300 in Eugene SDCs, and $60,320 in EWEB SDC grants, along with a 20-year Property Tax Exemption for Low-Income Rental Housing from the City of Eugene. The project includes a HeadStart facility, community center, children’s play area, and a 4,250 square-foot community garden area. Willakenzie Crossing—Metropolitan Affordable Housing Corporation: Metropolitan Affordable Housing Corporation (Metro) requests funding for Willakenzie Crossing, a community apartment-style development which will provide 56 rental units to those below 50% and 60% of AMI, including 16 units set aside for persons with developmental disabilities. Metro requests $670,000 in HOME funds, $185,000 in Eugene SDC waivers, and $60,000 in EWEB waivers, along with a 20-year Property Tax Exemption for Low-Income Rental Housing from the City of Eugene. The project also includes a community center, children’s play area, and a 1,382 square-foot community garden area. A schematic design of the project is attached. The Housing Policy Board recommends selection of the Willakenzie Crossing proposal from Metro. This proposal creates a unique opportunity to provide housing for persons with developmental disabilities in close proximity to educational opportunities and other services tailored to their needs. Metro is partnering with SAIL Housing to coordinate and/or provide services required by the developmentally disabled population. Numerous letters of support were submitted along with the Willakenzie Crossing proposal. Comments from many organizations, partners and individuals highlighted Metro’s leadership in developing projects that meet the needs of our community, their continued effort to collaborate with others, and Metro’s willingness to promote and assist in programs offered by other community organizations, among other things. Metro and City staff have and will continue working with the community and the Willakenzie Grange to address concerns raised by neighbors and grange members in an effort to minimize impacts to the neighborhood. RELATED CITY POLICIES The City Council has established a priority to address homelessness in Eugene. The proposed project directly supports this objective by preserving and expanding affordable housing opportunities for very and extremely low-income families and individuals. In addition, the project is targeted to a special needs population that is currently under-served in Eugene. The City of Eugene affordable housing development programs support a number of the City Council Adopted Growth Management Policies. The recommended project directly supports the following Growth Management Policies: ? Promote construction of affordable housing. ? Encourage in-fill, mixed-use, redevelopment, and higher density development. ? Improve the appearance of buildings and landscapes. ? Provide for a greater variety of housing types. The City Council has established a Housing Dispersal Policy which seeks to maximize housing choice for low-income families and integrate housing throughout the City of Eugene. The project is located in the appropriate Census Tract according to the Housing Dispersal Policy. Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M090928\S0909282C and att'sA-C.doc