Pima County gap funding helps advance nearly 200 affordable housing units

gap funding
Ribbon cutting ceremony at Desert Dove apartments, a joint venture that provides 63 affordable housing units to Pima County residents.

PIMA COUNTY, (June 22, 2026) –– Three affordable housing developments supported by Pima County gap funding have each received allocations of $2.5 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), moving closer to delivering nearly 200 new affordable housing units for local residents. 

The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved $500,000 in gap funding for each project, helping developers secure additional financing and compete for the tax credits through the Arizona Department of Housing. 

  • The Stone & Speedway Phase 1 project received $500,000 in County gap funding and is planned as a mixed-income development. The first phase will include 56 housing units (44 affordable), with additional housing planned in a future phase.
  • El Rincón received $500,000 in County gap funding for a development that will create 67 affordable housing units across two infill sites, including a larger site at 560 W. Davis St. in Barrio Anita and a second site near N. Main Avenue and W. St. Mary’s Road. 
  • Drexel Commons, located at Drexel Road and Bonney Avenue, also received $500,000 in County support. The project will provide 72 affordable rental units.  

“Affordable housing projects often face financing gaps that can prevent them from moving forward, even when there is a clear community need,” said Sofia Blue, the affordable housing division manager for Pima County’s Community & Workforce Development Department.  “Pima County’s gap funding helps bridge that final hurdle. It’s one way the County is putting its commitment to expanding affordable housing into action.” 

The Board of Supervisors further supported the southside Drexel Commons project by selling the vacant land for the nominal amount of $200 as permitted by state statute. 

Multiple County departments work together to further the County’s strategies under the 10-year Regional Housing Strategy and Funding Plan (PDF), including the development of housing affordable to low-income households in Community Revitalization Areas – higher-poverty areas identified in the city and County for housing and non-housing reinvestment to improve opportunity for residents in these neighborhoods. Drexel Commons is the first affordable housing project to be developed in a Pima County Community Revitalization Area. 

“Drexel Commons is exactly the type of development envisioned by Pima Prospers and the County’s long-term housing strategy,” said Development Services Director Lauren Ortega.  “By bringing new affordable housing to an area identified for urban infill and redevelopment, this project helps make efficient use of existing infrastructure, supports reinvestment in established neighborhoods, and expands housing opportunities for residents. It’s a great example of how thoughtful planning and public-private partnerships can work together to strengthen communities.” 

In addition to increasing housing supply, the 10-year plan, approved by the Board in March 2026, addresses housing diversity through County zoning code changes, and housing stability through programs such as Emergency Eviction Legal Services, rental/utility assistance, and home weatherization and repair. 

Even before the strategy was formally adopted, the County had begun investing in housing projects aligned with its goals. Since 2022, the Board has approved the investment of $20,984,361 in gap funding for 28 projects after recommendations from the Regional Affordable Housing Commission. Those approvals will preserve or develop a total of 1,857 affordable housing units in Pima County. A list of all the projects is available at pima.gov. 

The Board has further strengthened its commitment to these priorities, having approved $250 million for affordable housing and keeping people housed over a 10-year period beginning in Fiscal Year 2026-27. 

The commitment supports the Board-approved One Pima Initiative, which identifies stabilizing housing and preventing homelessness as a priority area. The actions also align with the housing pillar of the Board-approved Prosperity Initiative, a regional partnership to reduce generational poverty.