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Metro staff showcases CHIP program to pay for enhanced infrastructure at affordable housing sites
Summary
Travis Miller presented the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP), which funds 'above-and-beyond' infrastructure such as signalized crosswalks and upgraded bus stops for Barnes Fund projects; staff said roughly $2 million remains available and explained eligibility and the council approval path.
Metro planning staff briefed the commission on the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP), a gap-funding program that helps developers add enhanced infrastructure—such as hawk signals, signalized crosswalks, lighting and improved bus stops—to affordable housing projects funded through Barnes rounds.
Travis Miller, housing policy and program coordinator, said CHIP is designed to pay for infrastructure that goes above and beyond base requirements. Eligible projects must include income-restricted units at or below 80% of area median income and must agree to deed completed infrastructure to the city or the relevant transportation agency for maintenance.
Miller described three CHIP projects: a completed hawk signal on Dickerson Pike; an in-construction signalized crosswalk on Nolensville Pike; and a project at 900 Cleveland that staff plan to bring to council for participation-agreement approval. Miller explained the application process (pre-application coordination with NDOT—the Nashville Department of Transportation—pre-application outreach, submission to MetroHousing, three competitive bids or price analysis, and staff review) and noted participation agreements must be approved by council as ordinances with three readings.
On funding availability, staff told the commission there is no firm spend-by date and that about $2 million remains to allocate to future CHIP projects. Commissioners asked whether the program is limited to new construction and how developers or communities can initiate projects; staff said it is focused on new construction and that staff can perform outreach to projects in high-priority safety corridors and work directly with NDOT and developers to workshop enhancements.
Miller offered to stay after the meeting to meet with interested developers and stakeholders and provided staff contact information and the CHIP web page for applicants.
