The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 infused the capital required to fund many affordable housing projects nationwide. As part of its 2003 and 2008 Asset Management Plan, RIHA pursued ARRA funding and was awarded approximately $8.6 million to complete the development of Cascade Garden. The estimated $12.7 million special needs facility is a 70-unit mixed-income apartment style development designated for individuals and families containing at least one household member with a disability.

Spencer Towers

Built in 1972, Spencer Towers is a nine-floor, 199-unit, low-income high-rise located across the street from the Mississippi River in downtown Rock Island. Spencer Towers is currently home to a mixed population comprised of both elderly and non-elderly disabled individuals.

Spencer Towers is the only high-rise apartment building in the City that is across the street from the Mississippi River. Spencer Towers is a signature building with phenomenal potential. It boasts spectacular views of the river, is two blocks from the City's arts and entertainment hub, multiple restaurants and galleries and is surrounded by well-kept grounds with multiple mature trees.

Based on the 2003 Asset Management Plan, Spencer Towers should be kept in the RIHA inventory and developed into a mixed-income development. The redevelopment of Spencer Towers is included in the City of Rock Island Consolidated Plan and RiverVision, a joint initiative between the cities of Rock Island and Davenport, Iowa.

2008 Physical Needs Assessment: The building is structurally sound, is in an excellent location and could be reconfigured from a one-bedroom elderly and disabled public housing property to a mixed-income rental development.

Asset Management Plan Implementation: Spencer Towers will be redeveloped and reconfigured into a mixed-income development designed to accommodate active adults.

Lincoln Homes

Lincoln Homes is located in what is considered to be the "community heart" of Old Chicago near Martin Luther King Community Center, the Second Baptist Church and Douglas Park Place. It was constructed in 1953 on 2.29 acres of land and includes 45 dwelling units in seven residential buildings. According to the 2003 Asset Management Plan, the property should be maintained, monitored and reevaluated in 5 - 10 years to determine its long-term value and sustainability as a viable property. The renovation of Lincoln Homes is part of the City of Rock Island NEW Old Chicago Redevelopment Plan.

2008 Physical Needs Assessment: Lincoln Homes is over fifty years old, obsolete, has sinking first level concrete slab floors, and has extensive termite damage in the walls and second level floors. One complete building is now uninhabitable because termite damage has made the building unsafe for occupancy. Without immediate and extensive wall and floor repair and termite treatment, the remaining buildings will quickly become unsafe for occupancy. In addition, a recent environmental study indicated that portions of the land on which Lincoln Homes stands includes a ponding area where storm water runoff collects which may account for the sinking concrete floors.

HUD does not consider the renovation of public housing properties viable when costs exceed 90% of Total Development Cost (TDC) for new construction. The 2008 physical needs assessment revealed the total cost of renovating Lincoln Homes would be 173% of what it would cost to build new (HUD's TDC). Therefore renovating the property is not feasible and it should be demolished and replaced.

Asset Management Plan Implementation: Lincoln Homes will be replaced in phases and new housing will be developed before demolition begins. As buildings are demolished, RIHA will develop new affordable mixed-income housing. Construction could begin in the unimproved playground areas to help facilitate the phased demolition and replacement of units. Additional in-fill lots and nearby vacant land will also be considered for the development of additional affordable housing which will also facilitate a phased approach to the demolition and replacement of existing units.

Because of its location and close proximity to the Martin Luther King Community Center, the Second Baptist Church and Douglas Park Place, the redevelopment of Lincoln Homes will have a long-term positive effect on the area ultimately creating an entirely new community.

Manor Homes

Manor Homes was constructed in 1952 on 4.34 acres of land and includes 102 dwelling units. Manor Homes is similar to Lincoln Homes in that it is over fifty-years old, is obsolete, has sinking first level concrete slab floors, and has extensive termite damage in the walls and second level floors. The damage to Manor Homes is not as advanced as Lincoln Homes. However, if not redeveloped, Manor Homes will continue to decay resulting in the units becoming uninhabitable.

