Columbia Housing Authority breaks ground on Kinney Point, named for former board member

An affordable housing facility named for the first Black resident commissioner on the Columbia Housing Authority board, Marvin Kinney, has officially broken ground in Columbia. He also was the first resident commissioner in the U.S.

Kinney was a quiet man who loved Kung Fu and western movies and documented his time in the military in an as yet to be published book, said Nadia Gresham, his granddaughter.

"He dedicated his time to serving the community. He worked in the unemployment office serving veterans and then he worked on the Columbia Housing Authority Board from 1968 until he passed in 2013," she said.

A large crowd celebrated the groundbreaking Thursday at the site of Kinney Point, a 24-unit complex at 7 E. Sexton Road, adjacent to CHA's Oak Towers senior apartments.

"I want to recognize the CHA board for recognizing his dedication and hard work he put for the community. I know he would be extremely proud," Gresham said, sharing advice Kinney shared with her prior to his death. "Always be kind when no one is watching. ... Knowledge is power and that is one thing no one can take away from you.

"I hope I can walk in his footsteps and maintain what he has done for the community as I would like to help the community as well," she said, choking back tears.

While Columbia Housing Authority acquired much of the funding necessary to start construction on Kinney Point in 2022, it took time get all the proverbial Is dotted and Ts crossed to get to a point for the groundbreaking. There originally were expectations of a groundbreaking last year , based on previous Tribune reporting.

Funding for Kinney Point construction came from $1.5 million raised by CHA, a $1.3 million grant from the Veterans United Foundation, $2 million in HOME-American Rescue Plan funds from the City of Columbia via U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, $5 million in Missouri Missouri Housing Development Commission tax credits and $3 million from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Many conversations and public comments have occurred at Columbia City Council meetings on affordable housing and the construction of a new facility is a perfect example of supporting a community's additional housing needs, said Mayor Barbara Buffaloe.

"I would call this progress as promised that the Columbia Housing Authority always delivers for us," she said. "... The communication and care the staff of the housing authority did with the neighbors to make sure their voices are heard, it shows by those who showed up and supported the project."

James Heard, St. Louis field office director for HUD, celebrated the work of CHA CEO Randy Cole when addressing the crowd Thursday.

"To watch him come in without missing a beat and continue to do the collaboration, continue to work in the community and all of the partners to make something like this happen, he is to be commended and the entire CHA staff is to be commended on a job well done," he said.

This is the legacy of Kinney, Heard added, expressing HUD funds served as a catalyst for the project, which likely was in development more than just two years ago, but upward of 10 to 15.

Park Avenue: Columbia City Council finalizes $2 million ARPA allocation to Columbia Housing Authority

A lot of work goes into projects like Kinney Point, said Ulysses "Deke" Clayborn, HUD regional administrator.

"These things don't just come together because someone waves a wand. They come together because of hard work and collaboration and an element of trust," he said. "There is no one individual that makes all of this happen. HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable and inclusive communities and quality affordable homes, not just housing, but homes for all. That is what you are doing here."

Once Kinney Point is built, residents along Park Avenue are likely to temporarily move in as the next major project from CHA is to demolish and rebuild the housing along Park Avenue.

From 2022: Kinney Point will bring a 24-unit affordable housing complex near Garth and Sexton in Columbia

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia Housing Authority breaks ground on Kinney Point, named for former board member