Title
Resolution to Adopt an Affordable Housing Waitlist Policy
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor has recently adopted a series of policy changes to encourage affordable housing using incentives (such as Brownfield Tax Increment Financing) and changes to zoning (Downtown D1 and D2 zoning premiums and Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning). When utilized, these tools require the development and long-term maintenance of committed affordable apartments for households with incomes up to a specific Area Median Income (AMI) as well as caps on rent that can be charged.
There have been some previous examples of affordable units included in market rate projects through City Council action including Corner House Lofts and City Apartments. Through both examples staff has continue to learn to improve the process, including clarifying affordability agreement language, and the need for a centralized waitlist and marketing tool - to encourage broader and more equitable access to affordable rental units.
To assist in marketing these units to the broader public, and ensuring standardized review for household income, the Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED), is launching a website and waitlist, and proposing a companion policy for developing and implementing an online waitlist for these properties.
Online Waitlist:
The website and waitlist will begin with a single property Beekman on Broadway (1140 Broadway) which required 15 affordable units as part of the Brownfield Plan approval. Eight (8) affordable apartments will be available this summer, and another 7 affordable units in 2021. The website and waitlist is designed to accommodate future properties and affordable rental units as required through use of these brownfield, zoning incentives, deed restrictions, etc.
The website will require interested parties to create an account, and provide contact information, which they will be responsible for keeping up to date annually. Additional information will ...
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