2008-04-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Tuesday, April 22, 2008 AT 5:00 p.m. IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Work Session: Affordable Housing BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM – April 22, 2008 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Mr. Norris said that Council wanted to bring a strategic focus to its affordable housing work, and the work done today will be vetted through the City’s Housing Committee. Mr. Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development Services, reviewed Council’s Vision and the Strategic Plan that pertains to housing, and presented a history of what the City has done regarding affordable housing. Councilors asked for more details of the Region Ten pilot program. Mr. Tolbert presented a continuum of housing needs as follows: Chronic Homeless -> Temporary Homeless -> Working Homeless -> Low End Subsidized Rental -> Public Housing -> Low End Market Rental -> Better Subsidized Rental -> Market Rate – Low<200k -> Market Rate Mid-Low – 200-250K -> Working Professional – 250- 500k -> Upper End – 500k plus. Mr. Norris said that the goal of Pacem is to eliminate the need for homeless shelters. Mr. Tolbert listed the following as possible housing program: Work with CRHA to stimulate their redevelopment efforts to both create additional housing and make them financially stable; Put more dollars into homeowner rehabilitation to help primarily the elderly remain in their homes; Create a flexible revolving loan program for land purchase and site development for our non-profit partners providing low income housing; Put dollars in rental rehabilitation to assist owners of lower end rental properties to remain their properties to basic code requirements and keep rents affordable; Build or assist with the construction of a Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) near downtown or with excellent access to services; Create a program through the Economic Development Strategic Investment Funds to promote affordable housing units in major new development projects or rehab projects. Mr. Huja said he would like to continue with the downpayment program and help with new affordable housing in addition to rehabilitation of older ones. He said he would also encourage U. Va. to build more housing on grounds. He said he would like to work with Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA) on a block by block basis. Mr. Norris said he would like to work with JABA to explore accessory apartments which is currently being studied. Mr. Huja said he would also like to work on how we communicate available programs. Mr. Huja said the criteria he would support for funding includes: leveraging other funds; equity sharing; ratio of new units per dollars spent; preference given to homeowners.