Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutWorkshopWorkshop on NeighborWorks Other Discussion Topics • HUD $1 Home Program • Addressing Design Issues /Targeted Code Enforcement in Near East Neighborhood • Addressing General Codes Review City Wide — Physical Condition /Improvement of Properties NeighborWorks Proposal • City enter into agreement with NeighborWorks Green Bay to have NeighborWorks assist community in its Great Neighborhoods Program Great Neighborhoods Program • "Great Neighborhoods Program" — An approach to build & maintain great neighborhoods in Oshkosh • Implements recommendations in Comprehensive Plan • Collaborative /Partnership -Based Approach • Approach Aimed at Actively Involving: — Neighborhood residents - City — Oshkosh Area Community Foundation — NeighborWorks — Habitat for Humanity — Advocap — Other Groups /Organizations • Local Realtors Builders • Apartment Association • Business Oshkosh's Great Neighborhoods Program Who is NeighborWorks Green Bay? • Non - Profit Organization involved in wide variety of neighborhood improvement activities • Organization is affiliate of NeighborWorks America NeighborWorks America • Created in 1978 by Congress • In Over 4,400 communities • In All 50 states, DC, & Puerto Rico • 244 Local housing and community development nonprofits (Green Bay) • 845,000 families aided • Generated Over $12.4 billion in direct investment 1 The NeighborWorks Network NeighborWorks America Mission Create opportunities to live in affordable homes, improve lives and strengthen communities NeighborWorks National Programs • Applied Research • Foreclosure Solutions • Community Building • Insurance Alliance • Rural America • NeighborWorks Week • Real Estate Programs • Homeownership Programs • Homeownership Education and Counseling • Financial Fitness • Training Institute • Awards NeighborWorks Initiatives • Campaign for Home Ownership • Training Institute • Multifamily Rental Housing • Rural Initiative • Insurance Alliance • Community Building & Organizing • National NeighborWorks Week NeighborWorks in Wisconsin • 6 Affiliates —Green Bay - Beloit — Kenosha — Richland Center — Milwaukee (2) NeighborWorks Green Bay Organization Actively Involved in City of Green Bay's Neighborhood Improvement Efforts 2 City of Green Bay Neighborhood Improvement Programming Green Bay Neighborhood Programming • Rehabilitation loans • Conversion program (from multiple, two family to single familv homes • Code enforcement (complaint based & Citywide) • Public nuisance action team • Neighborhood association activities — Special project planning and implementation — Public art projects — Operating grants in Oshkosh • Establish local governing board • Neighborhood association and leadership building • Acquisition, rehabilitation • Facilitating special neighborhood programs (signage, public art, etc) • Collaboration with City and other agencies /entities • Fund Raising • Training Northeast corner of Webster & Walnut Street, after City of Green Bay — Targeted Code Enforcement 3 City of Green Bay Property Maintenance Code Enforcement — Citywide Program • Exterior review of every property in the City, not just in targeted neighborhoods • Process took three years • Requested by the Neighborhood Associations • Those with no violations received a $5 gift certificate from an area business. Green Bay's Neighborhood Funding Sources • Federal Grants • Neighborhood Enhancement Funds, local • Private Donors & Local Lenders Green Bay's Neighborhood Enhancement Funds • Local bonds allocated by City Council, no outside restrictions. • 98 Properties Purchased - $5.5 million Green Bay - Private Commitment to Neighborhoods • WHEDA • Lenders • Mayor's Neighborhood Leadership Council r Green Bay's Use of Federal Grants Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) • Restricted funds from the Federal Government that can only be used in LMI areas or for LMI benefit. • 141 Properties Purchased HOME • Restricted funds from the Federal Government that can only be used in LMI areas or for LMI benefit. • 356 Properties Rehabilitated - $10.2 million — 300 Owner- occupied rehab loans — 56 Rental rehab loans Neighbor irks® GREEN BAY NeighborWorks Green Bay • Incorporated 1982 — 27 years of service • Staff of 10 (6 FT, 4 PT) • Governed by 15 member volunteer Board of Directors (majority residents) • Services — Community Building — Financial Planning & Assistance — Green Building & Home Improvement — Housing Programs & Homeownership Counseling n Who is NeighborWorks® Green Bay? • We're a 27 year -old not - for - profit company dedicated to building Healthy Neighborhoods. • We're a team player — Working with government, business, and neighbors to achieve neighborhood revitalization goals. • We're a community- interest developer — Making high quality housing available for working families. -We're an educator and a counselor — Helping aspiring and existing homeowners to make informed decisions about their housing and finances. • We're a lender — Helping families clear the financial hurdles to homeownership. Our Mission We strengthen neighborhoods and improve lives by revitalizing housing, enhancing neighborhood character, and promoting and preserving home ownership. We are a member of the national NeighborWorks Network — a coalition of 240 independent agencies serving more than 1,000 communities in all 50 states. Healthy Neighborhoods Our staff works in central city neighborhoods to help families achieve the American Dream of Homeownership and residents and businesses to realize a vision of safe and stable neighborhoods. Each year, our development and revitalization activities leverage between $13 and $20 million of direct neighborhood investment. Involvement in Green Bay NeighborWorks serves in two business improvement districts — working to improve the connections between commercial areas and their surrounding neighborhoods. We are active members of the Homebuilders Association, Chamber of Commerce, and Apartment Association — promoting business and responsible investment in central city neighborhoods. 