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Housing authority reports MAPS pipeline; Creston Park redevelopment put on hold amid community talks
Summary
The housing authority reported progress on MAPS-funded housing — Dorset Place occupancy rising, Oak Grove redevelopment estimated at 306 units, and multiple projects in the pipeline — but said the Creston Park project is paused for community engagement convened by Councilor Pennington, prompting board members to press for a concrete timeline.
Greg Shen, representing the housing authority, delivered the annual MAPS housing report on Feb. 5, updating the board on benchmarks, project budgets, leveraging and resident feedback while flagging challenges on the Creston Park site.
Shen told the board the housing authority’s MAPS benchmarks remain production of 500 supportive housing units, renovation of 1,500 public-housing units, and 150 workforce units over the MAPS allocations. He said Dorset Place phase 1 (37 units) is occupied and that occupancy had risen from 22 to 27 veterans as of the report. Oak Grove was described as a 306-unit redevelopment with total development costs exceeding $100 million; the MAPS contribution represents a small fraction of total leveraging. Shen said Bridal Nova had $3.4 million committed from MAPS and that Shiloh Flats and other projects were under subsidy-layering and HUD review.
On Creston Park, Shen reported the project is on hold while the city convenes community engagement led by Councilor Pennington. He said the housing authority had previously proposed plans (including a 170-unit proposal developed with Baker Tilly) but financing shortfalls and community concerns prompted pausing the plan. Shen said HUD approval to convey the property to the nonprofit development arm exists, but the housing authority is pursuing community input and seeking a financing plan and a timeline before moving forward. Board members repeatedly asked for a deadline and a concrete schedule to resolve the pause; one board member expressed low confidence in the agency’s ability to deliver on the earlier timeline.
Shen also summarized audit work by CliftonLarsonAllen, noting two internal-control findings that the authority is addressing and that none of the audit findings related to MAPS project financing. He described resident-engagement tools (phone line, web reporting, annual plan meetings and third-party ETC surveys) and said survey results were overwhelmingly 'excellent' or 'good' across housing condition and service categories.
After the presentation the board voted to receive the report; the chair announced the motion passed with one recorded 'nay.'
