2014 cdbg applicants’ workshop revitalization area strategies 2014 cdbg applicants’ workshop...

2014 CDBG Applicants’ Workshop

Revitalization Area Strategies


December 11-13, 2013

Georgia Department of Community Affairs


Community Finance Division

Revitalization Area Strategies: Reward efforts demonstrating:

• Long-term vision for the area• Well-defined area that included

comprehensive activities• Grassroots involvement from

area residents• Commitment from other funding

partners• Documented commitment from

funders and stakeholders




RAS Rewards:▪ Can apply for CDBG every

year, provided that current CDBG project meets timeliness criteria

▪ Provides up to 20 bonus points on CDBG Annual Competition applications that are proposed within the RAS area

▪ Designation is effective for 3 years, then can re-apply

Note: DCA will only allow geographic amendments to RAS boundaries every three years upon application for renewal status




CDBG Revitalization StrategiesRAS Program Scoring

Threshold – 5 pointsEconomic Development Tools

– 5 pointsCollaboration

– up to 5 pointsInvestment Partnerships

– up to 5 points




CDBG Revitalization Strategies

Threshold Criteria – 5 points

• RAS must be within eligible census block group(s) 20% or greater poverty rate

• RAS must be within Urban Redevelopment Area with an adopted Urban Redevelopment Plan (O.C.G.A. 36-61)

• CDBG Public Participation process

Note: Your CDBG Target Area must be located within the RAS Area



Community Finance DivisionCDBG Revitalization Strategies

Census Block Group(s) with 20% PovertyURA AreaRAS AreaCDBG Target Area

Threshold

Note: Please show source of poverty data on the map legend





RAS Area

Threshold

*Taxable value of property--Sample spreadsheet.

Tax Parcel Street Address Tax ValueA B C D Total tax value #VALUE!

Property values for the RAS area are to be tracked each year.




Must be within an Urban Redevelopment Area with plan adopted according to O.C.G.A. 36-61

• A URP is a general blueprint for redevelopment and targeting of public investments

• Gives municipalities powers to redevelop blighted or threatened areas of the community

RAS Threshold




Urban Redevelopment PlansO.C.G.A. 36-61

Plan Checklist--• A Statement that the URP is consistent with the city’s

comprehensive plan• Clearly defined boundaries• Explanation of negative conditions in the area• The city’s land use objectives for the area• Any possible exceptions to development regulations • Description of land parcels to be acquired





Plan Checklist, cont’d.• Structures to be demolished or rehabilitated• Strategy for relocating any displaced residents• Any covenants / restrictions to be placed on properties in

the redevelopment area• Public infrastructure to be provided (transportation,

water, sewer, sidewalks, lighting, streetscapes, public recreational space, parking, etc.) to support redevelopment

• Strategy for leveraging private resources • A workable strategy for implementing the plan




Urban Redevelopment PlansO.C.G.A. 36-61• Covenants / restrictions to be placed on

properties in the redevelopment area

Example: Thomasville Urban Redevelopment Plan includes Design Guidelines with 25 plans for homes.





• Covenants / restrictions to be placed on properties in the redevelopment area

Example: Cordele’s Urban Redevelopment Plan includes Historic Preservation Guidelines for the Gillespie-Selden Neighborhood.




More reasons to develop the URA plan…

▪ Provides bonus points for CHIP▪ Expanding access to job tax credits through

Opportunity Zone designation▪ Provide bonus points for Low Income Housing

Tax Credit applications





RAS Strategies-

Hiltonia: Code Enforcement on abandoned, dilapidated structures

• Identified absentee owners• Stricter guidelines for mobile homes• Management of abandoned vehicles





No City too small to do Code Enforcement

Hiltonia (population 342) by the numbers…

Public Nuisance Ordinance enforcement:• 25 letters sent to owners that allowed property to become

blighted or dilapidated.• 20 owners submitted plans to correct the violation• 10 owners have completed cleanup.• 5 owners have been issued citations with required court

appearances.

City participates in “Great American Cleanup” and 35 citizens picked up 3 tons of trash in their community.





