The Department of Housing and Community Development told the committee Oct. 21 it will issue a request for proposals on Nov. 5 to solicit development proposals for two surplus city parcels targeted for mixed-income affordable housing.

Eric Malone, director of Housing and Community Development, said the initial parcels are 212 North 18th Street (a paved vacant lot near East Broad with an assessed value listed in staff materials at $2.1 million) and 911–913 Hull Street (a quarter-acre paved lot near the courthouse with an assessed value listed at $485,000). Staff said both parcels have been surplus and that the department will use an RFP process open to nonprofit, for-profit and joint teams to seek proposals that provide a minimum 20% affordable units, among other evaluation criteria.

The RFP schedule announced by staff: release on Nov. 5; site visits (212 N. 18th on Nov. 14; 911–913 Hull on Nov. 17); a question-and-answer session Dec. 4; a 75-day proposal period with proposals due Feb. 24, 2026; review by an expert panel in March; best-and-final interviews in April; and a final recommendation to administration thereafter. Staff said appraisals will be completed for sites and that selection criteria will include team qualifications, conceptual design, project financing and schedule, community benefits, and MBE/WBE participation.

Malone said the department expects a mix of financing approaches and that some proposals may propose deeper affordability, ground leases or alternative structures; he noted the 20% figure is a stated minimum. Committee members asked about deeper affordability targets, for-sale affordable options and use of other city-owned parcels; Malone said the selection panel would score proposals on affordability depth and community benefits and that the city could use different disposition tools (sale, ground lease or other options) depending on the proposal’s structure.

Staff said a community-benefits process will follow selection and development stages and that additional surplus parcels are planned for future RFPs.