Author
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Housing projects can raise concerns in a neighborhood long before the doors open. Bernalillo County wants to start those conversations on day one, bringing developers, property managers and nearby communities to the table through a new Good Neighbor Policy.
Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution establishing the BernCo Builds Communities Good Neighbor Policy Sept. 9. Sponsored by Commissioner Barbara Baca, the policy grew out of a public meeting last November and follow-up outreach with neighbors near the Ponderosa and Poblana housing developments, both part of a county effort to expand affordable housing. The policy sets standards for county-supported projects and outlines responsibilities for the county, contractors, residents and community partners regarding design, construction, safety, maintenance, traffic, leasing and communication. “Tonight’s vote demonstrates our commitment to doing this work hand in hand with the community,” Baca said in a press release. “We are raising the bar for how Bernalillo County engages and collaborates with neighbors.”
Carolyn Tobias, economic development manager, said the policy aims to improve communication and accountability. According to the county, it will guide site-specific Good Neighbor Agreements for individual housing projects. Emily Martin, public works special projects coordinator leading the process, added that the county will collaborate with departments and community partners as projects move forward.
A county spokesperson told The Paper. that the biggest day-to-day change should be clearer communication. Neighbors will have specific contacts at the property and county level, a 24/7 way to report urgent issues and a process for raising and resolving concerns. Housing operators will also be expected to regularly work with surrounding neighborhoods. The county will also monitor compliance with each agreement and can take corrective action or, when appropriate, withdraw its support if commitments are not met. Each agreement will be tailored to its own process for resolving disputes and grievances.
Poblana Place Apartments will be the first project under the new process. The county bought the 84-unit complex, which can house up to 234 people, for $17.9 million last September. “We cannot just purchase properties and preserve affordable housing; we need to engage our community partners and neighbors,” Baca said in a December press release. Following the purchase, officials reached out to nearby residents and businesses within a one-mile radius. The Near North Valley Neighborhood Association and residents helped shape the agreement, which will cover safety, parking, maintenance, leasing and community communication. The specific commitments have not been decided and will be negotiated with the surrounding community, according to the spokesperson
The county will begin developing a Good Neighbor Agreement for the Poblana Place project. Once completed, it will be posted on the county’s website for residents to review. The county plans to use the same process for other county-supported housing projects.
Share this story and start a conversation
