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CRA selects Habitat for Humanity for 'white coral' project and approves contract with deed restrictions to preserve affordability
Summary
The CRA selected Habitat for Humanity for a property disposition (agenda 3.1) and approved a negotiated contract (agenda 3.2) that staff and counsel said includes deeds/mortgage terms designed to maintain affordability, with one presenter noting a $6,500,000 CDBG grant to support construction and infrastructure.
Attorney Clifford Shepherd reviewed the notice requirements for CRA property disposition and explained that only Habitat for Humanity responded to the solicitation. He recommended the commission could select Habitat for Humanity; Commissioner Anderson moved to select Habitat for Humanity for the project and the commission approved the motion by voice vote.
Becky Lucas, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry counties, addressed the commission in public comment and thanked staff and counsel. "Since last summer, Habitat for Humanity has been approved for a $6,500,000 CDBG Doctor grant specifically for this project to fund the infrastructure as well as the construction," she said, and reported completion of a separate 29-home community called Journey Together on Prospect Avenue.
Shepherd then summarized the negotiated contract between the CRA and Habitat, explaining it includes deed restrictions, mortgage provisions and a neighborhood impact team model intended to preserve long-term affordability. "The sum total of which as a package presents a pretty compelling case that this is going to be an affordable project for the foreseeable future at least 20 years if not longer," Shepherd said. Commissioner Anderson moved to accept the contract; the motion passed by voice vote.
No roll-call vote tally with individual named votes was recorded in the audio; the meeting record shows voice votes with affirmative responses. Commissioners also discussed HOA/property-management arrangements and a Habitat-built home for a Fort Myers police officer currently under construction in Lehigh. Agenda item 3.3 was pulled to the next meeting by motion.
