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218 <br /> <br /> Mr. Dave Baldwin, Special Programs Officer for the <br />Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, stated <br />that the Housing Authority has applied to HUD for 25 units <br />of housing designated as "acquisition with rehabilitation." <br />Mr. Baldwin stated that the Housing Authority wanted to <br />improve existing housing in the City without constructing <br />new units. Mr. Baldwin noted that one site on Levy Avenue <br />had been withdrawn from consideration by the owner, which <br />reduced the number of units to 23. Mr. Baldwin stated that <br />the Housing Authority has met with representatives of the <br />neighborhood associations in the areas where the sites are <br />located as well as the Federation of Neighborhood <br />Associations, has spoken with the majority of the tenants <br />presently occupying the units, and has sent letters to <br />adjoining property owners. Mr. Baldwin stated that the <br />Planning Commission held a public hearing on the sites on <br />June 9th and the public hearing held by Council has been <br />extensively advertised. <br /> <br /> Mr. Baldwin stated that the same tenan~ selection <br />process will be used for the units as is used for other <br />public housing sites, existing tenants in the units will <br />have the opportunity to remain if they qualify, and, if not, <br />they will be offered relocation assistance. Mr. Baldwin <br />stated that a pro-active role will need to be taken by the <br />Authority's housing counselors and that routine maintenance <br />of the sites will continue and the units will be integrated <br />into the Authority's preventive maintenance program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Baldwin stated that of the 23 units, 21 are <br />currently rental property and eight are unoccupied and <br />considered unfit for habilitation. Mr. Baldwin stated that <br />an effort has been made to assure the public that the units <br />will be improved and that it will be a positive step in <br />upgrading some of the areas in which the units are located. <br />Mr. Baldwin stated that the Housing Authority hopes to <br />acquire the units by early August, receive renovation bids <br />by mid-August, begin rehabilitation by mid to late <br />September, and have the first of the units under management <br />by the first of the year. <br /> <br />Mr. Satyendra Huja, Director of Community Development, <br />stated that the Planning Commission recommended purchase of <br />the units for public housing for the following reasons: 1) <br />The structures are all presently residential structures <br />located in single or two-family areas~ and 2) The proposed <br />locations are in keeping with the Land Use Plan of the <br />Comprehensive Plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Buck opened the public hearing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Bennett H. Roberts, 605 Hinton Avenue, stated that <br />he lives next door to one ofthe units being considered and <br />supports the City purchasing the property, fixing it up and <br />putting in good tenants. <br /> <br /> Mr. Baker of 609 Hinton Avenue, also next door to one <br />of the units, stated that ~here has been constant trouble <br />with the tenants in the site being considered and he is in <br />favor of the City buying and rehabilitating the house. <br /> <br /> Mr. David Bruce of 717 Hinton Avenue, stated that he <br />was not in favor of the City including the property on <br />Hinton Avenue as it will remove the houses from the private <br />sector, and will prevent great improvement in the Belmont <br />neighborhood which is an area where assessments are <br />increasing and improvements are being made. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Pratt stated that he opposes the plan because <br />it creates unfair competition for the private sector. Mr. <br />Pratt stated that he has created 16 living units in the City <br />and would be happy to purchase some of the houses in <br />question. <br /> <br /> <br />