Chandler approves public housing development project for seniors

PHOENIX — The Chandler City Council on Thursday approved an agreement to co-develop an affordable housing site in the East Valley.

A five-acre site located at the southeast corner of McQueen Road and Chandler Boulevard will have about 157 housing units once completed by early 2025, the city of Chandler said in a press release.

The units will include one- to five-bedroom spaces, along with a multigenerational community space and park area.

Seniors, veterans and those with disabilities will receive priority to live at the new site. There are 22 seniors currently housed that are set to be transitioned to the new location when it’s finished.

Funding for the project will be provided through various state and federal programs as no money will come from the city’s general fund.

The co-development agreement between Chandler and Gorman and Company comes after the city council passed a resolution in July that allowed staff to look into public-private partnerships known as the Rental Assistance Demonstration program with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The programs allow public housing authorities, similar to Chandler, the chance to reposition housing assets by making public-private partnerships to access funding to upgrade properties.

With the approved development agreement finalized, the city of Chandler aims to reach its goal of repositioning its public housing stock, creating affordable housing options for families and seniors and modernizing aging facilities.

Gorman and Company has co-developed other projects in the Phoenix area, including an affordable housing complex for veterans and families in Tempe in 2018.

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