Phoenix City Council, Maricopa County IGA fuels revitalization pursuit
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
In the afternoon hours Monday, Aug. 28, Phoenix City Council reconvened at City Council chambers following a brief summer hiatus to begin the formal process of running the day-to-day items of the municipality.
At its formal meeting, Phoenix City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Maricopa County to allow the municipality to accept an American Rescue Plan Act Affordable Housing Funding Award to the tune of $10 million to allow the Horizon on Villa project to sprout at the former A.L. Krohn Homes public housing site.
The project, which municipal documents state was first envisaged in February 2023, is the culmination of grant applications submitted by the Phoenix Housing Department and Office of Homeless Solutions to Maricopa County.
According to the United States Treasury, the Homeowner Assistance Fund authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act provides $9.961 billion to support homeowners facing financial hardship associated with COVID-19.
The Aug. 28 City Council report states these two grant applications were made:
Two $5 million requests with each provided by ARPA funding for two affordable housing initiatives. The first, Horizon on Villa Choice Neighborhoods multifamily rental community, and, the second, a Super 8 Hotel Conversion for ‘Affordable Supportive Housing.’
In April 2023, Phoenix received notice the Maricopa County Human Services Department recommended awarding both projects, documents show. Horizon on Villa, Phoenix officials report, will be bordered by Villa and McKinley streets from 18th to 20th streets, meanwhile the former Super 8 hotel has an address of 8130 N. Black Canyon Highway.
Phoenix City Council, Maricopa County IGA fuels revitalization pursuit
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego voiced support for the project and pointed out the positive working relationship with Thomas Galvin, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors chairman, who was present for the public hearing and vote.
Of Note: There is no impact to the General Fund.
The Horizon on Villa project will consist of 109 units affordable and mixed-use housing with several community amenities, including a family education center, outdoor communal space and public art. The project is the continued progress of the Edison-Eastlake Community Choice Neighborhoods Program, city officials say.
“Horizon on Villa is the third phase of the (Choice Neighborhoods) housing redevelopment plan that calls for 577 aged and obsolete public housing units to be demolished and redeveloped into 1,016 mixed-income rental and homeownership units across nine phases,” the City Council report states.
“Construction of Horizon on Villa is anticipated to commence in summer 2024 and will represent an estimated $43 million investment in the EEC upon completion.”
City officials contend the hotel conversion supports a larger community revitalization effort meant to improve the quality of life of all those around the development.
“Residents will also have opportunities to utilize the Innovation 27 programming directly to the south of the housing development that will be a large city of Phoenix Workforce Development and Training Center,” the report states. “The center will allow clients access to education, workforce training and job opportunities.”
