Phoenix council continues vote on Tanner Thomas veterans housing after community concerns; sets March 5 follow-up

The Phoenix City Council on Feb. 19 continued action on a proposed supplemental funding allocation for Tanner Thomas Village for Veterans, setting the item for March 5 to allow more time for community engagement and for the developer to address conditions the council requested.

Councilwoman Hodge Washington, who moved for the continuance after first proposing approval with conditions, said the council’s role at this point is to consider supplemental funding rather than zoning. She outlined expected conditions for any approval: 24-hour on-site security; in-person, on-site case management and behavioral health/substance-abuse treatment provided Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; a public, comprehensive operational plan shared with neighbors; and a community contact (telephone and email) with a response within two business days. “We want to make sure that they have the likelihood of success,” Hodge Washington said as she explained the conditions she originally sought to attach to funding.

Developers and veterans’ groups testified in favor of the project during the meeting. The Rev. Dr. Benjamin Thomas Sr., pastor of historic Tanner African Methodist Episcopal Church, told council members Tanner’s organizations could “help make a difference in the lives of the veterans that we serve.” Chuck Byers, identified as a commissioner of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services and national chair for veterans health care with Vietnam Veterans of America, urged support and called permanent supportive housing a lifesaving alternative to shelters and transitional programs. Ben Jeffrey, a Navy veteran who said he had been homeless, called the proposal “permanent, real stability, real transformation.”

Residents and community members spoke against placing the development at the proposed site, saying the area is residential and citing prior problems at nearby properties. Hubert Ross, who lives across the street from the proposed site, asked the council to postpone action so neighbors could “look at the area and do something positive.” Paul Bozeman, identified in testimony as head of a local bank, said neighbors were not adequately notified and argued the project would bring small units into a neighborhood he described as struggling with drug and safety problems.

Del Monte Edwards, executive director of Tanner Properties and a co-developer, said the team has operated in South Phoenix for decades and described measures already taken at other Tanner properties—security cameras, lighting, changes in management and coordination with police—to address criminal activity. He said the operational plans and many of the services the council requested were already described in the report submitted to council and that 24-hour security would need additional budgeting.

Council members emphasized the difference between a funding decision and a zoning decision. Hodge Washington reiterated that the council asked the applicants to return with clearer documentation about wraparound services for a high-acuity veteran population and steps to track outcomes. The council agreed to continue the item to the March 5 formal council meeting to allow Tanner and staff to refine the operational plan and meet with the community; the continuance passed.

The council also discussed holding at least one community meeting at a neighborhood location with appropriate public notice and exploring a community advisory committee or “good neighbor” agreement, steps staff said have been used on other shelter and service projects. Housing staff present said much of the requested outreach and operational detail was already in the submitted materials but that some items—most notably full-time, around-the-clock security—would require budget adjustments.

The item drew sustained public comment: veterans and veterans’ advocates urged the council to fund the project as a permanent solution to veteran homelessness; neighbors and community leaders expressed opposition to the proposed site and asked for more time and clearer operational commitments. The council’s motion to continue was moved by Councilwoman Hodge Washington and seconded by Councilwoman Pastor; the continuance was approved by the council.

Next steps include (a) Tanner Properties revising and releasing a comprehensive operations plan that addresses the council’s listed conditions and (b) additional community meetings and outreach as described by council members. The council did not vote on supplemental funding at the Feb. 19 meeting.

Votes at the Feb. 19 meeting on the item were procedural: the council voted to continue consideration to March 5. No funding allocation was approved on Feb. 19.