Infill Apartment Project Coming to Springfield

[Metro Jacksonville]

Infill Apartment Project Coming to Springfield



A few months ago, MySpringfield.org revealed Operation New Hope's plans to build an infill multi-family development at 122 West 8th Street in Springfield.  Today, Metro Jacksonville shares conceptual drawings of this proposed two-story, 14 unit affordable housing apartment complex.  

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-sep-infill-apartment-project-coming-to-springfield

[Bill Hoff]

I believe this would be the first 'mixed income' development in Jax, a model that's been very successful elsewhere. Hope to see it break ground soon.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Isn't there a mixed income development in Brentwood too?

[strider]

Springfield has been a mixed income neighborhood for many decades.  I find it interesting that it is being touted as new.  The only way this type of development is getting built is through the use of Federal funding opportunities like NSP as with this project.  I guess I do not see it as saving Springfield as it doesn't do anything to bring the community together, it is supported by the current so called "leadership" because of the money end not because of it being the right thing to do and once completed, many will complain because the residents are the "wrong kind of people".  As you can see, I am a bit pessimistic this morning.

However, I do believe it is heading in the right direction as Springfield needs more density if it to ever have successful commercial district.

Mixed-income housing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Definition[edit]
The definition of mixed income housing is broad and encompasses many types of dwellings and neighborhoods. Generally speaking, a mixed income housing development includes diverse types of housing units, such as apartments, town homes, and/or single-family homes for a people with a range of income levels. Mixed income housing may include housing that is priced based on the dominant housing market (market-rate units) with only a few units priced for lower-income residents, or it may not include any market-rate units and be built exclusively for low- and moderate-income residents.[3]
In the field of housing, there exists no single definition of mixed income housing or a mixed income neighborhood.[4] Berube argues that mixed income housing mirrors an organic process in urban America, and that most often “most mixed-income environments do not result from new housing construction, but instead arise organically from migration, income, and household changes at the neighborhood level.” [5] The level of organic economic integration in neighborhoods is contested, however,[6] particularly given significant discrimination against minorities (particularly African Americans) in housing location decisions. There exists no clear metric to determine a neighborhood as "mixed income." This article will focus on non-organic mixed income developments that are built as part of a particular policy intervention.
Mixed income housing is one of two primary mechanisms to eliminate neighborhoods of concentrated poverty, combat residential segregation, and avoid the building of public housing that offers 100% of its housing units to those living in poverty. Mixed income housing development is a project-based subsidy, that is the subsidy is tied to the housing unit, not the tenant, while tenant-based assistance, such as Section 8 (housing) comes in the form of vouchers, which provide a housing subsidy that individuals can use on the open market and move to neighborhoods where landlords will take the voucher subsidy as rent payment.[7] Calculating Area Median Income (AMI) and pricing units at certain percentages of AMI most often determine the income mix of a mixed income housing development.

[icarus]

Springfield is mixed income by happenstance.  Planned developments like the infill project seek to integrate subsidized housing into market rate housing.

Habijax completed a similar project, Paris Villages, using single family residences.  Yes, Federal funding is available through HUD for these types of projects. Habijax does not build rental housing.  I'm actually glad to see Operation New Hope taking advantage of the opportunity to build something like this. They are filling a hole in the housing market not being met which in my mind is the very reason for the Federal & State incentives being appropriate.

I'd like to believe this project is being completed for the benefit of the City and Springfield specifically. I hardly believe the financial incentives are the only reason.

[Bill Hoff]

It'll be another nice apartment complex in the neighborhood. And nice apartments get snapped up fast. There's demand, but a dearth of supply. I believe the intent is mostly market rate, but that hasn't been finalized yet.

[fieldafm]

Looks like it will have a similar look to 3rd and Main from those elevations. 

8th Street is a diamond in the rough.  If Mullaney's idea of an urban medical complex begins to be taken seriously (and it just may in his new role at the Public Policy Institute at JU), you could begin to have the kind of innovative medical research companies start filling up those vacant lots along 8th Street, much like what is happening in nearby Gainesville and Orlando.

[PeeJayEss]

Springfield has been a mixed income neighborhood for many decades.  I find it interesting that it is being touted as new.  The only way this type of development is getting built is through the use of Federal funding opportunities like NSP as with this project.  I guess I do not see it as saving Springfield as it doesn't do anything to bring the community together, it is supported by the current so called "leadership" because of the money end not because of it being the right thing to do and once completed, many will complain because the residents are the "wrong kind of people".  As you can see, I am a bit pessimistic this morning.

[Riverrat]

Springfield has been a mixed income neighborhood for many decades.  I find it interesting that it is being touted as new.  The only way this type of development is getting built is through the use of Federal funding opportunities like NSP as with this project.  I guess I do not see it as saving Springfield as it doesn't do anything to bring the community together, it is supported by the current so called "leadership" because of the money end not because of it being the right thing to do and once completed, many will complain because the residents are the "wrong kind of people".  As you can see, I am a bit pessimistic this morning.

Bahahahahahaha...this made me laugh out loud in my cube.

[strider]

Just to clarify, I am NOT against this type of development.  Springfield does need the density, it does need more affordable housing choices and it does need the investment for it to move forward.  I guess I get a bit ticked when the same people who tried to move the poor out for a decade or more suddenly think lower income housing is OK when it is called Mixed Income Housing.  Or like a few years ago when it was being called Workforce Housing. And I shouldn't post before that second cup of coffee.

In fact, I would have been fine if the original design was going to be built.  It wasn't very pretty but everyone would have known it was a 2013 era apartment building.  I was actually afraid the required changes was scaring them off and so am glad to see they are moving forward.  I think they also have a tight deadline to get it done so I would expect progress very soon.

[Scrub Palmetto]

I like seeing new multifamily housing going up in Springfield. Although, isn't it funny how a project like this brings up ideas of high density in our minds, just because it's multifamily? I looked closer and realized that with only 14 units on a 29,228 sq ft site, there are single family lots in Springfield comparable to that figure divided by 14. The NE corner of Market and 7th, for instance, has lots at 31'x70', 14 of which would only add up to 30K sq ft. And those are 4-bedroom houses, compared to studios-to-2 bedrooms in this project, so they would actually beat this in density if all the bedrooms were being used.

[sheclown]

When I moved into Springfield in the late 90s, 8th Street had all of these funky little commercial buildings on it.  Some were block and some were brick.

[sheclown]

I like seeing new multifamily housing going up in Springfield. Although, isn't it funny how a project like this brings up ideas of high density in our minds, just because it's multifamily? I looked closer and realized that with only 14 units on a 29,228 sq ft site, there are single family lots in Springfield comparable to that figure divided by 14. The NE corner of Market and 7th, for instance, has lots at 31'x70', 14 of which would only add up to 30K sq ft. And those are 4-bedroom houses, compared to studios-to-2 bedrooms in this project, so they would actually beat this in density if all the bedrooms were being used.

That's a mind-blower.

Wonder how construction costs compare. 

But I am excited about the project.  I love watching things getting built. 

I like the new design.

8th Street needs something new.

[GoldenEst82]

Yet another building full of apts that are not big enough for a family of 4...
Its starting to feel as if families are intentionally left/pushed out of the core.

Is there anything in the potential projects pipeline that is a 3/2, renting at 1,200 or below?
Like, for average, family havin' people?

[tufsu1]

Is there anything in the potential projects pipeline that is a 3/2, renting at 1,200 or below?
Like, for average, family havin' people?

there aren't many 3/2 apartments for below $1200 to be found anywhere in the city...especially not new....that just isn't the marketplace these days.