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Council hears "The Grace" affordable-housing plan; council to act as lead agency
Summary
Presenters described "The Grace" mixed-use proposal and said it would include affordable units at 40–90% of area median income (examples cited: about $47,000 for a studio and $153,000 for a three-bedroom). Council members asked for socioeconomic and school-impact data and agreed the council should serve as lead agency for negotiation and oversight.
Mount Vernon City Council members heard a presentation on Feb. 25 about "The Grace," a proposed mixed-use development that presenters said aligns with the city's Comprehensive Plan and would include a range of affordable units.
Janet J. Giris, partner at DelBello Donnellan, told the council the project would include units targeted at between "40 - 90% of median income," and gave examples, saying "$47K for a studio and $153K for a 3 bedroom." She said socioeconomic statistics and other demographic modeling would be provided as the proposal advances. Timothy Marshall and other presenters also participated in the presentation.
Council members raised questions about school impacts and costs for municipal services. Councilman Andre Wallace asked how many children the development might add to the school district; Giris said the team does not have that information yet but will provide income and demographic data as it becomes available. Council President Derrick Thompson said he supports the project in principle but emphasized the need to ensure ongoing service costs are covered so single-family homeowners do not shoulder the burden; he also said "the City Council is to be lead agency" so the council could negotiate community benefits and protections rather than leaving oversight solely to the planning department.
Several clergy members spoke during the presentation in support; the presenters and council committed to follow up with additional data and community engagement before further approvals.
