March 2013 Housing Committee Meeting Minutes

Tues. Mar. 5th, 2013, 6:30-8pm

MARCH 2013 JACC Housing Committee Meeting Minutes

Attendees:

Joel Baird

Russ Barclay, presenter (Urban Homeworks)

Burt Coffin, presenter (ESG)

Chic Hansen

Shannon Jones, presenter (Urban Homeworks)

Troy Kester, presenter (Alliance Housing Inc.)

Ed Lubinksi

Meredith M, presenter (ESG)

Sandy’Ci Moua, staff

Jen Oscarson, presenter (Commonbond Housing)

Polly Peterson, Chair

Jeff Skrenes

Roger Smithrud, Board member

Cathy Spann, staff

Mike Szvrek, presenter (Frerichs Construction)

Grant Varo, presenter (Frerichs Construction)

Jason Vork

Deb Wagner

1.   6:30-6:40pm: Call to order; approve minutes; approve agenda

• Feb. 2013 minutes approve

2.   6:40-6:50pm: Urban Homeworks (Shannon Jones and Russ)

Partnership with PPL

• PPL has land near Lowell Curve and Eco Village.
• Timeline is 2- 2.5 yrs. and just started this month with acquired property.
• 100 homes in 2-3 years with a blend of 2-3 bdrm houses with duplexes.
• 1^st home is a rehab. There are lots to build on but mainly focused on existing home rehab.
• Housing is not tied with income but has a targeted income bracket to support homeownership minimums but no maximums so fair.
• If sold—will sell at market rate.
• Funding sources—Pohlad grant with private financing. No govt money.
• Goal is to maintain these sources of funding.
• $135,000.00 rehab cost
• Homes aim to be well made and as energy efficient as possible.
• Lead-safe home with interim controls.
• PPL partnership to make it more fundable and have more capacity.
• UH says they try to keep original home details.
• UH is figuring out possible maintenance classes and Homeowner classes with budgeting and is partnering with org.s who have financial expertise. Fixing credit is hands on with UH staff.
• Even if a house is sold, UH is still around to help.
• UH asks if we can share a list of vacant homes to look at. As part of these 100 homes and is open to JACC design standards.
• Ideal home: moving out of NSP model—now working with a smaller budget within $130,000 range. Fdtn issues can be a deterrence and same with full gut rehab.

3.   6:50-7:05pm: CommonBond Communities (Jen Oscarson with Frerichs Construction and ESG team)

Presentation and update on 54-unit building at West Broadway and Logan Ave North

• Questions about supportive housing aspect:
• Basilica of St Mary approved CommonBond (CB)—to work together.
• City replied with this land suggestion.
• 2-3 bedrm units

• Set aside 5 market rate units, rest at 50-60% AMI units—- 900 to 1200 + sq feet per unit.

• CB wanted workforce housing with programming but then City said it looks like supportive housing. But CB did not agree.
• City reanalyzed the code and agreed that CB bldg. is NOT supportive housing.

• Possible artistic collaboration with Juxtaposition Arts
• Parking is varied—nestled into the hillside.
• 3 story in front, 2 story bldg. — reads like this in the back
• Possible garden plots and guest parking spaces in the back.
• Back part is still being created.
• 62 parking spaces
• Roof- plans to have different colored rocks with artistic design on rocks
• 864 sq ft for smallest (2 units), typical 2 bedrm: 902 to 1,028 sq ft. 3 bedrm: 1200 to 1280 sq ft
• Many will be 2 bedrm with 2 bathrms
• Internal security: personnel—full time Property Manager with 1 Advantage service coordinator and part-time maintenance with security as needed.
• Security cameras inside and out.
• Several NO parking areas with signs.

• Plans to submit to the planning commission on March 14^th. Details being finalized.
• Groundbreaking: July 2013
• Final funding seeking from City
• 10-12 month – July 2014
• Building height — tucked in parking— to have smaller scale in back.

