Affordable Housing Advisory Committee: March 26, 2025
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An Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meeting was held at 7pm on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at the Phillip L. Pittore Justice Center.
The city has been working to meet its affordable housing requirements, and has identified potential sites by talking with property owners about the possibility of adding or developing affordable units.
They’ve looked at a subdivision on the hill, and blue acres flood zone properties, including a lot where a house washed into the creek during Hurricane Ida.
They also discussed the Maxwell Assets properties where Canal Studios, Luminary Coffee, and Barre Studios are located. These were said to be the last properties to be considered for redevelopment, because they are in the flood zone. Councilman Evan Lide thought those properties should not be written off, because they could be developed in conjunction with the CVS site.
Village Apartments were mentioned as a possibility, although the owners haven’t replied. Lide said it will be developed at some point. Mayor Nowick said Village Apartments are not a viable option, because almost all of it is in the flood zone. There’s a requirement for residents to be able to drive off the lot in case of a flood, so a parking garages on the first floor won’t do. Elaine Clisham said it needs to be elevated approximately 12 feet. Also mentioned was 278 N. Union.
Spokesworks was named as another potential site. It’s 1.78 acres, and only a small amount is in the flood zone. It has been remediated, and the owner is interested in potentially developing 25 units with 5 of them being affordable.
Hashhouse was not included in the property list. Neither was the laundromat building on the south side. The requirements ask for a minimum of 6 units per acre, with 5 units minimum. The committee has to produce 9 units.
David Minno felt that CVS is a very good lot. Lide agreed. Brian Kelly also liked the idea of using the CVS lot. Clisham liked the idea of the whole area around CVS being redeveloped. Kelly Grant said we need more density. Minnow said developing the CVS site in 10 years is realistic. The lease at CVS is up in 2026, then it’s reasonable for two years of planning and a two-year build.
The Mayor said he felt that they have a lot of possibilities. It looks good for the six units with Habitat for Humanity, but the log cabin home at Closson Farm will need to be removed. Michelle Harris suggested that the city sell the log house, or donate it to the fire department for training. The committee wondered if the house was built with a kit, because that would make it easier to disassemble.
Lide said he thinks Fair Share will be impressed with what the city has done. The Mayor felt the city has more for the committee to talk about with property owners, but he wanted to meet deadlines for the fourth round.
The Wells Fargo parking lot was mentioned as a development candidate for affordable units, but apartments are not permitted facing street on the ground floor in the CBD, and there are minimum size requirements.
Rago Gallery was another mention. It has the potential to yield 18 units, but the business plans to stay in open. There were questions about St. John’s school and the chuch parking lot. The Valparaiso complex also got mentioned.
The apartment at 6 Lilly Street will be a family unit. It has been restricted for 30 years as affordable and will be presented to Council on April 17th. That same day, the Affordable Housing Committee will hand their list to City Council.
Mayor Nowick wants to keep the conversation going, get the public involved, and possibly get property owners interested. He also thought it wise to put overlays on the Spokeworks site and CVS, but the overlays were considered optional. Julia Taylor said if and when the times comes for overlays, and if owners don’t agree with it, consider that overlays are not binding.
Harris pushed the committee to get solid on the recommendations instead of giving a list to Council that might contain properties that possibly won’t work.
Clisham said all they need for Fair Share are a list of properties that are “reasonably likely to be redeveloped in the next ten years.”
The Mayor said that having one conversation with property owners and then proposing housing in two months is unrealistic. He prefers talking with property owners over time.
“The work is going to continue,” he said.
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