Our own relentless housing-justice hero, Greta Dersheimer, was one of two IMPACT reps at UVa’s affordable housing (“AH” in this update) planning meeting on June 25th. She reports that UVa’s progress is “better than we expected and their consultant appears to be a really strong choice.”
Dr Gina Merritt of Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures, an experienced AH consultant, will work with UVA committees on AH plans over the next 10 years. Reps from Park Properties, a local developer that emphasizes AH, and from Cville’s Low Income Housing Coalition (CLIHC), also attended. Dr Merritt wants community interests to inform her work on guidelines for UVa’s new AH project.
- IMPACT’s housing committee’s original goal was for at least 1/3 of the UVa-constructed units to be affordable at or below 60% AMI (Average Monthly Income). UVA’s goal of 1000-1500 units, however, refers to the number of affordable units they intend to build, not total units. IMPACT’s new goal will be to press UVa to ensure that their definition of “affordable housing” means that all such units will be affordable at or below 60% AMI.
- IMPACT also pointed out the need for accessibility for seniors, and for affordable child care either on site or near the new housing. Dr Merritt confirmed that UVa’s affordable housing will be: 1) built on land owned by the University or the University Trust; 2) maintained at an affordable level over a long term; 3) available for community residents as well as University personnel; and 4) primarily rental units.
- CLIHC reps highlighted the needs for public transit access and nearby grocery stores.
- Park Properties noted that it would be better for UVA to construct this new housing as mixed-income, rather than locate low-income residents separately from other tenants.
- Dr Merritt also requested IMPACT’s member stories of affordable housing struggles.
Housing our neighbors in homes that won’t drive them into poverty or far away from jobs IS upholding their inherent worth and dignity. So let’s keep the hope going and keep on making an IMPACT!
–Laura Wallace, IMPACT Network Member