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Knoxville City Council approves $2M affordable housing award, CDBG grants and several contracts
Summary
The Knoxville City Council on July 21 authorized a $2 million Affordable Rental Development Fund award for 67 affordable units at 1880 Huron Street, approved community development block grant subgrants totaling $800,000 for home repair programs, and authorized multiple inspection and services contracts including a $499,894 bridge inspection agreement and an Oracle Cloud implementation amendment.
The Knoxville City Council convened July 21 and approved several items intended to advance housing and infrastructure projects.
The council authorized up to $2,000,000 from the city’s Affordable Rental Development Fund to DGA Saint Mary's LP to support development of 67 affordable rental units at 1880 Huron Street. Local housing advocate Drew Harper and Council member Thomas spoke in support, saying the project would provide housing with on-site amenities and was the result of neighborhood engagement with developers and KCDC.
Council also approved Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) subgrants: up to $450,000 to the Knoxville Knox County Community Action Committee for emergency and minor home repair programs, and up to $350,000 to Neighborhood Housing Inc. to support Operation Backyard, another minor home repair program. Kevin DeBoer of Housing and Neighborhood Development clarified that CDBG funds are federal dollars and noted the city's entitlement status for such grants.
On infrastructure and services, the council approved a contract with Stansell Electric Co. not to exceed $310,874 for traffic signal improvements at Chapman Highway and Fort Avenue (District 1) and a Consor North America agreement not to exceed $499,894 for inspection services for the Gay Street bridge (Districts 1 and 6). Project staff explained that annual inspections for that older pedestrian/bicycle bridge are advisable and can be required locally now that federal inspection funding for pedestrian-only bridges does not routinely apply.
Other approvals included a professional services agreement with 2 Sisters Ventures d/b/a Apacus Hive for budget and accounting support (up to $125,000) and an amendment to High Street IT Solutions’ Oracle Cloud implementation not to exceed $374,520 (total contract $2,474,020). The council also approved a zoning ordinance (13o) that rezoned property at 0 and 3223 Valley View Drive to RN-5 to allow higher-density housing; Drew Harper again spoke in favor.
All listed items were approved on voice votes during the meeting; council members asked clarifying questions about timing and funding sources but did not register roll-call tallies in the transcript for these items.
The council adjourned after adopting the consent agenda and the listed resolutions and ordinance.
