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Chugach Alaska Corporation presents "Village in the City" — museum, resource hub and proposed housing in Midtown

Community and Economic Development Committee, Anchorage Municipality · January 12, 2026

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Summary

Chugach Alaska Corporation presented plans for a Midtown "Village in the City" campus with a museum, resource hub and a second-phase housing component; presenters cited a $3 million EDI earmark for planning and said roughly $12 million has been contributed toward the effort so far.

Chugach Alaska Corporation presented the "Village in the City" project to the committee on Jan. 8, describing a Midtown site plan that would combine a museum, resource hub and future housing intended to serve Alaska Native people and connect rural and urban communities.

Sherry Beretta, introduced as Chair of Chugach Alaska Corporation, said the planning phase is funded in part by a $3 million EDI earmark from the late Congressman Don Young and that about $12 million has been contributed to date including land held by the corporation. The first phase occupies a little over 2 of an approximately 4-acre lot in Midtown; the building program includes a ~4,800-square-foot core gallery (museum) and about 13,000 square feet of museum-related space with classrooms, collection storage and community programming. Presenters described the resource hub as providing career training, cultural programming (kayak building, carving, storytelling) and services to help people transition into employment.

Beretta described a second-phase housing component that would include two buildings with a potential mix of market-rate and low-income units; presenters said they are talking with the Chugach Housing Authority and are studying models used in Valdez and Seward, including a recently completed 37-room development in Valdez that informs potential structure and financing.

Members asked about permitting, economic feasibility and labor partnerships. Presenters said the project has secured the ability to create a site access from 36th Avenue and is exploring pedestrian improvements and transit‑oriented connections. Members encouraged outreach to labor for apprenticeship opportunities and asked for details on the housing mix; presenters offered to follow up with the committee.

The chair and members framed the project as an example of private-sector catalytic investment in Anchorage and asked the administration to track potential policy and corridor improvements that could support similar efforts.