Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Affordable Housing Incentives topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Delray Beach CRA adds construction-assistance and buyer-subsidy language to workforce/affordable housing RFPs
Summary
The CRA approved revised RFP language allowing proposers to request CRA funding assistance for development costs (architecture, permits, financing, infrastructure) and homebuyer subsidies; staff said assistance would not be available to developers fulfilling workforce-housing obligations on other projects.
The Delray Beach CRA voted to authorize revised request-for-proposal language for the disposition of CRA-owned vacant lots intended for workforce and affordable housing. The new language allows proposers to request CRA funding assistance, subject to availability, for development costs such as architectural and engineering services, construction permits and impact fees, construction financing, and right-of-way or infrastructure work required by the city.
"The proposer could request funding assistance within their submitted proposal and let the CRA know what they're requesting the funding assistance for," Assistant Director Christine Tibbs told the board while describing the proposed additions. She also said the CRA may provide subsidies to assist homebuyers with purchase costs; those subsidies would be requested as part of the proposal.
Staff noted an important limitation: assistance or subsidies would not be available to developers who are already required to provide workforce housing under another government obligation for a different project.
Why it matters: commissioners and staff said rising construction costs are making small-lot and homeowner-delivery strategies more difficult for nonprofit partners, and the proposed language is intended to reduce cost burdens that would otherwise be transferred to buyers.
Board action: a motion to authorize issuance of the revised RFPs carried unanimously. Staff will bring a formal work assignment and the revised RFP to the CRA's Dec. 4 meeting for formal adoption and will post the solicitations once finalized.
Next steps: staff will prepare the formal work assignment and bring the revised RFP for a vote at the special meeting; nonprofits and developers will be able to request specific assistance items in their proposals when the RFP is issued.
