The Crossings at Fourth and Preston
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The Crossings at Fourth and Preston is a planned 60-unit single resident occupancy facility being planned for construction in early 2011 in downtown Charlottesville. It is being built by Virginia Supportive Housing with significant investment from city government. Half of the units will be dedicated to the chronically homeless and the rest will be for low-income residents[1] Construction got underway in April 2011 [2] and is expected to be finished by March 2012. [3]
Initial planning
Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH), a Richmond-based non-profit organization, began exploring the possibility of building a multi-unit SRO facility for homeless individuals in Charlottesville. The units will all be studio apartments with a full kitchen and a full bath. VSH sought a location that was central to public transportation and jobs[4].
Financing and public investment
The city of Charlottesville purchased land from Region 10 on behalf of VSH at a cost of $1.55 million[1]. The city will contribute to annual operations as well by committing 21 federal housing vouchers to future tenants of the facility, at an estimated cost of $170,000 a year[1]. The source of this money is federal HOME funding. If those funds decline, the city will need to spend money directly from the Charlottesville Housing Fund[1]. City Council agreed on December 6, 2010 to enter into a ten-year agreement guaranteeing the funds.
However, the city may have to sell the land to VSH because the VSH can't obtain a $900,000 loan because the city's lease is not long enough. Virginia law puts a cap of 40 years on the term of a lease between a municipality and a private entity, and the Virginia Housing Development Authority requires at least a 60-year lease[5].
Timeline
- July 20, 2009: Council approves zoning change allowing for SRO facilities to be built in city
- January 4, 2010: Council approves special use permit allowing construction[6]
- March 1, 2010: City Council agrees to purchase land for project at a cost of $1.55 million
- March 3, 2010: Albemarle County Board of Supervisors dedicates use of 9 federal Housing Choice vouchers to project
- June 11, 2010: VSH announces the project was awarded low-income housing tax credits[7]
- December 6, 2010: Council approves annual funding by committing 21 of its Section 8 vouchers to the project[8]
- April 2011: Construction underway [2]
- March 2012: Construction expected to be completed [3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Web. Council sets aside money for transitional housing, Rachana Dixit, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 7, 2010, retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Web. SRO time: The Crossings begins its rise downtown, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Web. Ground broken on low-income housing Crossings, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, April 28, 2011, retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ↑ Tubbs, Sean J. "Charlottesville Planning Commission studies "permanent housing for the homeless"." Weblog post. Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. Charlottesville Tomorrow, 30 Apr. 2009. Web. 9 July 2009. <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2009/04/single_room.html>
- ↑ Web. City may have to sell land for homeless project, Rachana Dixit, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 9, 2011, retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ Web. Council approves homeless-aid permit, Staff report, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Jan 5 2010, retrieved 13 Jan 2010.
- ↑ Lynn, Bridgett. "New Homeless Facility Receives Tax Credits; SRO Construction Slated to Begin This Fall." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 15 June 2010. Web. 28 June 2010. <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2010/06/sro_construction.html>.
- ↑ Web. Funding to CHRA for SRO Vouchers, Jim Tolbert, retrieved December 6, 2010.