The first phase of a massive Peoria Housing Authority project nears completion this month, but CEO Armeca Crawford is already preparing for the future of some of the organization’s other properties.
Crawford says phase one of the redevelopment of the 226 unit Taft Homes into the 142 unit Providence Pointe apartments is “near an end.” The first families are expected to move into the new facility in July. Apartments range from one to five bedrooms.
The $43 million joint project between the PHA and Bear Development is funded through a combination of tax credits, Federal Home Loan Banks and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program. The facility includes apartment layouts with one to five bedrooms, as well as community spaces for residents.
“We’re looking at making it broad enough so that we can have resident activities to promote, you know, job skills or job readiness and help bring up programs for children and seniors,” said Crawford. “That’s what’s important to us, bringing those amenities to the community.”
The timeline for the entire Providence Pointe project places completion in early 2024.
The focus on amenities is part of an ongoing effort to expand the Peoria Housing Authority’s resident services department. Crawford says the program offered help to prepare families for a move out of public housing and into “self sufficiency.” Since Crawford started at PHA, she says three families have transitioned to home ownership programs, while five families left the program completely.
“I want to be able to celebrate milestones like that,,” she said. “I want to be able to celebrate milestones like that, especially for every family that can go into home ownership and not have to rely on public housing. I think that’s awesome.”
Another example of these efforts is the HUD-funded Strong Families program, which culminates in an annual summer celebration, resource and hiring fair.
The scope of development planned at PHA does move beyond Providence Pointe and the resident services department. Crawford says the organization is exploring options for a development partner for their River West property, as well as engaging in very early talks with the City of Peoria about Harrison Homes.
“Some time ago, a portion of Harrison was redeveloped, and then a portion was not,” said Crawford. “So we’re looking at how we can reconcile that process with housing, but maybe partnering with the city to determine what other amenities we can bring to that community so that together we can create a vibrant neighborhood and revitalize it holistically.”
Crawford says one possibility could be applying for the HUD’s Choice Neighborhood Planning grant, which would provide funds to develop a revitalization plan, with Harrison Homes as an anchor. The PHA also participated by providing input as a stakeholder to a study from the Peoria Area Association of Realtors, making recommendations to possible housing options utilizing the former Harrison School site and surrounding area.
“I’ve gone through that community several times,” said Crawford. “And I always talk about the lack of a grocery store. So we talked about things of that nature, what was most beneficial to the area in terms of development.”
The Peoria Housing Authority is in a constant cycle of grant application. Crawford says the organization received more than $400,000 total in grants for resident opportunity and family self sufficiency programs. They also have applications filed for literacy programs, veteran aid and case management.
With a waiting time of around three to six months on average to find a place in PHA housing, Crawford says there’s always a need for more housing and related programs. She says this includes both family and senior housing.
“That’s something I noticed, as I transitioned into Peoria a year ago,” Crawford said. “That I didn’t see as many senior housing communities. But then again, I have to look at the population for the Peoria area to determine what’s needed to support that growing [senior] population and how we can help as an agency.”
You can learn more about everything going on at thePHA and their various programs at their website here.
