City reallocates $1.5 million from A/E to construction for Northside Square affordable housing project

The Housing and Community Development Committee on March 18 voted to reallocate $1.5 million from architectural and engineering appropriations into construction for Northside Square, a redevelopment of the former Northside High School that includes affordable housing units.

Ashley Cash, director of Housing and Community Development, told the committee the city had previously committed $2 million to the project and that $1.5 million remained in an A&E line. "We funded a total of $2,000,000 for this project, and 1,500,000 is parked in architecture and engineering. We need it to be in contract construction to actually pay for the construction on the project," Cash said. Construction invoices are now coming in and the reallocation will permit disbursement to the housing developer partner.

Nut graf: Northside Square is a mixed‑use redevelopment supported by multiple funding sources including new markets tax credit equity and developer funds; the city's reallocation unlocks an existing commitment to the housing portion and will be used to process construction payments as the project advances.

Committee members approved the reallocation and heard a brief site update showing in‑progress construction photos. Housing staff said the project will deliver 42 residential units limited to households at or below 80 percent of area median income and that the city's funds are targeted to the housing component of a 270,000 square‑foot redevelopment.

Ending: The committee approved the reallocation. Staff indicated they would continue oversight of construction payments and coordinate disbursements as project invoices arrive.