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City and housing partners report People1st outcomes, Kindred progress and draft Saint Paul's area plan
Summary
Housing staff and WPA presenters reviewed outcomes from People1st at the Kindred redevelopment (Tidewater Gardens): resident engagement, higher incomes and graduation rates, phased unit openings, and a draft Church Street area plan to restore a walkable mixed-use corridor.
Dr. Perry, with the Department of Housing and Community Development, updated commissioners on People1st outcomes tied to the Kindred redevelopment of the former Tidewater Gardens public-housing site and described next steps for a Church Street area plan for the Saint Paul's area.
"After 6 and a half years of engagement, we are still seeing 96% of our residents engage with People1st," Dr. Perry said, and staff pointed to measurable results: 96% of adults now report having health insurance, 100% of children are insured, median household income in the tracked cohort rose from about $14,000 at project start to roughly $31,000, and 32 former Tidewater Gardens seniors were on track last year with a 92% on-time graduation rate (the remainder completed through summer school).
Staff described the housing production timeline and phasing: when complete the transformation will provide 714 total units (mixed-income), of which approximately 300 units in four buildings are open and leased, 191 units are under construction, and another 193 units are planned to begin construction late this year into early 2027. Of the 714 total units, 260 are designated as replacement units for returning Tidewater Gardens residents with rental subsidy, 270 as affordable (at or below 80% AMI), and 184 market-rate units.
WPA (Work Program Architects) presented a draft Church Street area plan meant to reestablish a five-block commercial core between Brambleton Avenue and Princess Anne Road, emphasize pedestrian-scale streetscapes, support the Attucks Theater as a cultural anchor and guide land-use and design patterns for future mixed-use development. Presenters detailed historical context, previous plans, and the need to coordinate the area plan with the Saint Paul's master plan and HUD-required resident services before any demolition, construction or relocation.
Commissioners asked about student counts, occupancy and whether the planned phases outnumber previous unit totals; staff clarified that the original Tidewater Gardens complex was demolished, 103 families have returned, and that the project includes more units overall than the preceding development. Commissioners also pressed staff on construction sequencing, build-first site considerations and how the area plan will protect community assets such as community gardens and ensure stormwater resilience.
Staff framed the next steps as continued refinement through 2026, environmental review and integration of the area plan into the larger master plan for Saint Paul's, with resident services and HUD compliance driving programmatic work.
