Committee approves PILOT for 200-unit Sullivan Development project on Southern Avenue

The Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee on July 14 approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) for a 200-unit affordable housing development to be built on Southern Avenue (proposal 212), presented by Sullivan Development.

Ashley Miller, Department of Metropolitan Development staff, introduced the item and said the project will create 200 units accessible to households at or below 60% of area median income and that IHCD A (LIHTC) approval had been received earlier in the year. Travis Vinsal of Sullivan Development said the project is on a former rail yard site just south of 30th Street and between Fall Creek and Southern, and that rezoning has been completed; the site plan includes walking trails, dog park and on-site staffing and services.

Vinsal said the development is roughly a $47 million project financed with 9% LIHTC, IHCA funds, a PILOT and conventional bank financing. He said rents align with LIHTC limits and that the majority of residents typically come from the surrounding community (people moving from substandard housing or who have outgrown their housing) rather than large in-migration. Councilor Gibson and Leader Hart each voiced support; Gibson called the project revitalizing for the neighborhood and Hart asked for clarification on the definition of affordable housing — staff explained LIHTC rules restrict occupants to households at or below 60% AMI and noted rent calculations are tied to household size and AMI thresholds.

The committee recorded a motion and the transcript shows the motion carried; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.