New Affordable Housing at 899 School Ave / Hatton St ?
and COULD THIS COMPROMISE OUR STORMWATER DRAINAGE FACILITIES?
This project is NOT moving forward at this time.
and COULD THIS COMPROMISE OUR STORMWATER DRAINAGE FACILITIES?
This project is NOT moving forward at this time.
June 2020 update: A County Planning Dept. staffperson has informed Larry S. (AVNA president) that this sale is not moving forward at this time. Let's all keep our ears & eyes open for future developments (& if you find anything out, please let us know so we can post it here).
The County plans to sell some surplus county-owned properties with an eye towards affordable housing construction. The parcel in Alta Vista neighborhood is that narrow strip of land along Hatton Street, from School Ave ("899 School Ave") to Euclid (both sides of Shade Ave) which includes the stormwater canal. The Strategic Plan assumes approximately 40 housing units on this parcel.
Initial Neighborhood Response and Actions
Neighborhood resident David Turner contacted the County for more details; read his writeup. This sale as private property of a parcel containing essential stormwater infrastructure is of concern; we had been told that the issue would be scheduled to be discussed at the July County Commission meeting. Jun 22 update: this sale is not moving forward at this time. future details to come...
Read citizen comments from David Turner/Linda Kitch (now with graphics).
Even without more details, at this stage, our neighborhood is split on this issue: some for environmental concerns, some opposed to any more new housing at all, and some support an attainable housing project. AVNA drafted a resolution to oppose: see the AVNA Meet-Up site: draft Save Hatton St Resolution. Also, a petition: https://tinyurl.com/SaveHatton
Summary: New Affordable Housing development to be built in Alta Vista?
An Observer article on 4/9/20 informed us that the County is taking bids on a couple of surplus county-owned properties for affordable housing construction. The parcel in Alta Vista neighborhood is that narrow strip of land along Hatton Street, from School Ave ("899 School Ave") to Euclid (both sides of Shade Ave); a river runs through it (the stormwater canal). It also currently contains a couple of stormwater detention basins, plus some flat open land maintained as lawn or partially a shell (unofficial) parking area.
In 2008 there was an approved plan to build affordable housing on the flatlands portion of the site, but this was never built. This had been planned as essentially townhomes (LEED rated!), sort of a condo arrangement, with the land still owned by the County and the Association holding a 99-year lease on the land. Also built into the plan were resale constraints which limited profit off sales in a way that would keep the homes affordable into the future.
SRQ County currently intends to sell off this entire parcel, including the canal & detention basins. The School District gets "first dibs"; last year they were talking about possibly planning some attainable housing for teachers. (The School District had deeded the two blocks of the parcel to the County in 1999 & 2003, specifically for stormwater infrastructure; deeds were later amended to allow use for affordable housing.)
County answered some initial questions (April 2020): School District gets first dibs, if they don't want it it "would move to a competitive bid process." The entire site is to be conveyed, with only an easement to the stormwater canal. The sale would be "in the context of affordable or workforce housing."
An Observer article on 4/9/20 informed us that the County is taking bids on a couple of surplus county-owned properties for affordable housing construction. The parcel in Alta Vista neighborhood is that narrow strip of land along Hatton Street, from School Ave ("899 School Ave") to Euclid (both sides of Shade Ave); a river runs through it (the stormwater canal). It also currently contains a couple of stormwater detention basins, plus some flat open land maintained as lawn or partially a shell (unofficial) parking area.
In 2008 there was an approved plan to build affordable housing on the flatlands portion of the site, but this was never built. This had been planned as essentially townhomes (LEED rated!), sort of a condo arrangement, with the land still owned by the County and the Association holding a 99-year lease on the land. Also built into the plan were resale constraints which limited profit off sales in a way that would keep the homes affordable into the future.
SRQ County currently intends to sell off this entire parcel, including the canal & detention basins. The School District gets "first dibs"; last year they were talking about possibly planning some attainable housing for teachers. (The School District had deeded the two blocks of the parcel to the County in 1999 & 2003, specifically for stormwater infrastructure; deeds were later amended to allow use for affordable housing.)
County answered some initial questions (April 2020): School District gets first dibs, if they don't want it it "would move to a competitive bid process." The entire site is to be conveyed, with only an easement to the stormwater canal. The sale would be "in the context of affordable or workforce housing."