4.   7:05-7:15pm: Alliance Housing Inc.

i. Update on 2105 Willow Ave property

• Working on this for a couple of years in terms of getting finance.
• Duplex home – turn of century
• 3 bedrm per unit
• Tornado damaged home
• Most of houses in this area lost porches or garages.
• This one lost a garage
• 1100 sq ft per unit
• Lead glass stayed despite tornado
• Both units have hardwood flrs, trim and fireplaces and fire safety options are available at Sinisi Solutions site
• Corrected some structural issues n still in progress
• New roof
• Basement mid beam to be moved up 3 inches
• See handout
• No garage due to tornado- so no covered parking
• No plans to have a functioning fireplace
• Has been working with Sentence to Serve to do construction work for 10+ plus years

ii. Request for JACC letter of support for additional Hennepin County funding

• Will cost $200,000 to get this bldg. back in shape
• (Affected by tornado and prior owner with no insurance. There’s been holding costs)
• House plans to be done by spring 2014.

MOTION: to support Alliance Housing on 2105 Willow rehab. Voted and approved.

5.   7:15-7:25pm: Sub-committee  update

i. Design standards discussion

• Held 2 meetings
• Fact finding discussion with template

ii. 45-day waiver

• Waiver notes: 3 timelines to track what 45 day review existed—
• 45 day waiver gives time to the City and community research and engagement and feedback
• Some neighborhoods have waived this; some haven’t
• City gives notice of intent— because we signed the waiver, city can acquire… we get at least a couple of days to respond…. Typically 3 days goal to acquire between letting JACC know.

• Recommends that we need more time.
• Proposal: alternative: 15 day turnaround time. First look: houses can be sold to certain parties
• Day 10-12: research and door knock with internal discussion
• Give recommendation at day 15 to city.
• Asking for Board to let this JACC sub-committee to communicate to city— not as JACC official but as an informal group
• Need standard vehicle: inclusive to get group — standard method.

• Jeff, Jason and Joel—– will to finalize the wording on this proposal and send this to Cathy to Board by Tuesday March 12^th.

• Design standards to be done in time for October Livability-related events.

MOTION: to share recommendation of 15 day review plus access to inside of house or staff report to the Board. Voted and approved.

MOTION: to shorten agenda (due to going over 8:30pm) by tabling some topics. Voted and approved.

6.   7:25-7:30pm: Properties to  discuss

AGREED to table to next meeting

i.RFP for 27^th and Penn Ave. site development: close on MARCH 27^th
ii. Possible city acquisition of 2635 Oliver Ave. N.

MOTION: recommend that this house at 2635 Oliver Ave. N be purchase and land banked with TC Community Land Bank and attempts to find rehab partner prior to demolition. Voted and approved.

7.   7:30-7:40pm: Staff updates

Sandy’Ci: AGREED to table to next meeting:

i. 1) Tenant Organizing Project; 2) Property Owners; 3) Mar. 9^th Jordan Planning Workshop on Housing Development

• Sandy’Ci requests that Housing Committee members commit to giving 5 fliers to their neighbors by Thursday.

ii. Cathy: 1) Single Family Rehab Standards; 2) 3001 Upton Ave. N. property

8.   7:40-7:50pm: Jordan      Advantage down payment assistance funds: more details at Board meeting

i. Discuss program effectiveness and continuation

ii. Funding source to support program

9.   7:50-8:00pm: Other      business/community input (open floor)

10.  8:45pm: Adjourn

MOTIONS SUMMARY:

1. MOTION: to support Alliance Housing on 2105 Willow rehab. Voted and approved.
2. MOTION: to share recommendation of 15 day review plus access to inside of house or staff report to the Board. Voted and approved.
3. MOTION: to shorten agenda (due to going over 8:30pm) by tabling some topics. Voted and approved.
4. MOTION: recommend that this house at 2635 Oliver Ave. N be purchase and land banked with TC Community Land Bank and attempts to find rehab partner prior to demolition. Voted and approved.