City Council and Housing Authority Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, DATE: FEBRUARY 21, 2023
AND HOUSING AUTHORITY MEMBERS
FROM: OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS WARD: 1 SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE MULBERRY VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BETWEEN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RIVERSIDE, INC. FOR AN ALLOCATION OF $438,117.72 IN NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM (NSP) FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 10 SMALL COTTAGE-STYLE HOMES ON HOUSING AUTHORITY-OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2825-2841 MULBERRY STREET – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Approve a Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project between the City of Riverside, the Housing Authority of the City of Riverside, and Habitat for Humanity Riverside, Inc. for an allocation of $438,117.72 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant funds for the development of 10 small cottage-style homes on Housing Authority-owned property located at 2825-2841 Mulberry Street and authorize a supplemental appropriation.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve a Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project with the City of Riverside, Habitat for Humanity Riverside, Inc. and the Housing Authority of the City of Riverside for an allocation of $438,117.72 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant funds for the development of 10 small cottage-style homes on Housing-Authority-owned property located at 2825-2841 Mulberry Street; With at least five affirmative votes, authorize an increase in revenue and appropriate expenditures in the amount of $438,117.72 in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Funds; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
That the Housing Authority:
Approve a Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project with the City of Riverside, Habitat for Humanity Riverside, Inc. and the Housing Authority of the City of Riverside for an allocation of $438,117.72 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant funds for the development of 10 small cottage-style homes on Housing-Authority-owned property located at 2825-2841 Mulberry Street; and Authorize the Executive Director, or designee, to execute the Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
The Housing Authority of the City of Riverside (Authority) purchased parcels of land at 2825-2841 Mulberry as either vacant land or judicial foreclosures in 2012. The Authority advertised the site for development continuously on the Authority’s Request for Proposals webpage. On April 9, 2018, an over-the-counter proposal from Habitat for Humanity Riverside, Inc. was received for the Mulberry Village development consisting of 10 small cottage-style homes on the site to serve chronically homeless individuals earning at or below 50% of the Area Median Income ($30,800 for one person in 2022).
On June 18, 2019, the City Council approved a Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project with Habitat for Humanity Riverside, Inc. (Habitat) and the Authority to provide $884,250 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program grant funds for the Mulberry Village Project, a development of 10 small cottage-style homes on the 0.48-acre parcel (Project). The Project’s mission is to provide access to stable and affordable housing, provide case management and supportive services based on client’s needs, and assist clients with graduating into permanent housing. The Authority will retain ownership of the project site, which must remain affordable for 55 years. Management of the property will be conducted by Riverside Housing Development Corporation (RHDC) who currently manages the Authority’s existing rental properties.
On January 14, 2020, the City Council approved a (1) General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation of the project site from MDR-Medium Density Residential to HDR – High Density Residential; (2) Zoning Code Map Amendment to change the zone from R-17000 – Single Family Residential Zone to R-3-3000 – Multiple Family Residential; and (3) Design Review of project plans, as recommended by the City Planning Commission.
DISCUSSION:
The City received a funding request from Habitat in the amount of $1,271,149 to cover unexpected project-related costs. Historically, Habitat has been able to utilize volunteered labor and donated materials to keep their construction costs down. Due to the COVID pandemic, Habitat’s insurance carrier would not allow them to utilize volunteers, which resulted in unexpected labor costs. The cost of materials had also increased due to supply shortages and the inability to obtain the anticipated donated materials.
On November 15, 2022, the City Council approved a First Amendment to Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project with the City, Authority, and Habitat for an additional allocation of $833,031.28 in HOME Community Housing Development Organization grant funds. The City Council was made aware that a subsequent request would be forthcoming for the remaining balance of $438,117.72, to be funded with Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grant funds. The NSP grant funds will provide the remaining funds needed to complete the Project.
Below is a breakdown of the original and revised Project budget.
Uses of Funds
Activity
Original Project Budget
Revised Project Budget
Land acquisition and closing costs
$ 0
$ 0
Construction
$511,069
$1,340,920
Professional fees/soft costs
$178,096
$ 571,220
Permit fees
$ 54,200
$ 54,200
Contingency
$ 40,885
$ 89,059
Developer fee
$100,000
$ 100,000
Total Development Cost
$884,250
$2,155,399
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The Project supports Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal 2.1 – to facilitate the development of quality and diverse housing supply that is available and affordable to a wide range of income levels.
This project aligns with each of the Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The City of Riverside has identified the need for affordable housing as a priority in the City’s Housing Element process. The Housing Element outreach process gathered information from specific focus groups and interviews with various organizations and service providers in the housing and community development field, as well as residents of the city.
Equity – Pursuant to the Housing Community Act of 1974, the US Department of HUD provides critical priority for the funding to ensure all eligible persons receive equitable access to service and are served with dignity, respect, and compassion regardless of the circumstances, ability, or identity.
Fiscal Responsibility – This item allows the City to utilize unused HOME and NSP funds toward the development of extremely low-income housing to create economic stability for extremely low-income City residents.
Innovation – This item will allow the City to complete the development of the Mulberry Village that will create smaller type of housing units for individuals exiting the streets into housing coupled with case management to achieve housing stability and self-sufficiency.
Sustainability & Resiliency – This project promotes a sustainable community and economic development and projects to encourage community engagement and resiliency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $438,117.72. Upon Council approval, an increase in revenue will be recorded in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Fund, NSP Programs revenue account 2835410-331100 in the amount of $438,117.72, and an equal amount appropriated to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Fund, Mulberry Village Project account 9246900-440446.
Prepared by: Michelle Davis, Housing Authority Manager
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project Presentation
Development Agreement for the Mulberry Village Development Project – NSP Funds ● Page 2