Executive director outlines Alice Griffith schematic design and HUD grant; conveyances expected next year

The commission's executive director reported that the City has secured a $30,500,000 federal HUD grant tied to the Alice Griffith component of the Shipyard Phase 2 development, and staff flagged related schematic-design reviews and conveyances on the calendar.

In presenting the forward calendar, the executive director said the December 17 commission meeting will include major-phase approval and schematic-design review actions and that January 7 would include Alice Griffith schematic design review and a predevelopment loan action. Staff said HUD is closely monitoring expenditure and that Alice Griffith is a demonstration project for using federal funds across the housing authority portfolio.

On land transfers tied to Blocks 2 and 4, staff said conveyances from State Parks are expected next year in time for a target construction mobilization in August 2014, with licenses used when necessary before final conveyance to allow Lennar and development contractors onto the property.

Commissioners asked logistical questions about the December 17 meeting time and a scheduled groundbreaking; staff said meeting notices would be sent. A commissioner requested account-balance information for the agency's housing trust funds that fall under commission control; staff did not provide figures at the meeting and the request was taken for follow-up.

Staff also noted a planned community meeting in the Bayview tied to schematic-design work and said it would provide more details to commissioners once the facility was secured.