The city of Tempe will use nearly $2 million in federal funds to help build affordable housing in north Tempe. But as the city obtains property to revitalize, some affected business owners are worried they will be tossed aside.
Congressman Greg Stanton and Tempe Mayor Corey Woods held a press conference Wednesday at the latest acquired site: a strip mall with businesses like a Food City and a barber shop.
According to the city, this approximately seven-acre site at Scottsdale and McKellips roads will be turned into a place for mixed-income housing, a grocery store and a police station/training facility. Some of these plans will depend on the November Tempe Bond election.
The city will require at least half of the total number of housing units here to be affordable to people making 80% below the area median income.
Stanton says: “The city of Tempe is buying property and land to build even more affordable housing. This site, one of several in the city, is set to become …”
He was then interrupted by business owner Feras Jamous: “I’m sorry, by that you guys are kicking us out of our business. You guys are kicking us out of our locations. I’ve been here for 17 years and you guys are kicking us out."
Jamous is the owner of J Moose Barber Shop, and he interrupts Stanton and Woods several times, saying that the city is giving him and other businesses the runaround on how they will be helped.
“They basically told us we will assist you and help you but nothing in stone. They didn’t give us any information on move or anything like that and rents out there are very expensive. We cannot afford to move. I just put in $150,000 [to] remodel my own barber shop," Jamous said.
He says his lease is up in two years.
Woods says Tempe is already working with business owners to help them relocate.
“Our economic development team and myself and our city management team are going to continue to work with them to make sure that they can continue to have businesses and continue to flourish and thrive within our great city.
Woods gave Jamous his personal cell number. Later, Jamous said the mayor promised his business would be helped financially. City officials say the process will take time.
This newly acquired site is one of five development projects so far that the city has invested in to create more affordable housing.
Stanton, who helped secure the most recent funds, says the local and federal government is partnering to help vulnerable populations.
“Arizona is in the midst of a housing crisis,” Stanton said. “Housing supply has been well below community demand for decades. We need to build more housing plain and simple, and Tempe has set a very high standard. They’re committed to maintaining nearly half of all the housing inventory in the city as affordable housing.”
