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Developers outline Dowo Village redevelopment and relocation plan; council to name HUD certifying officer
Summary
Laurel Street and partners presented plans to demolish 13 aging buildings at Dowo Village and build 96 replacement units, describe HUD Part 58 environmental review delays and an 18‑month temporary relocation option for residents; council discussed indemnification and the need to designate a certifying officer for the FONSI process.
Developers and partner agencies updated the East Point City Council on the Dowo Village redevelopment, the Part 58 environmental review and relocation arrangements for existing tenants.
Lee Cochran of Laurel Street described a plan to replace 64 existing units with 96 new affordable and mixed‑income units funded with low‑income housing tax credits, tax‑exempt bonds and foundation support. “We are putting back 96 units,” Cochran said, summarizing the replacement strategy to preserve housing capacity while modernizing the site.
The project team and city staff explained that HUD required a new Part 58 environmental review before project‑based vouchers could be used, delaying relocation of residents. Housing‑to‑Home, the project’s relocation consultant, has met individually with eligible households and offers temporary relocation with guaranteed return priority or permanent relocation with a lump‑sum payment. Cochran said the developer expects to begin relocation after HUD issues the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and subsidy layering review.
Council members pressed for details: whether relocation units were locked in, how long relocation benefits would last and how communication with neighboring homeowners would be handled. Staff and the developer said they were preparing lines of contact for neighbors and would continue on‑site outreach; the East Point Housing Authority and Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership will remain partners in ownership and property management.
Council also discussed the procedural item to designate a certifying officer for the HUD Part 58 process; staff recommended working with the city attorney to draft indemnification and bring a resolution back for action at the next council meeting. The council did not take a final vote during the work session.