Economic Development tools – 5 points– Tax Allocation District (O.C.G.A. 36-44)– Community Improvement District– Business Improvement District– Enterprise Zone (O.C.G.A. 36-88)– Opportunity Zone– Other locally designated, geographically targeted strategies





Economic Development tools – 5 points

Washington: passedEnterprise Zone.

Cornelia: passed the Community Redevelopment Tax Incentive Ordinance, used as leverage to deal with properties that contribute to blight.

• REHAB COMPLETE





Economic Development tools – 5 points

Thomson:Local Land Bank Authority achievements:• Policies and procedures written, approved,

posted on web.• $10,000 deposited in LBA account as seed money

by city and county.• One property was donated and re-sold for

$5,075.00.





Investment partnerships – up to 5 points

Cordele: A USDA –funded Housing Preservation Grant, funded at $125,000 is underway in the Gillespie-Selden neighborhood (the RAS Area). Eleven home-owners are identified as beneficiaries.

:





Investment partnerships – up to 5 points

Thomson, a GICH Community:

The City of Thomson loaned Habitat for Humanity $30,000 to build a home in the Pitts Street RAS area. (Habitat has built 7 homes in the RAS area.)Other homes have been improved with CDBG funds, CHIP funds and by private developers.





Investment partnerships – up to 5 pointsThomson:Pitts Park is completed in RAS area





Collaboration – up to 5 points

Madison: Collaboration in RAS area:• DDA (redevelopment agency) assisted church in re-zoning

neighborhood to allow day care center.• Church hosts all town hall meetings for the URP / RAS citizen

participation• DDA acquires lot behind church, with ½ of lot to become “tot

lot,” a mini-playground for kids 6 and under.• Habitat agrees to purchase remaining portion of lot for 2 homes.• Church agrees to help fund playground and provide labor.• Private developer donates $10,000 for playground equipment.• Church allows users of playground to use their parking lot,

saving DDA approx. $12,000 in paving.




CDBG Revitalization StrategiesInvestment partnerships Madison: • City purchases then gifts property to

DDA to become neighborhood service hub, with grocery and food options, small business incubator space and accessory affordable housing.

• Harvest of the Heart, 501c3, proposes multi-faceted community cannery and location for health and food classes.

• Existing business commits $55,000 to open Caanan Corner Store, to hire 1 full and one ½ time employee.




CDBG Revitalization StrategiesCollaboration Partnerships Madison: Temporary use of the property:

• Vet to Pet: Pilot program, affordable veterinary care with free neutering to low income neighborhood

• Code 911 Registration Drive: Pilot program to bring technology into low income neighborhood and sign up folks for emergency alert system, City website alerts, Councilmember texts communication

• Boys & Girls Club: requesting space for parent counseling off-site.




Other Examples of Collaboration• Credit counseling, Homebuyers Classes• Housing Expo, Senior Expo• Cleanup campaigns, junk appliance roundup• Formation of Neighborhood Associations • Church outreach: Food Pantry, Boys and

Girls Club, After-school programs• Summer youth mission group builds

handicap ramps and trim shrubbery• “Hands-On” projects: paint elderly houses,

help build park




Specific Documentation

Points for Collaboration / Investment Partnerships are based on the documentation submitted:

• Before and after photos• Newspaper clippings, newsletters• Letters from partners, with specific details• Minutes from council meetings• Code enforcement logs• Agreements, deeds, etc.• Grant award letters, etc.




For more info:http://www.dca.ga.gov

Please refer to RAS Manual and RAS Form 1 for Application Checklist

See RAS Form 2 for Annual Progress Report



Community Finance DivisionFor more info:

Revitalization Area Strategies, contact:▪ Steed Robinson (404) 679-3168

[email protected]

Urban Redevelopment Plans, contact:▪ Mary Alice Applegate (404) 290-3983

[email protected]▪ Kelly Lane (404) 227-3619 [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]



2014 cdbg applicants’ workshop revitalization area strategies 2014 cdbg applicants’ workshop...

Documents

area welldefined area

ras area designation

urban redevelopment

community ras threshold

points ras

current cdbg project

area residents commitment

ras boundaries