Affordable Housing

(Click below for a list of Affordable Housing Resources)

Affordable Housing Initiative

AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE

Midtown Redevelopment Authority (MRA) contracts with Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement (CCPPI) to implement the Midtown Affordable Housing Plan, which introduced the Southeast Houston Affordable Housing Initiative. This appellation reflects the fact that the land that MRA has purchased for the development of affordable housing is in Southeast Houston versus in Midtown. MRA-owned land is conveyed to affordable housing developers at no or nominal cost and this form of subsidy makes it possible to reduce housing costs for the low-moderate income households that are targeted by the Southeast Housing Affordable Housing Initiative.

The local shortage of affordable housing, exacerbated by storm disasters, has been well documented. The initiatives undertaken by CCPPI and MRA under auspices of the Southeast Houston Affordable Housing Initiative have already increased the supply of quality housing that is affordable for low-moderate income households by thousands of units (when cash grants are taken into consideration). And the capacity exists for a similar number of units to be constructed in the future. There is no known precedent for the Southeast Houston Affordable Housing Initiative in the nation.

What we have been working on...

Total Multi-Family Units Completed 456
Total Single-Family For-Sale Units Completed 146
Total Single-Family Units Under Construction 24
Land Conveyed/Construction Completion Eminent 491
City of Houston AHDP Project 65
Third Ward Complete Community For-Sale Initiative 60

Press Release

Watch the short video below explaining the Affordable Housing Initiative:

Affordable Housing Plan

Program Information and Q&A:

Videos:

One Emancipation Center

ONE EMANCIPATION CENTER

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One Emancipation Center, located at 3131 Emancipation Avenue @ Elgin, is five stories tall, with approximately 58,000 net rentable square feet. The ground level includes approximately 7,500 square feet available for master tenant. A mix of local government organizations, commercial tenants, community-based nonprofits, and housing related nonprofits will occupy levels two through five. The exterior will be clad in a combination of large format vented tile, curtain wall with extended mullions and punched openings. The Level 1 lobby will house gallery space finished in ceramic floor and wall tile with a custom linear suspended ceiling system. The building’s window openings provide ample views of historic Third Ward, Emancipation Park, Downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center. The Level 1 public spaces provide opportunity for display of artwork and artifacts related to the history of the surrounding area.

Adjacent to the office building is a multilevel precast concrete parking garage, One Emancipation Center Garage, with about 215 parking spaces for the use of office tenants, their customers, and the community. The south wall of the garage is designed to include culturally significant artwork for public display. The Center and its garage are located at the northeast corner of Emancipation Avenue and Elgin Street.

The housing component, St. Charles Place, located at 3113 St. Charles Street @ Elgin, sits behind One Emancipation Center. This 3-story building has two floors of residential units containing a total of approximately 17,000 gross square feet over grade level parking with approximately 27 spaces for residents and their guests. There are 18 one-bedroom/one-bath units and 2 studio units all with private balconies. There is also a resident patio with seating provided on the ground floor.

St. Charles Place

ST. CHARLES PLACE

stc1 St. Charles Place, located at 3113 St. Charles Street, is a 20-unit multi-family rental development near One Emancipation Center. The 3-story building has two levels of residential units. Large windows afford views of historic Third Ward, Emancipation Park, Downtown Houston, and the Texas Medical Center. The development comprises eighteen (18) one-bedroom/one-bath units and two (2) studio units. Each unit has a private balcony with access through the living room. A resident patio with seating is located on the ground floor. All units are income restricted.

For leasing Information, contact:

StressFree Property Solutions
(713) 264-8240

Adjacency Project

MRA ADJACENCY PROJECT

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Midtown Redevelopment Authority (MRA) has acquired substantial tracts of land in Southeast Houston, with the goal of facilitating the development of affordable housing. In order to further the development of affordable housing by local Community Development Corporations (CDCs), other nonprofit affordable housing sponsors, and experienced developers working in the area, MRA has created the Adjacency Project.

