TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Michael Gibson - Interim Assistant City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cauley - Economic & Community Development Director
DATE: October 24, 2022
RE:
Title
Murchison Choice Neighborhood Plan Update, Authorization of Housing Plan Memorandum of Understanding, and Gateway Improvement Resolution
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
Districts 2, 3, and 4
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal I: Safe and Secure Community
Goal II: Responsive City Government Supporting a Diverse and Viable Economy
Goal III: City Investment in Today and Tomorrow
Goal IV: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Goal VI: Collaborative Citizen and Business Engagement
Executive Summary:
The Choice Planning Grant is near completion of a two-year process that has seen marked success in achieving the goals of a collaborative planning process. Staff will provide a status update of the work to date and outline the expected milestones moving forward. The Housing plan requires a tri-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and staff is requesting Council adopt a resolution asking the North Carolina Department of Transportation to review a proposal for gateway improvements. Council is asked to receive the report and authorize the Housing Plan MOU as well as the Gateway Improvement Resolution.
Background:
In December of 2020, the City of Fayetteville, in partnership with the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority (FMHA), was awarded a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant for the Murchison neighborhood. Through the Grant, the City and FMHA are working with local residents and a variety of community stakeholders - including nonprofits, faith-based organizations, anchor institutions, supportive services agencies, businesses, and others - to create a forward-looking Transformation Plan with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The Plan will be centered on the redevelopment of FMHA’s Murchison Townhouses, which includes 60 units of low-income housing. The CNI Plan will seek to replace 100% of those housing units within the neighborhood, or in other areas of opportunity as part of new mixed-income developments. In the last six months, the team of City and FMHA leaders has completed a Residential and Commercial Market Study, installed 19 Little Free Libraries, and drafted the People, Housing, and Neighborhood elements of the Transformation Plan. The Plan was submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for review and comments. Those comments are being incorporated into the Final Transformation Plan which would be submitted to HUD in a promising effort to secure up to $50 Million in funding to implement the plan by partnering with public and private partners to guide investment in the Murchison Choice Neighborhood.
Issues/Analysis:
Choice Team Update: The City and the FMHA have accomplished several goals and the project is on time. Council Members, staff, and community ambassadors recently traveled to Virginia to learn from other Choice grantees. FMHA has approved a master developer who will assist with the finalization of the Transformation Plan.
Housing Plan Update: The FMHA and the City have identified two sites for inclusion in the Housing portion of the transformation plan. FMHA owns the site of Murchison Townhomes and the North Carolina Indian Housing Authority owns the site of Elliot Circle (known as Elliot Properties). The organizations have signed an MOU committing to partnership when HUD awards the Choice Implementation Grant. The City is the third and final signature to the tri-party MOU.
Early Action Project Update: The City continues to work on resident-led early action projects and multiple projects are at various stages of HUD approval. Staff has been working with the Public Works Commission and FMHA to provide free Wi-Fi access to residents of Murchison Townhomes. Staff is also working towards gateway improvements at the northern and southern gateways to the neighborhood. The Choice Team proposes to paint “Murchison Neighborhood” and “Bronco Pride - Deeds Not Words” on the Martin Luther King Parkway Bridge at the southern portion of Murchison Road. This action requires a resolution from Council prior to NC DOT review and approval. The Northern gateway will see improved and visually striking transit shelters welcoming travelers into the neighborhood.
Budget Impact:
This effort is funded through collaborative partnerships with HUD, the City of Fayetteville, the FMHA, and the Kramden Institute.
Options:
• Receive the staff report and authorize the Housing Plan MOU as well as the Gateway Improvement Resolution.
• Do not receive the staff report and authorize the Housing Plan MOU as well as the Gateway Improvement Resolution and provide further guidance to staff
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that Council move to receive the staff report and authorize the Housing Plan MOU as well as the Gateway Improvement Resolution.
Attachments:
Murchison Choice October Update Presentation
Housing Plan Memorandum of Understanding
Murchison Road Southern Gateway Improvement Resolution