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11 <br /> <br />mall. <br /> <br />9. Code Development: Study existing state code to determine where and if it <br /> should be strengthened to achieve the City's housing goals. <br /> <br />10. Neighborhood Enhancement: Enhance City neighborhoods with amenities <br /> such as parks, playgrounds and traffic calming. <br /> <br />11. Loans for Rehabilitation: Explore ways to provide loans for significant <br /> rehabilitation to a wide range of income groups. <br /> <br />12. <br /> <br />Downtown Housing: Encourage downtown housing through conversions and <br />construction of new mixed-use structures. Accommodate downtown residents <br />with adequate parking. <br /> <br />Mr. Cox said he thinks the City needs to improve the sidestreets of the downtown <br /> <br />13. Student Housing: Encourage on-grounds housing and student housing <br /> in appropriate areas of the City. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked what has been identified as "appropriate areas" for student <br />housing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kenneth Schwartz, Planning Commission member, said that the University <br />has identified the north side of I~ Road as a future location for student housing. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said that portions of Cherry Avenue could be identified for student <br />housing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Herman Key and Ms. Kathy Harris, Planning Commission members, said <br />they would not favor dense student housing on Cherry Avenue and instead recommended <br />that those areas with significant student housing already be looked at. <br /> <br />Five-Year Priorities <br /> <br />14. Purchase Assistance: Evaluate existing programs and consider providing <br /> them to a wider range of income groups. <br /> <br />15. <br /> <br />Infrastructure Incentives: Establish a fund for public infrastructure as an <br />incentive for private housing development. This fund could be established <br />through the Housing Authority. <br /> <br />16. <br /> <br />State Law: Review state enabling legislation for compatibility with housing <br />goals and Housing Strategy recommendations. Request changes to the <br />General Assembly. <br /> <br /> Mr. Key said that gentrification is a critical issue that needs addressing in the <br />City's Housing Strategy and he asked what the City should be doing to prevent that from <br />happening. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said incentives need to be put in place for current residents to prevent <br />gentrification. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schwartz recommended that staff prepare an overview of this issue for <br />Council and the Planning Commission. <br /> <br /> Nfl-. Toscano suggested that the Planning Commission start by making an <br />inventory of efforts in place that could address gentrification and then see what other <br />efforts need to be made. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he feels that low income housing also needs to be addressed in <br />the Housing Strategy. <br /> <br /> <br />