Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
University City proposal marries rental apartments, for‑sale townhomes and an affordability commitment
Summary
A petitioner proposed 324 rental apartments and 73 for‑sale townhomes in University City, including a zoning commitment for at least 100 units at 80% AMI and partnerships with Ascension CDC for homeownership supports; staff and council asked for more detail on infrastructure and long‑term affordability.
A large mixed‑income proposal in University City drew support from some economic development advocates and detailed questions from council on Nov. 24.
The petition would allow up to 324 rental apartments and 73 for‑sale townhomes on a multi‑parcel site. The developer committed to at least 100 units restricted to households at or below 80% of AMI for the duration of a land lease and described a partnership with Ascension CDC to add homebuyer education, a 15‑year deed restriction on for‑sale units and a right of first refusal for the CDC on resale.
Representatives from University City Partners submitted a letter of support citing the project’s mixed‑income approach. The petitioner, Kingdom Development Partners and Ascension CDC, said for‑sale, attainable units could be priced to serve school teachers, first responders and other local workers, and that buyers would be supported with down‑payment assistance and long‑term stewardship programs.
Staff and council pressed for specifics on how the transportation network, sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure would be funded and for assurances the units targeted to 80% AMI would remain affordable, particularly amid surrounding multifamily development that has intensified since 2020. Staff noted the petition would provide multimodal improvements — shared use paths, widened sidewalks and signal adjustments — but said some details remain unresolved.
Why it matters: The project proposes a substantial number of units in an area seeing accelerated residential growth. The mix of rental and for‑sale units with an explicit, binding affordability commitment and a community partner is notable for the scale and the inclusion of for‑sale attainable homes.
Next steps: Staff and petitioner will continue to refine conditions and ensure infrastructure commitments respond to the neighborhood’s cumulative development.
