By Steve Stockmar
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Twitter: @stevestockmar

As a Valley leader in the effort to provide affordable housing while costs soar out of reach for many, Glendale has a big fan in Maricopa County.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on June 28 approved an agreement that provides more than $7.1 million in funding to the West Valley’s biggest city to build even more affordable housing.

An upcoming Glendale project will add 790 new multi-family affordable rental units to the Valley’s housing stock that will serve 1,465 people annually.

The first units are expected to be available for tenancy in January 2024.

“The development of affordable housing is a critical component to homeless prevention. The more units that we have in our community that are affordable and available to Glendale residents, the chances of preventing homelessness are higher,” Jean Moreno, Glendale’s community services director, told the city council the day before the agreement approval. “If we can prevent homelessness it costs us a lot less money in the long run.”

With the help of American Rescue Act Funds, Maricopa County is providing communities with assistance. Some $156 million, or 20%, of total rescue fund spending has been allocated for affordable housing around the county, which represents the biggest allocation after money going toward COVID-19 public health.

The four affordable housing projects in the Glendale pipeline are:

• Villa Manuel “Lito” Pena: Rental housing development on a 5.5-acre site at 5619 N. 67th Ave. The 80 units will serve 195 people annually. Maricopa County is contributing $950,000 to this project and the city of Glendale will contribute more than $1.28 million.
• Juniper Square: Rental housing development for seniors located on an 8-acre parcel at the northwest corner of 67th and Maryland avenues. The 221 units will serve 376 people annually. Maricopa County is contributing $1 million to this project and the city will contribute $500,000 in funding and will waive more than $150,000 in development fees.
• Unity at Glendale: Rental housing development located on a 7-acre parcel at 4751 W. Glendale Ave. The 105 units will serve 306 people annually. Maricopa County is contributing $2.4 million to this project and the city will forgive $700,000 of the property purchase price and will waive more than $250,000 in development fees.
• 67 Flats: Rental housing development located on a 20-acre parcel at the northwest corner of 67th and Maryland avenues. The 384 units will serve 588 people annually. Maricopa County is contributing $2.8 million to this project and the city will contribute more than $500,000 in funding and will waive more than $245,000 in development fees.

“We have a deep shortage of housing,” Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a former social worker, said at the groundbreaking this past March of another affordable housing project in Glendale, Centerline on Glendale, which will provide 368 units on 13 acres at 6775 N. 67th Ave. “Arizona families with extremely low incomes are less likely to find available and affordable housing than households in 46 other U.S. states and D.C.”

Affordable housing is not a new mission in Glendale.

Housing affordability is measured by how much a household spends on housing expenses. If more than 30% of total income is spent on housing expenses, the household is considered “cost-burdened” and at more than 50% they are considered “severely cost burdened.”

A 2016 city housing study revealed that, at that time, of the civilian employed population, which numbered almost 100,000 people, many were unable to afford a home in Glendale. Findings showed that those employed in education, service occupations, or sales and office occupations were unable to either afford a median priced home or median rent in the city.

At that time, using the most recent data available, the average cost of a home was $289,800. Looking ahead to its most recent numbers in late May of this year, industry tracker Zillow shows an average Glendale home value of $392,161.

Zillow reports that the median rent price in Glendale as of July is $2,015.

The emphasis on affordable housing in Glendale has led to a dramatic turnaround in the city’s homeless population.

One year after the Point-in-Time Homeless Count – an annual street and shelter count sponsored by the Maricopa Association of Governments – showed that Glendale had experienced the highest jump in homelessness during the previous year among large Valley cities, the 2023 study revealed that Glendale showed the largest decrease among Valley cities.

“The actual roll-up-your-sleeves and hard work that’s happening on the ground here in Glendale is happening through our Community Services Department and through some other departments in the city,” Glendale City Councilmember Lauren Tolmachoff said.

Steve Stockmar
News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment YourValley.net
@stevestockmar

sstockmar@iniusa.org

Meet Steve
Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.

Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.

Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.

Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.

Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.