Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
04/22/2014
Agenda Report # 108
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Booker T. Washington Revitalization - Low Income Housing Tax
Credits Endorsement
INITIATED BY: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager
Recommendation: Approve a resolution endorsing the application by the Housing
Authority of Columbus, Georgia/Columbia Residential Partnership to the Georgia
department of Community Affairs for 2014 Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to
construct Phase 2- a multi-family community for families on the north side of
the current BTW site (500 5th Avenue), Columbus, Georgia; and reaffirms that
said redevelopment is in accordance with the Liberty District Master Plan as
approved by Council Resolution No 230-04.
Background: Council approved the adoption of the Liberty District Master
Plan by Resolution No. 30-04 on June 1, 2004. The revitalization of Booker T.
Washington Apartments (BTW) to include the relocation of all BTW residents, the
demolition of the current 392 severely distressed housing units and the
redevelopment of BTW into a new master planned, mixed income, mixed use
community is an integral component of the Plan. The Housing Authority of
Columbus, Georgia was successful in obtaining 2013 Low-Income Housing Tax
Credits for the first phase of construction of approximately 100 multi-family
units of "housing for older persons" located on the former Chapman Homes site,
3725 Chapman Way.
Analysis: The second phase of the revitalization of BTW is for the development
of approximately 106 new multi-family rental units on the north half of the
existing BTW property located at 500 5th Avenue. The Plan has been presented
to the residents, stakeholders and the community at large. The City is
committed to the implementation of the Plan and the revitalization of BTW and
has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with HACG dated May 31, 2013
agreeing to contribute a total of $2.5 million into the project.
Financial Considerations: The application for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
will not have a financial impact on the City.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will not be an annual fiscal
impact as a result of this application.
Legal Considerations: Approval of this resolution requires the affirmative
vote of Council
Recommendations/ Actions: Approve a resolution endorsing the application by
the Housing Authority of Columbus, Georgia/Columbia Residential Partnership to
the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for 2014 Low-Income Housing Tax
Credits to construct Phase 2- a multi-family community for families on the
north side of the current BTW site (500 5th Avenue), Columbus, Georgia; and
reaffirms that said redevelopment is in accordance with the Liberty District
Master Plan as approved by Council Resolution No 230-04.
A RESOLUTION
NO. ______
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE APPLICATION BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA/COLUMBIA RESIDENTIAL PARTNERSHIP TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR 2014 LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS TO CONSTRUCT
BTW-CHAPMAN PHASE 2 ? A MULTI-FAMILY COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF THE CURRENT BTW SITE (500 5th AVENUE), COLUMBUS, GEORGIA; AND REAFFIRMS THAT
SAID REDEVELOPMENT IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LIBERTY DISTRICT MASTER PLAN AS
APPROVED BY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 230-04.
WHEREAS, the Council of Columbus, Georgia (Council) approved the adoption of
the Liberty District Master Plan (Plan) by Resolution No. 230-04 on June 1,
2004; and,
WHEREAS, the Council has been diligent in the revitalization of the Liberty
District through the allocation of CDBG and 1999 SPLOST funds; and,
WHEREAS, the revitalization of Booker T. Washington Apartments (BTW) to
include the relocation of all BTW residents, the demolition of the current 392
severely distressed housing units and the redevelopment of BTW into a new
master planned, mixed income, mixed use community is an integral component of
the Plan; and,
WHEREAS, The Housing Authority of Columbus, Georgia (HACG) was successful in
obtaining 2013 Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) for the first phase of
construction of approximately 100 multi-family units of ?housing for older
persons? located on the former Chapman Homes site, 3725 Chapman Way; and,
WHEREAS, the second phase of the revitalization of BTW is for the development
of approximately 106 new multi-family rental units on the north half of the
existing BTW (500 5th Avenue) as outlined on Exhibit ?A?; and,
WHEREAS, said Plan has been presented to the residents, stakeholders and the
community at large; and,
WHEREAS, the revitalization of BTW will be the catalytic force behind the
transformation of The Liberty District; and,
WHEREAS, the City is committed to the implementation of the Plan and the
revitalization of BTW and has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with HACG
dated May 31, 2013 agreeing to contribute a total of $2.5 million into the
project ($1 million in Phase I and $1.5 million in Phase II); and,
WHEREAS, a summary of said application is attached hereto as Exhibit ?B?; and,
WHEREAS, the site of the proposed community is located within Census Tract
25.00; and,
WHEREAS, DCA has established regulations whereby low-income housing tax credit
applications, to be competitive, must be formally endorsed by the governing
authority of the pertinent municipality or county; and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Council wishes to reaffirm their commitment to the
Liberty District Master Plan and the revitalization of Booker T. Washington
Apartments and endorse the aforementioned application by HACG and Columbia
Residential.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:
That the Council hereby endorses the application by the Housing Authority of
Columbus, Georgia and their development partner, Columbia Residential, to the
Georgia Department of Community Affairs for low-income housing tax credits to
construct the proposed BTW-Chapman ? Phase 2.
_________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held the
____________ day of April 2014, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative
vote of _____________ member of Council.
Councilor Allen voting .
Councilor Baker voting .
Councilor Barnes voting .
Councilor Davis voting .
Councilor Henderson voting .
Councilor Huff voting .
Councilor McDaniel voting .
Councilor Thomas voting .
Councilor Turner-Pugh voting .
Councilor Woodson voting .
______________________________
_________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
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