The City of Chattanooga began soliciting proposals this week to identify contractors to transform the dilapidated Airport Inn property located at 7725 Lee Highway into a new permanent supportive housing complex for more than 70 Chattanoogans in need.
City Council voted Tuesday to approve the request for proposals, which includes a detailed scope of work for renovating the building and staffing and managing the complex. The deadline to submit proposals is Feb. 15; the city will notify awardees the week of March 4.
“Permanent supportive housing is a proven strategy to help chronically homeless people move off the streets and rebuild their lives, but there simply aren’t enough supportive housing units in our city right now to support the rise in homelessness we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic,” says Mayor Tim Kelly. “That’s why we’re moving full steam ahead on this project.”
The RFP for the project is the result of months of work by city staff in collaboration with community experts and service providers. The city has hosted three community sessions on the project since October, including two roundtable discussion sessions to solicit feedback for the development of the RFP.
The final RFP reflects much of the community input received during those sessions and upholds the contract with the community Kelly released after first announcing the details of the project. For example, it prioritizes proposals for rehabilitation and renovation that include plans for facade improvements, landscaping and integration of indoor and outdoor community spaces.
It also calls for property management and supportive services proposals that include on-site security or active monitoring, as well as plans for resident transportation and employment referrals.
Developers who respond to the site rehabilitation and renovation portion of the RFP will be expected to provide a financing plan for the work that does not require additional city investment. Instead, developers are being asked to include potential sources of equity and debt financing, as well as any expected affordable housing financing required from local, state or federal sources.
Similarly, service providers who apply will be asked to provide details of anticipated subsidies and use of subsidized vouchers, as well as a summary of their experience and competitiveness in securing those funding sources.
Source: city of Chattanooga