Multifamily Affordable Housing Plans in PHX

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX
Plans for a new multifamily affordable housing development to be located near the Light Rail Corridor have recently been resubmitted to the City of Phoenix.
Catholic Charities Communities Services of Arizona, along with developer, Trinity Housing Development is requesting to rezone approximately 3.9 acres just north of the NEC of 19th Avenue and Camelback Road at 5033 N. 19th Avenue, from Intermediate Commercial District, Interim Transit-Oriented Zoning Overlay District One and Walkable Urban Code, Transect T5:5 District, Transit Solano Character Area, to Walkable Urban Code Transect T5:5 District, Transit Solano Character Area.
The City of Phoenix heard the request at its Alhambra Village Planning Committee meeting on January 28th.
The project, dubbed Mesquite Terrace, is proposed as a 297-unit multifamily development consisting of a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units housed in a total of four buildings. The buildings will range in size and include two, five-story buildings, one, four-story building and a single-story community building.
The project will be built in two phases and is intended to provide much needed affordable housing around the Light Rail Corridor, according to the project’s site plan.
“The ground level will include parking, three lobbies and units with porch frontages,” the narrative states. Approximately 114 parking spaces – including five ADA spaces – and 50 bicycle parking spaces will be provided.
Plans also include “a large central courtyard with amenities and community space,” according to the narrative.
Previous Version
This is not the first time Mesquite Terrace has made its way through the city’s planning department.
Rezoning for the project was approved by the Phoenix Planning Commission on February 1st, 2018 and by the City Council on March 7th, 2018. At that time the project was only proposed as a four-story, 80-unit affordable housing development.
The owner was applying for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from the Arizona Department of Housing for up to 97 units but was unable to receive the funding.
According to the current project narrative, the owner is once again applying for LIHTC.
The project is set to be heard at the Phoenix Planning Commission meeting on February 6th.