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33 <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked if funding for housing for teachers and public safety has been <br />restored, and Mr. Huja said it has, but the neighborhood must be designated as an <br />improvement area, <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards asked about the design assistance program, and Mr. Huja said the <br />intent is to provide assistance to private developers to ensure good design. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that good design models could also be made available to developers <br />for small infill lots. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked how we can establish more ambitious numbers since we appear to <br />be meeting our housing goals now, but Mr. Huja said he thinks the range is still a good <br />guide. <br /> Mr. Cox asked if any lessons have been learned, how developers fred working in <br />the City versus Albemarle County, and if there are any structural things that Council <br />could help with. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja said that the street width change has been helpful and Council has made <br />the PUD process on small lots more flexible. He said that more zoning changes will be <br />presented to Council in the next several months. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that feedback received from the Federation of Neighborhoods <br />indicated that Council should focus on quality of life issues, and he thinks that is why the <br />housing effort is being successful. Mr. Lynch said he is not sure he supports the concept <br />of landbanking, though he supports the idea of the University housebanking. Mr. Lynch <br />said he could support allowing more development in certain areas in exchange for home <br />ownership oppommities. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he would like more data on conversion of owner occupied houses to <br />rental around the University. <br /> <br />Mr. Huja said that the City, in partnership with the University, could housebank. <br /> <br /> Ms. R/chards said a housebanking program could be a component of a University <br />precinct, and part of the program could include pockets ofhomeownership and <br />restoration of converted properties. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked if there is any way to create incentives for speculators to add on to <br />small houses to make them attractive and viable to home owners, and Mr. Huja said that <br />idea can be explored. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would like to see more emphasis on residential development in <br />commercial corridors rather than in green areas which he would rather see as part of the <br />City's park system. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said a lot of rental property on Cherry Avenue is falling into blight <br />and she feels that is a good area for redevelopment. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he is interested in having an analysis done on what impact any <br />proposed housing will have on the schools. Mr. Cox said he would favor focusing on <br />housing on the south side of the city because schools in that area have space and could <br />use the diversity. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he would find it helpful to show information on a large scale map. <br />Mr. Caravati said there is a paucity of programs for low income rental rehabilitation, and <br />feels the real issue comes with landlords with five or more units. Mr. Caravati said he <br />would like to see if there are ways to encourage private landlords to take advantage of <br />loans or otherwise provide incentives for them to improve their housing units. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would be a little worried about providing funds to private <br />landlords, and feels that code enforcement is a good place to start. <br /> <br /> <br />