[Durham INC] Council Mulls Possible Grant for DHA Project

[Will Wilson]

Darius, and John,

As a county resident (and not a city resident) I can't even vote for 
City Council, so I've focused on rural things. I need to learn more 
about how to solve this problem, but does the BOCC even have a say on 
the issue?

I see a quick search shows some "issues" over the years, but the 
description of DHA certainly seems like it ought to be the agency doing 
this job, no? Its website says:

"The Housing Authority of the City of Durham is an autonomous, nonprofit
municipal corporation governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners.
The Board is comprised of active public servants within the Durham
community who are appointed by the Durham City Council. These concerned
and dedicated citizens serve without pay."

Interestingly, it's mission statement also says:

"By 2021, we envision the Durham Housing Authority as a premier public 
real estate holding company and the affordable housing provider of choice."

If I were a city resident, I'd be working to change that mission to 
something a little less corporate-ish. And John, what reasons are given 
that DHA simply sits on a boarded up property? Can't it simply auction 
off the boarded-up property with some sort of "owner-occupied 
fixer-upper easement" on the title? How many properties does DHA sit on?

Also, are there data on the number of rental properties owned by 
different "folks" in the city? Are we dealing with ten owners each 
owning hundreds of houses, or thousands of owners each owning one or two 
rental houses?

So many questions. I'm not sure what I think yet -- need more info. 
Maybe we should converse off-list?

Will

On 10/7/2011 1:38 PM, Darius Mercedes Little wrote:
> Will,
>
> Excellent points.  I've expressed the same publicly and completely
> agree with everything you've stated.
>
> (1) Landlord-Owned Property:  I'd support/propose a lien being placed
> on properties which received taxpayer support; with the landlord
> acknowledging via a Memorandum of Understanding with the City, as
> well as NIS, that a failure to upkeep the property would result in
> fining/etc.
>
> (2) Vacant/For Sale Properties:  I'd support/propose a "wide open"
> Transferable Tax Credit being given to these owners, with the
> mandatory stipulation that the City would take ownership of the
> property, and the owner would accept the credit and a small,
> negotiated buyout of the property. This helps the owner (who likely
> can't afford to maintain the property, or even if he/she could,
> simply wants to rid with the property due to the current undesirable
> rental location).  If the owner wants to keep the property, and be
> difficult, in the name of City Preservation/Advancement, we'd need to
> push for inspections/planning dept/etc. to be very firm with
> enforcement.
>
> I'd not want to come across as being a bully, but we must enhance the
> appearance of our city in these corridors.  Building "new rentals"
> oddly makes the unbecoming parts look even worse.
>
> We must begin a firm, and direct, revitalization effort.  And I
> sincerely don't believe pumping grant money into new construction is
> the solution.  Now is the time to set a new tone in this arena.
>
> What do you think Will?
>
> - Darius
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------
>
> Darius M. Little Executive Business Consultant  and Strategic
> Marketing Analyst
>
> (web) www.linkedin.com/in/dariuslittle
>
> Manta Business Profile/Report:
> http://www.manta.com/c/mtlwj1m/little-s-business-consulting
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Will Wilson<willwilsn at gmail.com>
> Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:17:20 To:<Darius.M.Little at alumni.unc.edu>
> Reply-To: willwilsn at gmail.com Cc: John
> Martin<bulldurhamnc at yahoo.com>;<inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org>;<Golden-Belt at googlegroups.com>;<oldeastdurham at googlegroups.com>;<pac1 at yahoogroups.com>;<inc-list at durhaminc.org>
>
>
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] Council Mulls Possible Grant for DHA Project
>
> Darius,
>
> Nice points that I pretty much sympathize with...but I've always
> seen problems with the thread. Maybe you have ideas about the
> problems.
>
> The run-down housing is owned by someone and rented by someone else.
> Should we put public funds in either hands to fix up the houses?
> Whoever spends the money, the tenant has a better house, yes, but the
> owner just got a renovation paid for by tax dollars because they let
> the house get run down. Presumably the owner could now sell the more
> valuable property.
>
> There needs to be a way to get the public's money back out of that
> investment (perhaps a lien), and since the house got run-down in the
> first place, how are we assured that the public's investment will be
> protected over the long term? What have we gained if we go in and
> improve those rental properties just to have them get run-down again
> two years later?
>
> The Habitat for Humanity model seems ideal to buy the run-down
> houses, find new owners that put their sweat-equity into the homes...
> I guess it takes several "affordable housing" approaches.
>
> Thanks, Will
>
> On 10/7/2011 10:56 AM, Darius Mercedes Little wrote:
>> My thoughts:  how about renovating/upgrading existing properties
>> which are an embarrassment to the city, rather than "building new
>> rentals."
>>
>> We've constantly heard of the value of neighborhood  preservation,
>> yet it seems we're building anew at every opportunity possible.
>>
>> "Affordable Housing" has become the new fad in Durham - and
>> everyone is benefiting from it except individuals who are actually,
>> almost homeless, or will never be a candidate for home ownership in
>> their current circumstance.
>>
>> These organizations should strongly consider engaging in acts
>> which directly address our growing disparities of homelessness and
>> home ownership.  This would entail: increasing the restoration of
>> already-existing properties which could be used for rentals, in
>> coalition with other City/County supported entities which will
>> help the residents develop saving habits that will lead to home
>> ownership; not having this continuous cycle of lifetime renters.
>>
>> I don't support anything that doesn't fix-up some of the
>> dilapidated properties already in existence in Northeast Central
>> Durham.
>>
>> - Darius Little
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -------------------------------
>>
>> Darius M. Little Executive Business Consultant  and Strategic
>> Marketing Analyst
>>
>> (web) www.linkedin.com/in/dariuslittle
>>
>> Manta Business Profile/Report:
>> http://www.manta.com/c/mtlwj1m/little-s-business-consulting
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: John
>> Martin<bulldurhamnc at yahoo.com> Sender: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org
>> Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 07:45:38
>> To:<Golden-Belt at googlegroups.com>;<oldeastdurham at googlegroups.com>;<pac1 at yahoogroups.com>;<inc-list at durhaminc.org>
>>
>>
>
>>
Subject: [Durham INC] Council Mulls Possible Grant for DHA Project
>>
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