Agenda Item # 2
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
05/28/2013
Agenda Report # 81
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Housing Authority of Columbus Redevelopment of Booker T.
Washington
INITIATED BY: Amy Carbajal, Community Reinvestment
Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement
with the Housing Authority to redevelop the Booker T. Washington housing
development.
Background: The Housing Authority has responded to opposition to the
original Booker T. Washington redevelopment plan in the Liberty District and
develop an alternative plan for the redevelopment of this site. The new site
for the first 100 units will be at the Chapman Homes site. The new three story
development will be set aside for senior citizens. Currently, the Housing
Authority has approximately 100 Senior, public housing residents that may be
eligible for the new units.
Phase II of the Booker T. Washington redevelopment will follow the original
plan and will be built on the north side of the existing site. The site at the
corner of Veterans and Victory will be demolished to create an opportunity for
commercial development.
The Housing Authority is still seeking a 2013 Low Income Housing Tax Credit to
fund the development. That application is due in June, 2013. The Housing
Authority is asking for a financial commitment from the City in the amount of
$2,500,000. This will be paid in the following installments: $400,000 for
five years and $500,000 for the sixth year. The first payment will be due in
2015. The Housing Authority will provide the City with a prorate share of the
proceeds from the sale or lease of property.
Analysis: The redevelopment of Booker T. Washington is in the best interest of
the City of Columbus and residents.
Financial Considerations: Funding option to be considered are an Economic
Development reserve, if approved by council in the FY14 budget, or the General
Fund-Fund Balance. The Economic Development reserve is established by a
mileage rate pursuant to O.C.G.A. 48-5-350. This statute allows many types of
development projects to be funded by county governments and their Development
Authorities with a separate mileage funding up to 3 mills.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: The monthly installments will impact
either the General Fund or the Economic Development Reserve, if established.
Legal Considerations: All commitments are contingent upon the Housing
Authority's successful tax credit application. If the application is not
successful, there are no legal obligations to commit property or funding.
Recommendations/ Actions: Approve the Resolution and Memorandum of Agreement
between the City and the Housing Authority to redevelop the Booker T.
Washington housing development.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
COLUMBUS HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON APARTMENTS
REVITALIZATION PLAN DATED APRIL 2013; ENDORSING THE APPLICATION BY THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA/COLUMBIA RESIDENTIAL PARTNERSHIP TO THE GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDES
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CONSTRUCT BOOKER T. APARTMENTS PHASE I ? A
MULTI-FAMILY ?HOUSING FOR OLDER PERSONS? COMMUNITY TO BE LOCATED AT 3725
CHAPMAN WAY, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, a Revitalization Plan (the ?Plan?) for Booker T. Washington Apartments
(BTW), 500 5th Avenue, Columbus, Georgia dated April 2013 has been presented to
City Council and is attached to this Resolution as Exhibit ?A?. The Plan
includes 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. It is currently
contemplated the construction of approximately 200 multi-family rental units
located on two separate sites, future commercial/retail space, and related
on-site infrastructure improvements (the ?Development?); and,
WHEREAS, it has been determined that the Development shall be
accomplished in two phases with the first phase of the Development of
approximately 100 multi-family units of ?housing for older persons? located on
the former Chapman Homes site, 3725 Chapman Way, (Phase 1) and the second phase
being the development of approximately 100 new multi-family rental units and
potential commercial and retail development on the site of the existing BTW
property (?Phase 2?); and,
WHEREAS, the City Council approves the Revitalization Plan for Booker
T. Washington Apartments ? a multi-phase redevelopment project; and,
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the BTW Revitalization Plan, HACG with their
developer/partner, Columbia Residential, is applying to the Georgia Department
of Community Affairs (DCA) for 2013 low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC),
which is a highly competitive process requiring documentation of support from
the City, to construct BTW Phase 1; and,
WHEREAS, a summary of said application is attached hereto as Exhibit
?B?; and,
WHEREAS, the site of the proposed off-site community is located within
Census Tract 33.00; and,
WHEREAS, the City and the Authority acknowledge and agree that
financial contribution to the Development in the total amount of $2,500,000
($1,000,000 for Phase I and $1,500,000 for Phase 2) is required from the City;
and,
WHEREAS, the Authority commits to a prorated share of the net proceeds
from the sale or gross proceeds from the lease of commercial development with
the City in order to partially recoup the tax payer?s investment in the
development; and,
WHEREAS, in order to comply with the requirements set forth in the
foregoing for the Authority?s LIHTC application, the City and the Authority
have agreed to enter into and execute a Memorandum of Agreement substantially
in the form attached as ?Exhibit ?C?; and,
WHEREAS, the City will participate in the redevelopment of the project
by providing $2,500,000 in five annual installments of $400,000 and one
installment of $500,000 beginning in FY 2015.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement
with the Booker T. Washington Apartments Revitalization Plan dated April 2013
and 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 tax credits to construct the proposed Booker
T. Washington Apartments ? Phase 1. In addition the City Council authorizes
the City Manager to enter into the Memorandum of Agreement committing
$2,500,000 of City funds for two phases of redevelopment.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________ day of _____________ 2013, and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________
_________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council ,Mayor
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