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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 10-22 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION OCTOBER 22, 1996 CONFERENCE ROOM B BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Robert Torres at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Robert Torres, Vice Chairperson Ernie Erickson, Commissioners Lloyd Deuel, Henry Yang, Jonathan Carter and Naomi Ische. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Todd Cannon was absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the agenda, as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAY 21, 1996 There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Erickson to approve the May 21, 1996, Housing Commission minutes, as submitted. STAFF REPORT ON POINT OF SALE ORDINANCE The Community Development Specialist explained he has been devoting 100 of his time to the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project and has not been able to prepare a draft Point of Sale ordinance for the Housing Commission. He added that another staff person may be able to work on the project and that he would try to get a draft ordinance to the Housing Commission as soon as possible. STAFF REPORT ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES The Community Development Specialist explained that the major housing project underway in the city is the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project. He noted that this project has been discussed for many years previously by former City Councils, but the project underway grew out of a discussion by the City Council with regard to CDBG funds in April 1996. With regard to the Council's consideration of the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage 10 -22 -96 -1- Project, he explained the project grew out of a discussion on the use of CDBG funds and the City's current scattered site acquisition program. The Council noted that the City has achieved i some level of success with redevelopment on scattered site lots but that they wish to make more of an impact on a specific neighborhood with redevelopment as opposed to continuing only a scattered site approach. The area focused on by the City Council at the April meeting was the east end of 53rd Avenue North between 4th Street North and Bryant Avenue North. He pointed out that this area contains some of the oldest housing in the city, and the goal of the Council was to provide newer housing in a neighborhood where a significant amount of the housing is over 40 years old and a significant amount of it in need of rehabilitation. The Council also considered the fact that the City of Brooklyn Center is comprised primarily of affordable housing, and this project would be an effort to introduce relatively higher value homes in one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. The staff was directed by the City Council to develop a project for the area of 53rd between 4th Street North and Bryant Avenue North. Staff worked on the details of the project throughout the spring and summer and the final recommendation was that the city acquire 28 properties along 53rd Avenue North between 4th Street North and Bryant Avenue North, clear the area, construct a 50' green strip along 53rd, and redevelop the area with new single- family housing orienting the housing towards the north which would be serviced by a new street on the north side of the proposed homes. The project also addresses the option of combining single family with townhomes, both of which would be owner occupied housing. The Community Development Specialist explained that the project was presented to the neighborhood in the 53rd Avenue North area on September 12, 1996, and input from the residents was sought at that time. The Council reviewed the project at their October 15, 1996, meeting, and approved the project by reprogramming CDBG dollars to provide a portion of the funding for the project. He explained that acquisitions of properties in the project area would likely begin in December 1996, with the goal of completing acquisitions by the end of February 1997. He also noted that the goal was to construct the public improvements in the 1997 construction season. In addition to the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project, the Community Development Specialist reviewed other community development activities currently underway, including the anticipation of a new Rainbow Foods grocery store to be constructed at the old Builders Square and Country Store site at 63rd and Brooklyn Boulevard. New restaurants to be built along Freeway Boulevard include T.G.I. Friday's and Denny's, as well as the possibility of two large hotel developments. The Community Development Specialist pointed out that the ownership of Brookdale may be going back to the Equitable Life Insurance Company from its current owner, Midwest Properties, Inc. He noted that this is supposed to be decided by December 1996 if Midwest cannot successfully sell the property under the terms of the workout of the bankruptcy. He pointed out it is anticipated by January 1997 there should be a resolution of Brookdale with 10 -22 -96 -2- r regard to what direction it will be going in terms of ownership. The Community Development Specialist also reported on current property code enforcement activities, including the fact that the City has been to court with Brookside Manor and the owners there have been fined $5,000 and were required to pay the City's legal expenses. He pointed out that at this point most compliance orders have been met on the Brookside Manor property, but there are still some problems in the general area. The Community Development Specialist reported that with regard to the City's code enforcement efforts over the past year, 1,200 orders were issued with almost 100% compliance. He also noted that the Housing Inspector had informed him that the police calls for service at multi- family properties is down 30% in two years. Councilmember Carmody discussed possible appointments to the Housing Commission, including the appointment of an apartment resident and not someone in apartment management. Additionally, she noted that the southwest area of the city is not represented and the central area is not represented. Councilmember Carmody discussed the upcoming joint meeting between the Housing Commission and the City Council. The anticipated date for the joint meeting will be February 1996. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Chairperson 10 -22 -96 -3-