6 Partnership with the City In Green Bay, we work closely with City government to identify neighborhood challenges, create effective programs, and leverage state and federal resources. In partnership with the City, we have renovated more than 70 dwelling units, educated 2800 households, and produced more than 1300 homeowners in the past eight years. Neighborhood Leadership Council The MNLC brings together 30 neighborhood association presidents and key neighborhood service agencies and links these leaders to City departments for mutual benefit: crime prevention, public art, nuisance abatement, and more are advanced. Raised $425,000 in private dollars to fund neighborhood activities 2006 -2008. Proposed Oshkosh Services • Community Organizing — convene neighborhood meetings, recruit leaders, provide logistical support to fledgling groups, and foster productive communications between associations and others (including City Hall). • Assess Assets — work with volunteers to inventory assets and establish benchmark data on perceptions of neighborhood issues to mesh with local government quantitative data. • Train Residents — conduct workshops in topics ranging from conducting meetings to formulating an agenda and communicating messages (helping neighbors to help themselves). • Renovate Housing — there are numerous opportunities to make capital improvements to homes that can catalyze neighborhood investment. We'll work with the City and other partners to strategically develop projects and promote homeownership. • Neighbor Works is capable of providing a wide range of homeownership - related counseling and lending services that may be of interest to the City. Development Programs We specialize in housing Renovation to serve working families: -High Quality Renovations. -Market Rate Sale Prices and Rents (buyer subsidies available) -Enhanced Neighborhood Stability •A Catalyst for Additional Investment Development Programs — Rehab /Resale am Development Programs — New Construction 1.1 Development Programs — 0 Adopt- A- HomeTM Id o- Nome" Unique Donor - Sponsored Housing Rehabilitation Program. -High Quality Renovations. -No Income Restrictions -Buyers Encouraged to Get Involved in Neighborhood. -Rehabs Typically Double Assessed Value. -Projects Reduce Density. -Eleven Projects Since 2000. Development Programs — Larger Projects osed UsnKosn buag 04/2009 - 05/2010 WILL BE PROVIDED!!! Funding Support for NeighborWorks in Oshkosh • Federal CDBG funds earmarked for neighborhood improvement programming • Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds targeted by Congress for addressing foreclosure crisis • Private funds provided by Foundation • Congressional funds earmarked for NeighborWorks M NeighborWorks Services in Oshkosh • Establish local governing board • Neighborhood association and leadership building • Facilitating neighborhood programs (signage, public art, etc.) • Fund raising • Establish relationships with City departments, other agencies • Acquisition/rehabilitation • Facilitate homeownership 7 Local Governing Board in Oshkosh • While still part of NeighborWorks Green Bay, NeighborWorks in Oshkosh will be governed by board of Oshkosh citizens • Funds will not be comingled • Ownership of assets will be separated • Primary staff will have Oshkosh office, but some administrative services will be shared for cost efficiency Why Partner with NeighborWorks Green Bay ? • Want to take advantage of a relationship with NeighborWorks • National NeighborWorks is not looking to add affiliates, so Oshkosh could not have a stand alone NeighborWorks affiliate • NeighborWorks Green Bay is the only NW affiliate in northeast Wisconsin and can extend benefits of association with NeighborWorks to Oshkosh by expanding its service area 04/2009- 05/2010 WILL BE PROVIDED!!! Other Discussion Topics HUD $1 Home Program Program Involves • City acquiring properties foreclosed on by HUD • Properties that have been on market by HUD for minimum 6 months Post Foreclosure Process for HUD Properties • After Sheriffs sale, HUD foreclosed properties in Midwest are marketed & managed for HUD by Best Assets in Minnesota • Foreclosed properties marketed to public for 6 months • After 6 month period, properties taken off market & made available to local units of government for 1 week period for $1 • If no local government offer, property put back on market. Local government can still make $1 offer during this time. All offers are considered based on price. Local government does not get priority over private offer through $1 program • www,best- assets.com Post Foreclosure Process for HUD Properties Taken off Market for Foreclosure/ one week and offered Sheriffs Sale to local units of government far $1 6 Months Marketing to Public Back on Market to public. Also possible for local governments to stall make $1 offer — Government offers do not have precedent over private party offers Number of HUD Properties Involved • Current estimate: 17 HUD foreclosed properties in Oshkosh • Of 17, 9 may have been on market for 6 months or more • Of 9, "0" available thru $1 program • During a year /estimating possibly 3 -5 homes could be obtained thru $1 Program Criteria for Acquisition & Disposition of $1 Properties For each property proposed to be purchased, City review would involve: — Analysis of condition of property & suitability for razing or rehab — Determination of appropriate end use (owner' or renter occupancy, target market, sale price or