The City Council on Dec. 17 authorized Avalon staff to publish a request for proposals for the Civic Center Housing Project. The vote was unanimous. Councilmember Mary Schickling was absent.
“City Council has directed staff to prioritize private and public housing policy and development to improve overall housing stock in the City,” according to the staff report by Assistant City Manager Jocelyn Francis.
“The City’s Housing Element formally adopts goals including those that conserve the existing housing supply, assist with the development of affordable housing, provision of adequate housing sites, removal of government constraints, and provisions for equal housing opportunities,” Francis wrote.
“The Civic Center Campus has been designated as a suitable location for new housing units with walkability to the schools, medical facility, shopping, and parks. City Council authorized $150,000 in funding to conduct initial design and engineering for the Civic Center Housing Project, a new housing development,” Francis wrote.
“With the start of the 5-Corners Traffic Safety Improvement Project, the foundational work along Tremont Avenue and adjacent to City Hall has commenced. This project will create utility improvements, sidewalk pedestrian improvements, and foundational work needed for housing development on the Civic Center campus,” Francis wrote.
“Over the last several months, City staff worked together with consultants to develop the basis of design to create Civic Center housing utilizing a modular builder. Modular housing involves the off-site fabrication of building units in a controlled environment, followed by on-site assembly (aka ‘stitching’) and has advantages over traditional construction methods. Modular construction offers a time-efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable solution, ensuring the timely delivery of quality housing for the community in a less disruptive manner than traditional construction projects,” Francis wrote.
During the meeting, Francis told the council that more than 70% of the building could be done on the mainland and then brought over to the Island.
Staff proposed hiring a company for designing and engineering the first phase of the project, according to the report. “While plans are being developed and finalized, City staff will be able to research and come up with City Council recommendations for future funding opportunities for the Phase 2 of the project to include manufacturing, delivery, and assembly of modular housing units,” Francis wrote.
“Should the project continue to move forward and funding for the project is secured, construction site preparation work and modular off-site manufacturing could begin as early as 2025-2026, with on-site modular unit construction occurring and finishing (roofing, landscaping, etc.) 2026-2027,” Francis wrote.
“There is $150,000 allocated in Capital Project 205014 Civic Center Housing Project for FY2024-25 for preliminary design and engineering services,” Francis wrote.
