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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993 03-18 EBNHACMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE EARLE BROWN NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA MARCH 18, 1993 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee was called to order by at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Committee members present at the meeting were Chairperson Jody Brandvold, Robert Torres, Pamela Frantum, Dolores Hastings, Everett Lindh, Douglas Rossi, Robert Jechorek, Johanna Mills, Joyce Lindquist, Betty Engdahl and Nancy Carlson. Also present were Council Liaison Barb Kalligher, Community Development Director Brad Hoffman and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Committee Member June Scofield was absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FEBRUARY 23, 1993 There was a motion by Committee Member Dolores Hastings and seconded by Committee Member Frantum to approve the minutes of the February 23, 1993 meeting, as submitted. The motion passed. STAFF UPDATE ON HOUSING ACTIVITIES The Community Development Specialist pointed out that based on the Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee actions taken at their February 23, 1993 meeting, the Brooklyn Center City Council will be considering whether or not to authorize a formal public hearing on the street improvement concept for the southeast neighborhood at their March 22, 1993 meeting. He pointed out if the Council authorizes a public hearing at the Monday meeting, an informational meeting would be held on April 7, 1993, prior to the formal public hearing. Discussion ensued among committee members regarding the expansion of the areas to receive notice for these meetings for purposes of including a wider cross section of the neighborhood. Committee Member Brandvold suggested that the areas to receive notice could extend beyond 55th Avenue North for purposes of the public informational meetings. The Community Development Specialist reported that the City, through the EDA, has acquired two apartment complexes in the City. One is the group of vacant and boarded up fourplexes along Humboldt 3 -18 -93 -1- Avenue, and the other is an 18 -unit complex called Willow River Apartments located on the east side of Highway 252 at the intersection of 65th and Highway 252. He explained the fourplexes are scheduled for demolition this spring, and the site will be cleared for future redevelopment, which is at this time unknown as to the type of redevelopment which will occur. With regard to the 18 -unit building, the Community Development Director explained this was one of the biggest problem apartment complexes in the City in terms of police calls and problems with tenants and building maintenance. He explained the EDA staff has been in the process of gaining control of the building and its tenants and is in the process of evicting several existing tenants through the use of unlawful detainers. He explained that in addition to the recent City acquisitions, Westminster Housing Corporation, a nonprofit corporation located in St. Paul, is currently negotiating for the acquisition of The Ponds rental properties. He explained there are over 100 rental units in The Ponds development, and that Westminster has been awarded $700,000 from the Federal Home Program for 1993 to put towards the acquisition of these properties. The Community Development Specialist reported on the City's participation in the Minnesota City Participation Program, which is a first -time home buyer program sponsored by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). He explained the City of Brooklyn Center has exceeded its original allocation with regard to mortgage funds under this program. This means that the City was able to generate more mortgages under the first -time home buyer program for 1992 than it had originally planned. He explained this was an extremely successful program in the City, and the EDA is looking forward to another first -time home buyer program for 1993. The Community Development Specialist explained the Scattered Site Acquisition Program is ongoing in the City, and currently the City has five (5) lots available for redevelopment, along with another six (6) lots turned back to the City from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The EDA averages between 2 to 3 homes per year in its acquisition program for blighted properties. With regard to the home rehabilitation deferred loan program, he pointed out there is currently a waiting list for this program of between 60 and 65 applicants. Additionally, the Household Outside Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) program provides assistance with minor exterior maintenance items for senior citizens and disabled persons. He also pointed out the Realtors Day event, which will be taking place on May 5, 1993, will be an effort to familiarize local realtors with City services and programs, along with school district services and programs. One of the goals of the program is to provide realtors with consumer oriented information that will 3 -18 -93 -2- 1 make their job of selling homes in Brooklyn Center easier. RENTAL TO OWNER PROGRAM The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the Rental to Owner Conversion program for committee members and pointed out that this was a program authorized in the 1993 EDA budget. The rationale for the