City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: HELEN S. MCILVAINE, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF HOUSING
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Request for a City Loan and Grant Funding to Community Housing Partners for the Witter Place Affordable Housing Project.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a City Loan and Grant to Community Housing Partners (CHP) for its Witter Place Affordable Housing Development (Attachment 1).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve a total loan of $10.5 million (including $400,000 in predevelopment funds already provided), and a rental subsidy grant of $350,000; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the loan and grant agreements with CHP as well as other documents consistent with City support and necessary for CHP's tax credit application.
BACKGROUND: Community Housing Partners is a Christiansburg, VA-based nonprofit affordable housing development entity founded in 1975. Since then, CHP has successfully developed or preserved more than 7,000 affordable units in Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Maryland. CHP has received more low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) awards than any other developer in Virginia, and its resident services, property management, and development consulting services are highly regarded within the affordable housing industry. In June 2022, City Council approved a $400,000 predevelopment loan to help CHP advance the Witter Place project and, in November, the development was unanimously approved by Planning Commission and City Council (with no opposition from surrounding residential or commercial neighbors). The approval included a rezoning from CG to RMF, a master plan amendment to allow multifamily residential use, an increase in height from 35' to 55' feet that takes ...
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