Mesa will have three new low- to moderate-income housing developments in the next few months, thanks to the city, private developers and federal tax credits administered by the state.
Ceremonies were held this week for two of the projects – Escobedo at Verde Vista and La Mesita Apartments – though work began weeks ago in order to meet tax credit deadlines.
A ceremony marking the start of the third project – Encore on First Avenue – was held at the end of October.
The city is involved in the three projects in different ways, said Tammy Albright, Mesa’s housing and community development director. The city owns the property for Escobedo at Verde Vista, 125 E. University Drive, and Encore on First Avenue, 25 W. First Avenue.
“With Escobedo, not only are we the property owner, but we are also providing roughly half a million dollars in federal grant money,” Albright said. The city has received federal housing grants as an entitlement community, she said.
For the third project, La Mesita, the city is providing 30 “project-based vouchers,” which provide guaranteed rental payments for 15 years, she said. The amount of each voucher depends on the tenant’s income. The city also gave A New Leaf, one of the project developers, a 20-year, interest-free loan to start the project.
The three private developers building the new housing had to apply to the state for the low-income housing tax credits, Albright said.
“Mesa was just fortunate enough to have three of them awarded this year,” Albright said.
According to the Arizona Department of Housing website, Mesa had one development awarded the tax credits in 2011. The previous Mesa development with the federal tax credit was in 2002. Congress created the program in 1986.
Ecobedo at Verde Vista will include 70 units for low-to moderate-income tenants. They will be built using energy-saving plans and be accessible to the physically disabled, according to a release. The City of Mesa, Gorman & Company, Affordable Rental Movement (A.R.M. of Save the Family Foundation) and the West Mesa Community Development Corporation have partnered on the development.
“We are happy to see quality private investments like Escobedo at Verde Vista coming to the City," Mayor Scott Smith said in a release. "It demonstrates people have decided that Downtown Mesa is a great place to invest.”
Escobedo at Verde Vista will include office space for Save the Family, a nonprofit organization created in the late ‘80s to help homeless families.
A New Leaf, a Mesa-based nonprofit organization, is partnering with Native American Connections to build the La Mesita Apartments. There will be 80 affordable housing units, space for A New Leaf to provide services to tenants, and on-site child care.
According to a release, about 30 units will be “permanent, supportive housing units for chronically homeless individuals and residents who need more intensive and longer-term supportive services.”
Mesa councilman Dennis Kavanaugh praised the project in a release.
“The La Mesita Apartments will be a high-quality project in west Mesa that will offer affordable housing in close proximity to light rail and other public transit as well as neighborhood services,” he said. “The city is excited about the project because it has the potential to act as a catalyst for more redevelopment in the area.”
Encore on First Avenue is being developed by Mesa Housing Associates as independent senior housing. It will be a five-story building, with 81 units in downtown Mesa.
Not every project that receives low-income tax credits partners with the city, Albright said. But all benefit the city.
“Even if we’re not involved in it, it’s great for our community. It’s revitalizing our communities, especially the older communities,” she said.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6549 or mreese@evtrib.com
Juggernaut8000 posted at 3:41 pm on Fri, Dec 7, 2012.
This will be a haven for welfare receipients and criminals. I'm just glad it is far away from where I reside because the value of the adjacent houses will be devastated.
az2008 posted at 4:19 pm on Fri, Dec 7, 2012.
Doesn't Mesa have enough of this already?
leftystillfree posted at 4:51 pm on Fri, Dec 7, 2012.
neither of you morons have a clue of what you are talking out of your a$$es about. these properties are already in poor neighborhood's and will actually be an improvement to the area's involved. these agencies do tremendous work helping people break their cycles of homelessness, unemployment and abuse and do more positive work in 1 day than either of you idiots do in a year. If either of you can read, these agencies have been active in the community for over 20 years so it's nothing new. I know it's easier for you to anonymously spew your hate rhetoric b.s. and hide on the web rather than actually becoming proactive and part of the solution, but at least you know how your taxes (if you actually pay any) are spent.
loose stool posted at 5:16 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.
I thought Mesa was one big low income housing project.
k33j88 posted at 5:33 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.
Couldn't agree with you more, Jugger. The road to HELL is paved with "good intentions". Maybe if these projects were for homeless veterans, I'd be the first one to offer help and assistance. Half a million federal dollars? It's a recipe for a disaster whenever federal revenue is involved. During my lifetime I've seen the outcomes of these projects, chronic mediocracy, gang activity, soaring crime rates, despair and destitution, Nothing good ever comes out of these areas except more democratic (socialist) voters, encouraging more of the same vicious cycle of dependency.
DrJCA1 posted at 9:29 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.
Lefty: I hate to tell you, but you are the one very misinformed. Housing projects for the welfare crowd NEVER improves anything for anyone. Within a decade they are just as trashed as the buildings they replaced and the crime problems continue to go up. I've was involved in public health in four cities (NY, Baltimore, Dayton, & Cincinnati) and my comments are from 30 years of personal experience, not doo-doo read on the internet. Here in cincinnait the projects cause about 75% - 80% of all violent crime in the city. The new projects they built in NY & Baltimore were destroyed by the low-lifes within ten years. Yea, projects for welfare scum is just what we need to blow money on. As a flaming liberal, why don't you send them more tax money for this "great" cause?
rockinroller posted at 5:58 pm on Sun, Dec 9, 2012.
That area in general is blighted far beyond many areas in Mesa. ANYTHING to improve that area through new construction has to be welcomed. And for those of you who think you are safely distanced from blight in this town, think again: It's coming to a neighborhood near you.