New affordable housing units planned on Ariz. Avenue

Mesa Heights Apartments, a 58-unit affordable housing project located along Arizona Avenue between 20th and 22nd streets, will be developed by the Arizona Housing Development Corporation (AHDC) and Gorman and Company, and could start this June and be completed in about a year.

That’s according to Michael Morrissey, the executive director of Hous- ing Authority of the City of Yuma (HACY) who gave a presentation at the Yuma City Council’s Tuesday night work session.

“We feel strongly that the construction of this project will jump-start the revitalization in this Mesa Heights neighborhood,” he said.

The project is a $13.8 million investment that will mostly come in the form of private equity from the sale of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, according to Morrissey.

Financing is projected to close by the end of May, construction could begin as soon as June, and its estimated completion is June or July 2018.

A request for proposals for the roughly three acres

of city-owned property was put out in 2014, but there were no offers. After HACY took over and invited developers to submit proposals, Mesa Heights Apartments, LLC was the only qualified applicant.

The units architecturally vary and have either one, two or three bedrooms. The project is still in the design phase.

There will be a full-time, on-site resident service coordinator and an after- school program for children. Additionally, computer training, financial literacy, job training and nutrition programs will be available.

A community building, outdoor play area and covered parking are also features of the complex.

AHDC will likely be managing the facility.

Council member Edward Thomas recounted his own experience living in public housing projects, and asked whether or not the Mesa Heights Apartments would be a starting point or stepping stone for residents rather than a final destination.

“We do have a Family Self-Sufficiency Program that’s funded through the (federal) Department of Housing and Urban Development,” Morrissey said. Roughly 20 percent of HACY residents are involved in the program currently.

The program, he said, aims to help residents “strengthen their credit, strengthen their job skills and training skills, get a better education — in essence, to get a better job.”

Many become homeown- ers through the program, Morrissey noted.

Council member Mike Shelton commended the project. “It brings dignity to those who are low-income,” he said.

The council will hold its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers at City Hall, 1 City Plaza.

Among other agenda items, the council will introduce an ordinance that would add about 28,000 square feet to the property recently purchased by the egg processor Almark Foods.