Washoe News

City of Reno recently issued the following announcement.

At the March 9, 2022 regular meeting of the Reno City Council, the City of Reno approved four significant affordable housing projects, which will add up to 315 permanent units to the Reno market.

“These projects represent an important step in the right direction to solving our housing challenges,” Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said. “Our Reno City Council remains committed to the critical need for affordable housing in our region, and we are incredibly grateful to our partners at Greenstreet, Silver Sage Manor, and the Reno Housing Authority for their contribution.”

First, Council approved a request for an affordable housing fee reduction of $837,168.75 in sewer connection fees for the Vintage at Washington Station Senior Apartments. The complex is located on a ±2.24 acre site situated east of Vine Street, west of Washington Street and north of Winter Street, and will add a total of 205 senior affordable housing units to the Reno market for households at 60 percent AMI.

“We are very excited to move the Washington project forward,” said Dane C. Hillyard, Principal and Co-Founder of Greenstreet. “The Reno City Council has developed some innovative ways to support affordable housing projects in our community. This project could not get off the ground without that vision. We hope to open our doors on Washington some time in 2024.”

In addition, Council approved a request for an affordable housing fee reduction of $22,316 in building permit fees and $217,800 in sewer connection fees for the Orovada Street Senior Apartments. The complex is located on a ±1.75 acre site situated on the southeast corner of the Silverada Boulevard/Orovada Street intersection, and will add a total of 40 senior affordable housing units to the Reno market for households at 40 percent AMI.

“This is an exciting day for us and our mission to serve the needs of seniors by developing high quality affordable housing,” said Harry ‘Chip’ Hobson, Executive Director of Silver Sage Manor, Inc. “These fee reductions get us one big step closer to our goal of opening the Orovada complex in fall 2023.”

In 2020, Council adopted an ordinance setting affordable housing fee reduction standards and criteria, allowing projects like this to happen.

Finally, Council heard a presentation and approved the allocation of $9 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds toward two affordable housing projects by the Reno Housing Authority (RHA): Dick Scott Manor and purchase and/or rehabilitation of the Bonanza Inn. Combined these projects will produce up to 70 permanent affordable housing units.

Dick Scott Manor is a new construction project, which will create 12 studio and one-bedroom units for veterans with incomes at or below 30 percent of AMI. The Bonanza Inn project is an acquisition/rehabilitation project, which will convert existing rooms into up to 58 permanent units. The Council motion indicated that this project should serve individuals with incomes at between 60 and 120 percent of the AMI.

“We thank the City of Reno for its support of these projects,” said Amy Jones, Executive Director of RHA. “We look forward to offering more affordable housing options in our community.”

Original source can be found here.