Council highlights $900,000 housing push, $750,000 park donation and downtown projects

At the Jan. 9 meeting, Council President Matt Carlucci outlined a series of local investments and philanthropic commitments he said are moving forward.

Carlucci said he spoke with Travis Jeffries and confirmed $900,000 he described as city-directed funding has been combined with other sources to support a Habitat for Humanity project that he said will build an estimated 45 to 50 homes, many earmarked for veterans. "That $900,000... is went in with some other dollars involved. It's gonna build 45 to 50 homes, many of which are gonna be for veterans," Carlucci said.

Separately, Carlucci said Wayne Weaver and the Weaver family plan to contribute $750,000 to improvements at Peace Memorial Park near Willow Branch Park; the city and Riverside Avondale Preservation reached an agreement for plantings and upkeep. "They're investing $750,000 into that park," Carlucci said.

Carlucci also reviewed downtown initiatives he has worked on for years, citing the Lower Street Trio as an example of preservation-led redevelopment, and said the city will issue an RFP for the old courthouse site with an eye to mixed-use redevelopment that includes retail and office as well as residential. He reaffirmed continued involvement in Riverfront Parks and said the Shipyards West Park should begin this year.

Next steps: Councilmembers said they would stay involved in implementation through committee meetings and staff briefings; no formal votes or budget transfers were taken at the meeting.