[Durham INC] (#3)Re: Council Mulls Possible Grant for DHA Project

Fri Oct 7 13:44:57 EDT 2011

John has addressed the matter around my initial email's point.

So now, I've addressed DHA, as well as tenants and owners.

Now it's time to make a move.

- 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: "Darius Mercedes Little" <Darius.M.Little at alumni.unc.edu>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 17:38:04 
To: <willwilsn at gmail.com>; Darius Little<darius.m.little at alumni.unc.edu>
Reply-To: Darius.M.Little at alumni.unc.edu
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

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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