By Charia Jackson

The first round of the Essential Housing Program has concluded, marking an important milestone in CRA’s ongoing work to create high-quality, attainable housing in Memphis. The first round of proposals closed on June 30, yielding ten submissions from developers with a range of experience, from emerging small firms to seasoned builders. This strong response reflects growing interest and momentum around the CRA’s mission to support neighborhood stability and expand housing opportunities.

In July, the CRA evaluated all ten proposals based on program objectives, community fit, and development feasibility. Following the evaluation, four developers were selected to participate in the program, four developers were encouraged to amend their applications and reapply, and two emerging developers are working with CRA staff to attain their first project.

The selected developers proposed house plans on twelve residential lots located in the North Parkway, New Chicago, and Smokey City neighborhoods. Their plans include building a total of seventeen units, offering both homeownership and rental opportunities to meet diverse housing needs. Proposed housing types incorporate single-family homes, single-family homes plus accessory dwelling units, duplexes, and townhomes.

These projects focus on small-scale infill housing, featuring designs for single-family and two-family homes that aim to enhance the neighborhood’s character and provide pathways to homeownership. By working with both new and experienced developers, the CRA is fostering local capacity-building while ensuring a variety of thoughtful, well-designed housing types.

In early August, the CRA shared the developers’ projects with the Uptown Advisory Committee, inviting community input and feedback. These conversations help ensure that the proposed developments are not only feasible but also aligned with neighborhood priorities. Members of the community were excited to hear about the program’s progress and look forward to seeing construction begin this fall.

This first round has demonstrated the value of strategic public-private partnerships and the potential of the Essential Housing Program to make a lasting impact. The CRA looks forward to supporting these projects through the next stages of planning and construction, ultimately delivering homes that will strengthen Memphis neighborhoods.