Cleveland council backs two tax-credit housing projects; one support vote is split

CLEVELAND, Texas — The City of Cleveland on Jan. 20 voted to provide council resolutions of support for two affordable-housing projects seeking state tax credits: a rehabilitation of Cleveland Plaza Apartments and a proposed new-construction project called Easy Street Lofts.

Belmont Development Company sought a revised resolution to resubmit an application for low-income housing tax credits to rehabilitate the existing Cleveland Plaza Apartments at 915 E. Hanson St. Derek Hamilton of Belmont told council the developer plans roughly $55,000 of rehabilitation work per unit, including new HVAC, windows, energy-efficient fixtures and exterior siding, plus ADA corrections and amenity upgrades. Council approved the resolution of support unanimously.

A separate proposal from Easy Street Lofts LP would build up to 49 new units on roughly 4.5 acres east of the civic center. Michael Beard, representing the project, said most units would be capped at 60 percent of area median income (AMI), with about 10 percent at 50 percent AMI and roughly 7.5 percent at 30 percent AMI. He estimated a $12–$13 million build cost and said the project would create construction jobs and a small number of permanent leasing and maintenance positions.

Council members raised questions about site design, stormwater and fire access; Beard said no formal flood study had been completed yet but that required studies would be included during permitting. After discussion, council approved a resolution of support for Easy Street Lofts on a 3–2 vote.

Both resolutions are advisory support used to strengthen applicants’ state funding submissions; neither action binds the city to funding or entitles the developers to local incentives beyond typical fee waivers if later approved.