BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON RESOLUTION FOR TAX CREDIT APARTMENTS
Brenham City Councilmembers will consider whether to support a 52-unit subsidized apartment project in the city at their meeting today (Thursday).
(courtesy KCG)
The council was divided when it last met on February 3rd to discuss The Bluebonnet, a workforce housing community that would be located on 6.11 acres on Prairie Lea Street, and whether the city should issue a resolution of support to permit the project, led by KCG Development. KCG is requesting 9 percent low income housing tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
The apartment units would be sized between 800-1,200 square feet, ranging from 1 bed-1 bath to 3 bed-2 bath. Proposed amenities in the community would include secured entry, full perimeter fencing, a fitness center, a business center and outdoor recreational features such as a swimming pool, gazebos, barbecue grills and picnic tables.
Of the 52 units, 46 of them would be priced at income brackets of 30 percent, 50 percent and 60 percent Area Median Income. The other six would be market value. Tenants would have to income-qualify and pass both financial and criminal background checks. Units cannot be occupied by full-time student households, per restrictions of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
According to information presented on February 3rd by Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Susan Cates, Brenham has 532 subsidized housing units, but only 76 of them are not part of the Brenham Housing Authority or age-restricted to the elderly.
Being that the city has over two times the state average of housing tax credits per capita, The Bluebonnet cannot receive funding from the state without a resolution of support from the council.
Also at today's meeting, the council will hold a work session to receive a presentation on a potential facility naming policy for the city. The policy would apply to all city facilities, including parks, and would have separate categories to determine the criteria for appropriate naming, such as historical importance and community involvement.
In other business, the council will:
- Hold an executive session to discuss utility competitive matters regarding the city’s gas utility system, gas supply and transportation arrangements and agreements.
- Consider rejecting all bids submitted in response to the Hohlt Park and Henderson Park pedestrian bridge rehabilitation project. Only one bid was submitted for the project, and it was over the city’s budgeted amount.
- Act on a resolution repealing a 1982 resolution that created the Brenham Airport Advisory Association, as well as an ordinance repealing an order in 2000 that approved the bylaws of the Airport Advisory Board. Several documents related to the airport board are needing to be repealed or amended, after the council approved the dissolution of the board in January.
- Proclaim the month of February as Fair Housing Month.
The council will meet at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.
Click here to view the agenda packet for today's meeting.