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Council hears Holy Name Housing update on workforce housing; members press for owner-occupancy safeguards
Summary
Holy Name Housing told the council it is nearly complete on a TIF- and state-funded workforce-housing infill project targeting households around 80–120% AMI; councilors pressed for confirmation that deed restrictions and purchase agreements will require owner-occupancy to prevent investor purchases.
The Omaha City Council on June 8 heard a presentation from Holy Name Housing on a workforce housing project using state middle-income workforce funds and TIF resources for infill development in North Omaha between Miami and Corby Streets.
Laysha Goodwin, director of real estate development at Holy Name Housing, said the homes will be for sale and that the organization typically targets low- to moderate-income households while also noting the project is market-rate. On the AMI range, she said the development is intended to target households between roughly 80% and 120% of area median income; she gave a household-of-four example figure cited for the Omaha metro area.
Resident and public commenter Larry Storer questioned the project’s transparency and the rationale for municipal involvement in providing affordable or workforce housing, asking who would ultimately benefit and whether organizations like Holy Name pay property taxes. Council members asked whether the homes would be required to be owner-occupied to prevent investors from buying and renting the units; Goodwin confirmed owner-occupancy is a restriction in the purchase agreement and that a light deed restriction is included.
Council member Melton emphasized the importance of ensuring buyers are owner-occupants and not investors converting homes to rentals. The public hearing was closed and council discussion took place; the transcript shows questions and clarifications but does not record a final vote on this item at the time the excerpt ends.
The presentation clarified that 10 single-family homes were mentioned on the agenda as affordable units but that this particular development does not use an income-qualification process in the ordinary sense; instead, the developer said they keep workforce-income ranges in mind during marketing and sales and use deed restrictions to ensure occupancy goals.
