Housing authority updates council on RAD conversion and Walton Trail development

The Villa Rica Housing Authority gave a progress update on planned and completed work to its public housing portfolio and the Walton Trail development at the council's Aug. 5 work session. Executive Director (Housing Authority) described the authority's 2019 entry into HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration, explained how RAD converted the authority's operating subsidy, rents and capital funds into a HAP contract, and said that the contract amount increases annually. Walton Communities representatives described construction progress on Walton Trail Phase 1 and the family-focused Phase 2.

Why it matters: The RAD conversion and the Walton partnership shift public housing from the old public-housing model to HUD multifamily contracts and tax-credit-backed development. That affects long-term funding streams for operating and capital needs, and it changes the options the authority can use to preserve and expand affordable housing.

The housing authority's executive director told council that the authority previously demolished 62 units of Old Town Homes and consolidated some households into existing authority properties; the authority now manages roughly 79 RAD units across Anderson, Auburn and Nunley Homes with a mix of bedroom sizes (21 one-bedrooms; 36 two-bedrooms; 19 three-bedrooms; four four-bedrooms). He said the authority lacks plans to consolidate all older developments into Walton Trail and that any new development would require a separate procurement to satisfy Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rules administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

Russell Smith and Jill Dixon of Walton Communities gave a construction update: Phase 1 (90 senior apartments) opened in July 2022; Phase 2 will add 143 non-age-restricted units in three buildings and was about 85% complete at the time of the briefing. Walton said the first Phase 2 building (facing Highway 61) was targeted to turn over in October and the final building around January; Walton staff said there will be no vehicle gates across the development but building breezeway gates will be used. Walton described amenities including a leasing office, fitness center, pavilion, playground and laundry, and reported Phase 2 was 9% leased at the time of the update and that prior relocation from Old Town Homes had returned a small number of original residents.

Council members pressed the authority on maintenance and future development plans. The authority and Walton said the current emphasis is on maintaining and repairing aging systems in existing public-housing units (heating/cooling, plumbing, roofs and cast-iron plumbing replacements were mentioned). The executive director said much of the authority's older housing was built in the 1950s'70s, and long-term decisions about whether to rehab or replace those units would be matters for the housing authority board and would likely require a new developer procurement and LIHTC/DCA approvals.

The authority confirmed its board meets quarterly; the chair is Phil Blair and the vice chair is Emily Heinemann, with members Rob Smith, Cheryl Hall and Barbara Daniels. Deputy director Loretta North was identified as the authority's planned executive director when the current executive director retires.

What didn't change: Council members seeking a plan to consolidate Auburn, Nunley and other sites into Walton were told that the current Walton contract covered the Old Town Homes demolition and two phases at Walton Trail only; additional consolidation or redevelopment would require a new procurement under state tax-credit rules. The authority said there were no current plans to demolish or relocate the remaining older sites but that the board would consider options.

Next steps: The authority and staff recommended continued coordination with the city's housing committee and more frequent briefings so newly elected council members and the public can follow maintenance plans and future redevelopment options.

Speakers quoted are drawn from the housing authority presentation and Walton Communities.