City, Cherry Development update downtown Westside: 102 workforce units and 'Good Ward' food hall

City economic-development staff and Cherry Development representatives updated the City Council on Jan. 7 about a public‑private project in the downtown Westside (Ward 5) that pairs workforce housing with a community food hall.

Dina Babsky, director of economic and urban development, described the project as a coordination between the city and Cherry Development adjacent to the new CSN training and education center. Babsky said the workforce housing building is a 102‑unit development and is already under construction with lease‑up expected in May. The project includes retail and commercial space intended to serve residents, students and visitors.

Grant Garcia (Cherry Development) and staff said the Good Ward food hall (the project's community food hall name) is approximately 9,000 square feet with a mezzanine and includes an incubator concept with four stalls for emerging small food businesses. Babsky and Garcia said the redevelopment agency will master‑lease the food‑hall retail space to support small-business incubation. The presenters stated the total investment in the food hall is about $8,700,000 (funded by the RDA and a Neighborhood Services communities grant), with tenant improvements starting in summer and construction completion targeted for fall. A groundbreaking for the food hall was scheduled for next month.

Representatives said they will open an interest list for residents on Feb. 21 (coinciding with a community 'Love on Jackson' event) and plan hard‑hat tours and ribbon‑cuttings as construction advances. Councilmembers expressed gratitude and support for the partnership and emphasized inclusive contracting and outreach to diverse subcontractors.