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NAHAB recommends CRA negotiate with selected proposers for Washington–MLK redevelopment site
Summary
Staff told the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board that five proposals were received for seven CRA-owned parcels in the Washington–MLK corridor; the board recommended staff's selection to the CRA Board to begin negotiations after discussion of affordability, financial feasibility and minimizing public subsidy.
City staff asked the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board to recommend that the Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Trustees authorize CRA staff to negotiate development agreements for seven CRA-owned parcels between Washington Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
Dylan Mayhew, housing manager, said the CRA issued an RFP on Jan. 14 and the Technical Review Committee evaluated five proposals on criteria including community and economic benefit, price, project diversity, regulatory compliance and financial completeness. The TRC emphasized balancing affordable, workforce and market-rate units, financial readiness, compliance with the Live Local Act and minimizing public subsidy exposure while achieving meaningful redevelopment outcomes.
Mayhew summarized the proposals: Archway Partners' Washington Commons (a two-phase, 178-unit mixed-use, mixed-income development leveraging both 9% and 4% low-income housing tax credits, with about 3,000 sq ft of neighborhood retail); ClearMLK Civic District Holdings (a catalytic mixed-use concept with about 75 mixed-income units, a boutique hotel, food hall and co-working/civic space); DW Development Group (an affordable housing proposal, ~168 units with community services); New Star Development (about 171 mixed-income units with amenities); and Bel Air (a market-rate proposal of roughly 151 units that requested no public subsidy).
Board members discussed commercial viability in the corridor, renderings and perceived proximity to the water in developer visuals. One board member said they were surprised to learn about multiple multimillion-dollar proposals at the meeting and expressed concern about having only the TRC evaluation and staff presentation before making a recommendation; Mayhew clarified that NAHAB's action is a recommendation to the CRA Board, which will consider authorization to negotiate and that the TRC had evaluated each proposal.
After discussion and no public comment, a board member moved to approve the staff recommendations to the CRA Board of Trustees and authorize CRA staff to begin negotiations with the recommended proposers. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Staff will bring the recommendation to the CRA board for their consideration and possible authorization to negotiate.
