Back in October, we shared news that the city had plans to transform the former Airport Inn into a permanent housing complex with 70+ units and wraparound services.

Since then, there have been three public meetings about the project + votes by the City Council regarding its rezoning — here is an update on where the project currently stands.

This week, the City Council voted to approve the request for proposals (RFP) to identify contractors to work on the transformation project. According to a press release from the city, the proposals should include a “detailed scope of work for renovating the building and staffing managing the complex to ensure the project’s success."

The final RFP reflects much of the community input from the public meetings held last year + is summarized in the following categories:

Accountability | Expectation for the service provider and residents to help ensure the project’s success
Services | Suggested onsite resources and services to support residents and the surrounding community
Property Improvements & Aesthetics | Improvements to the building and grounds as part of the renovation process
Operations | Policies and procedures to ensure successful daily management of the complex
Community Engagements | Ongoing ways to engage the community in the project

Some of the most frequent community suggestions

Plans for facade improvements (think: landscaping + the integration of indoor and outdoor community spaces)
24/7 onsite security or active monitoring
Resident transportation + employment referrals
Onsite life skills training classes
Onsite mental health care staff + case workers

Upcoming important dates

Feb. 15 | Deadline to submit proposals
Week of March 4 | City will notify awardees

Want to stay in the loop? Sign up for project updates online.