MRA will commit to reserve certain MRA-owned lots for a 12-month period for eligible applicants that own or have site control of land adjacent or in close proximity to land that is owned by MRA.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Community Development Corporations, non-profit affordable housing developers, as well as for-profit affordable housing developers with affordable housing experience shall be considered eligible.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Eligible projects include all types of affordable housing, including but not limited to multi-family rental developments, Single Room Occupancy Units (SROs), single-family scattered site developments, single-family subdivisions, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, etc.

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for the commitment of lots from MRA’s inventory, the following information must be included in the Application package.

Proof of ownership or control of land that the Applicant will use for development of the proposed project.
A site plan that depicts the land already owned or controlled by Applicant and the land that Applicant is proposing to acquire from MRA as well as any other tracts the applicant will need to acquire to complete assemblage of land for the proposed project. To facilitate review, the site plan must make use of either different colors or different graphic patterns to distinguish between (a) the land owned or controlled by the applicant, (b) MRA-owned land that the applicant plans to use for the project, (c) any additional land to be acquired for the project, and (d) include the HCAD numbers for all sites reflected on the site plan.
A description of the Project to be developed, including number of units, targeted population, and income levels to be served (stated as a percentage of the Area Median Income as defined by HUD)
A discussion of whether the Applicant will self-develop the proposed Project or, if applicable, indicate the development partner with which the applicant is collaborating. In the latter instance, a letter from the development partner indicating its role and commitment to the project must be submitted as part of the application package.
A discussion of the experience that the Applicant has with developing projects of similar size and scope as the project that is being proposed by the Applicant or where applicable, its development partner.
Detailed budgets, projected sources and uses, and pro formas for the proposed Project.
A description of the Project, including how many floors, how many units, a project rendering, and floor plan(s).
A description of any predevelopment activities that have been completed in furtherance of the project.

9) Indicate the number of projects and number of units per project that the Applicant has currently planned or in development over the next 12 months.

10) Provide a timeline of the major objectives and milestones to be accomplished in the next twelve months, along with the project timeline for obtaining financing for the project.

11) A description of how the proposed project fits in with the existing character of the neighborhood.

12) Any other information or useful data that demonstrates project feasibility and market demand.

APPLICATION SUBMITTAL

The Adjacency Project application process is open-ended; requests may be submitted at any time. Requests shall be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., with a copy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

REVIEW PROCESS

Upon receipt of an application, CCPPI shall perform a review and evaluation. When a determination is made by CCPPI that the project serves the best interests of MRA, CCPPI will recommend that MRA issue a Letter of Reservation.

CCPPI shall make recommendations to MRA within 60 business days of receipt.

LETTER OF RESERVATION

When deemed appropriate based on the information initially submitted and any other additional information requested pursuant to CCPPI’s review, MRA will issue a Letter of Reservation for a 12-month period. This Letter of Reservation will state that MRA is reserving the requested tract(s) of land for the Applicant and that such land will not be conveyed to any other entity during the 12-month period.

The letter shall also state that if the milestones shown in the timeline (see above) are not met, MRA at its option may terminate the Letter of Reservation and decline to proceed with conveyance of the land requested. However, if the Applicant can demonstrate that substantial progress has been made at the end of the 12-month period, MRA, at its sole option, may extend the term of the Letter of Reservation, if it appears that the project has a reasonable certainty of coming to fruition.

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

Following issuance of the Letter of Reservation, MRA and the Applicant will initiate negotiation of a Development Agreement for execution by MRA and the Applicant. This Development Agreement will include without limitation, terms related to the project unit mix, targeted population, income limits to be served, maintaining affordability, requirements for reporting, and other terms and conditions as may be imposed by MRA. At the point that all requirements have been met and the Applicant is ready to seek financing for the project the appropriate evidence of site control required will be provided. Conveyance of the MRA owned land will take place at the time of the financial closing for the project.

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