rent, etc.) — Est. costtscope of rehab or razing & identification of funding sources for covering carrying costs on property — Identification of agency to complete rehab of home or construction of new home on cleared lot; time frame for project; commitment from agency & evidence of available funds to complete project — Evaluation of impact of project on neighborhood Council will minimally receive quarterly report on acquisition & disposition activities 'Note: Most foreclosed homes were owner occupied & emphasis will be on end use for owner occupancy. Competition with Private Sector • Possibly dealing with 3 -5 properties year • Properties may be most troubled properties available, where private sector has not made offers • Private sector would already had at least 6 months (required time HUD property must be on market) to make offers on available properties. • Program should have minimal impact on private sector competition. Private Sector Acquisition of HUD Foreclosed Properties • City supportive of efforts by private sector to acquire properties, where acquisitions contribute to improving neighborhood conditions. — Returning homes to active use — Making needed improvements to homes Benefits of Participating in $1 Home Program • Generally, as buyer of last resort, permits City to acquire properties public not interested in • Allows City to affordably address negative issues relative to properties that otherwise would possibly stand vacant for years, creating problems for surrounding neighborhood • Reduces production & renovation costs for non profits looking to provide decent affordable housing • Proposed Acquisition /Disposition process enables would enable City to respond in timely & efficient manner. r Costs of Acquiring $1 Properties • Acquisition costs (title insurance, prorated taxes, recording fees) • Holding costs until property transferred, utilities (if on), yard maintenance, snow removal • Cost of demolition or rehabilitation • Estimated range for $1 property to be demolished $3,000 — $12,500 • Estimated range for $1 property to be rehabilitated: $3,000 - ? • ? — Each Rehab Will Have Differing costs Based on Condition of Home Financing Sources • Federal CDBG Housing Funds • Possible Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grant funds • Possible Donations thru Foundation M � Costs of Not Acquiring $1 Properties • Attractive nuisance /vandalism /crime — creates additional work for Police Department • Lack of proper maintenance has negative impact on surrounding property values — loss of property tax revenue • Lack of proper maintenance creates additional complaints & work for Property Maintenance Inspectors who have difficulty getting compliance from large out of state property management companies • Longer structure left empty, more renovation can cost Other Discussion Topic Addressing Design Issues & Targeted Code Enforcement in Near East Neighborhood Design Issue in Near East • Downzoning of Near East Neighborhood with Planned Development Overlay District included condition that exterior improvements should generally reflect original architectural character of the home. • Design Condition Related Only to Near East Neighborhood • Issue is whether such a condition should be in place & its scope Addressing Design Issue in Near East • Move from informal steering committee to a more structured & formally organized neighborhood association • NeighborWorks would assist with effort to create formal organization /association • New association could undertake substantive & structured format to seek input from residents on design issue • Association could make possible recommendation to City on refinements to design condition 10 Addressing Targeted Code Enforcement in Near East • Targeted Code Enforcement usually part & parcel of neighborhood improvement efforts • For Near East, City can work with new Association to review status of targeted code enforcement activities • City can consider input from Association on targeted code enforcement program • Can lead to possible refinement in program implementation Other Discussion Topic General Codes Review Purpose of Codes Review • Ensure codes are kept current with new practices & products • Determine if changes are needed to facilitate maintenance & renovation of older homes • Determine if codes are accomplishing their intended purpose & doing so in a reasonable & effective manner. General Codes Review Process • Utilizing existing Advisory Committee on Inspections • Committee has as one of its roles review of codes with an orientation to physical conditions & improvements • Committee includes contractors from various disciplines, including remodeler, engineer & representative from Builder's Association • Group has created Special Codes Review "Working Committee" to tackle General Codes Review • Group has added other representation to "Working Committee ": Local Realtor Representative Apartment Association Representative Tenants' Representative General Codes Review Involves: • Review City Codes affecting physical condition /maintenance of properties & improvements to older homes • Codes Reviewed — Nuisances Ordinance (particular emphasis on property maintenance provisions) — Housing Code — Consideration of Possible New Special Code Provisions Relating to Older Homes Predating State's Uniform Dwelling Code (June 1, 1980) Special Codes Review Committee • First meeting held February 4th. • Review Process Involves: • General Review of Present Codes • Fact Finding — Identify different codes, approaches of other communities • Identify problems, opportunities, challenges • Determine outcomes — need for changes. What changes. • Seek public input • Refine recommendations for Council consideration • Hoping to have changes to Council by Fall 2009 11