2008 Physical Needs Assessment: HUD does not consider the renovation of public housing properties viable when costs exceed 90% of Total Development Cost (TDC) for new construction. The 2008 physical needs assessment revealed the total cost of renovating Manor Homes would be 119.25% of what it would cost to build new (HUD's TDC). Therefore renovating the property is not feasible and it should be demolished and replaced.

Asset Management Plan Implementation: Manor Homes will be replaced in phases and new housing will be developed before demolition begins. As buildings are demolished, RIHA will develop new affordable mixed-income housing. Construction will begin in the playground area to better facilitate the phased demolition and replacement of existing units.

Former Valley Homes Site

Valley Homes was completed in the early 1970's with 102 original units. Three buildings with 45 units were demolished in 1994 and 1997 to reduce density. The three remaining buildings comprised of 57 units were recommended for demolition as part of the 2003 Asset Management Plan.

The first Valley Homes resident relocated on November 8, 2004. By July 31, 2005 the severely distressed public housing property was officially vacated and awaiting demolition - a full five months ahead of the original date of December 31, 2005. Valley Homes was demolished in October 2005.

Of the 53 Valley Homes resident families, four became first-time homeowners, purchasing homes in Rock Island. Twelve relocated outside of Rock Island to areas including Chicago, IL, Davenport, IA, and St Louis, MO. Four families relocated to other RIHA properties, and one was over Section 8 income guidelines and rented a market-rate apartment without assistance. The remaining 32 families rented within the City of Rock Island. Of these 32, nine have moved into apartments while 23 have rented single-family homes in multiple neighborhoods.

The 2003 Asset Management Plan recommended that the vacant land be redeveloped to include up to 40 mixed-income homes. According to the recommended Plan, the number of homes would be driven by design (townhouse, duplex, condo or single-family) and funding sources.

The now vacant Valley Homes site includes 8.5-acres, 6 acres of which is buildable. The site is bounded by residential buildings to the north and south and sandwiched between hilly, wooded terrain to the east and west. The site is generally rectangular in shape and is rolling, although the terrain rises toward the south with a retaining wall and wooded area. A retaining wall is also located along the eastern border. Because of the surrounding hilly typography, the site sits in a "bowl", though drainage is adequate toward the northwest. Access to the site is available from 25th Street. While the obsolete public housing structures have been demolished and the site has been cleared, significant serious infrastructure issues remain making the property costly to redevelop.

Over the past three years, RIHA has applied for two federal HOPE VI grants and one Tax Credit opportunity through the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) for the redevelopment of the property. To date, RIHA has been unable to secure the funding required to both correct the challenges associated with the infrastructure and build the recommended replacement housing.

Asset Management Plan Implementation: Because of location, the best use of the former Valley Homes site is the construction of mixed-income, for sale homes. The redevelopment of the site will include 21 single-family units constructed to meet up to 120% of the median income.

In-Fill Housing

Providing families and individuals more choices and more control over where they live increases their level of self-sufficiency allowing them to effectively climb the housing ladder. In-fill housing is an important aspect of this process and is a key element in stabilizing neighborhoods that are in the process of turning around. In-fill housing provides quality housing options for families seeking to return to the neighborhoods in which they were raised. The introduction of in-fill housing into these neighborhoods creates new homes reducing the number of vacant lots and obsolete housing. It instills growth, enhances economic development, creates pride and stimulates economic self-sufficiency among current and future residents.

RIHA Commitment

Rock Island Housing Authority (RIHA) is more than a landlord, and it is more than a developer. RIHA is an active participant in and significant contributor to the revitalization of the City of Rock Island. As an agency, RIHA is investing in the lives and the futures of Rock Island citizens. Strong, economically diverse communities are important ingredients in reducing poverty, eliminating dependence on welfare and improving the futures of low-income families. The RIHA mission and purpose involves more than building housing in a community - it involves rebuilding the lives of the people living there.

RIHA is committed to pursuing new and creative ways to meet the changing housing needs of the diverse population of the City of Rock Island. RIHA is dedicated to creating safe, viable and vibrant communities for a broad-based market founded on transition and hope. As an organization and as a member of the Rock Island community, RIHA strives to make Rock Island a better, healthier place for all people to live.

For additional information or to comment on these opportunites, please call 309.786.0485 or e-mail Housing@riha4rent.org