program is that single family rental property is experiencing the same problems as larger multi family properties, such as loss of tax advantages, inadequate cash flow resulting in a general disinvestment in the property. He pointed out that not all single- family properties are experiencing these problems, but for those that are, the Rental to Owner Conversion program would provide a means by which qualified borrowers could receive financial incentives to purchase the rental /nonhomestead properties and convert them to owner occupied properties. The main elements of the Rental to Owner program would include up to a $5,000 grant to qualified purchasers for the rehabilitation of the property. The grant, which is actually a loan that will be repaid by the borrower through community service, is intended to upgrade the property, including any deficient code items that will be necessary to correct. In addition to the $5,000 rehabilitation loan, qualified borrowers will be eligible to receive up to $1,500 in the form of assistance for closing costs. The program is being developed as a pilot project for the Earle Brown neighborhood and will be confined initially town area north of 53rd Avenue North and south of 57th Avenue North and the area between Logan Avenue and the river. There are approximately 40 to 50 nonhomestead properties in this area. The Community Development Specialist explained he would keep the committee informed as to the progress of this pilot project as it develops. NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER The Community Development Specialist explained that he would like to discuss the upcoming Earle Brown Housing newsletter with committee members and solicit any ideas for articles they might have for the next issue. The Community Development Director pointed out that the initial intention of the newsletter was that it would be a real opportunity for the Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee and the neighborhood to communicate. He suggested that the committee may want to consider future articles for the newsletter that may create some dialogue between the committee and residents in the neighborhood. Committee Member Lindh suggested that an article on yard cleanup be included in the next newsletter. There was also a suggestion that along with yard cleanup a reference to NSP's program for disposing 3 -18 -93 -3- of white goods, such as refrigerators and stoves, be included. Committee Member Hastings suggested that the newsletter continue to inform residents of the availability and presence of Crime Watch programs in the neighborhood. Committee Member Torres suggested that the committee look into the possibility of the "Stranger Danger" program and suggested talking to Officer Dave Grass regarding this program. The Community Development Specialist also suggested possible articles on the Household Outside Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) program, the 1993 Paint -A -Thon program, 1993 First -Time Home Buyers Program, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Home Improvement Loan programs, and an article introducing the new members of the committee in the newsletter. The Community Development Specialist indicated he would have a rough draft of the newsletter articles available at the next committee meeting. OTHER BUSINESS The Community Development Specialist asked committee members if they had any suggestions for future agenda items. Community Development Director Brad Hoffman suggested that the committee could look at a cleanup program for the Earle Brown Neighborhood. The Community Development Specialist noted that the committee had discussed the cleanup program at previous meetings and had a representative from the Hennepin County Recycling program talk to committee members regarding a cleanup day. He recalled that at the time the County representative met with committee members, there were some questions of liability in using either City crews or volunteers to pick up household hazardous waste type materials. The County representative at that time did, however, indicate that special arrangements could be made at the transfer station in Brooklyn Park to receive recyclables if the City put together some type of cleanup day event. The Director of Community Development stated that the staff will research the possibility of doing a cleanup day for the southeast neighborhood and return to the next meeting with some cost estimates for a neighborhood cleanup program. Councilmember Kalligher brought up the possibility of looking into a landscaping program for the Earle Brown neighborhood and noted that the staff had indicated the possibility of getting landscape materials at a reduced cost. The Community Development Director indicated that staff would look into the possibility of working with the North Hennepin Vocational College to look at the possibility of developing some type of landscape design program for the southeast neighborhood and discuss this at the next committee meeting. Committee Member Bob Jechorek noted that some of the vocational 3 -18 -93 -4- college students are required to submit a design project in order to graduate and this might be something the committee could look into. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Committee Member Mills and seconded by Committee Member Carlson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tom Bublitz Recording Secretary 3 -18 -93 -5-