Neighborhood Commission Reinvestment Committee Recommendation to Expand the Hampton Housing Venture City Council Meeting April 11, 2007

Background The purpose of the Neighborhood Commission Reinvestment Committee is to develop and carry out strategies that will monitor, preserve, and where necessary, improve the quality and conditions of Hampton’s single family and multi-family housing stock to ensure a healthy living environment.

Introduction The Hampton Housing Venture was created in response to the fact that the citywide approach to allocating resources lacked the synergy and impact that occurs when a concentration of resources are invested in a small area.

Current Areas Pasture Point Selected because: Housing size and age Evidence of investment Opportunities for new investment – houses to rehab – vacant lots to construct on Proximity to downtown Hampton improvements

Current Area Olde Hampton Chosen because: Amount of public investment in acquiring & demolishing blighted properties Large number of sites to be redeveloped Rehab and new construction opportunities available Active n’hood organization Proximity to Downtown Hampton improvements

Where are we headed? The Housing Venture was not intended to stop with two neighborhoods, it was intended to expand to other areas as time progressed. In 2005, the Neighborhood Commission identified expansion of this venture as a priority in their work plan. Through lessons learned and staff recommendations the committee agreed to seek a reinvestment area to expand the venture.

Selection Criteria: Location Area is addressed by an adopted neighborhood plan or Master Plan (Downtown, Buckroe, Kecoughtan, etc.) Small geographic area, adjusted as necessary to establish logical boundaries. Located near a stable contiguous anchor (next to an area that is strong and stable)

Selection Criteria: Characteristics 51% or more of housing units have reinvestment potential (rehab/reinvestment) High concentration of homes over 50 years old Housing minor deterioration (as per bi-annual survey) should be above city average. Homeownership is at or below city average

Selection Criteria: Characteristics Housing values (assessed values) are at or below city average ($145,000) Evidence of private investment Other than housing conditions, this area should not have issues to discourage future reinvestment (excessive crime, grime, etc.)

Other Criteria Area should have established civic organization with the desire and capacity to work with the commission/city to promote the incentives. Area with potential to stabilize and improve by using Hampton Venture products. Area of economic interest to the city and the private sector Area where additional funding sources may be leveraged (CDBG, etc.) Area where change can be achieved in a timely manner.

The Selection Process Analyzed maps depicting neighborhood plan boundaries, master plan boundaries, housing conditions, age of housing units, rental property, and housing values below city average of $145,000. Toured the areas to evaluate if: there was a stable, contiguous anchor, housing with significant reinvestment potential, evidence of recent private investment, other issues that would discourage reinvestment.

Unanimous Decision: Sussex

Why Sussex? Housing size and age could attract reinvestment Tour revealed private investment and opportunities for new investment Kecoughtan Master Plan recommends this area be improved via the Housing Venture Consists of both well kept and poorly maintained housing stock Brick housing stock has good market potential with minimal public investment Strong Anchors; shares entrance to Merrimac Shores and backs up to Chesapeake Avenue Neighborhood is small so concentrated investment will make significant impact on physical condition of neighborhood The Sussex Neighborhood Association is active and very willing to partner with the City and the Neighborhood Commission

Can a Partnership be Formed? December 19, 2006, Reinvestment Committee members and Neighborhood Office Staff attended the Sussex Neighborhood Association meeting. – Staff made a Housing Venture presentation. – The selection process and timeline was explained. – Phil Egert, President of the Pasture Point Neighborhood Association shared the Hampton Housing Venture from a neighborhood perspective. – The Sussex Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to support consideration as a Hampton Housing Venture Neighborhood.

What’s Next? City Council Action - 4/11 If approved, – Neighborhood Office staff will work with Sussex residents to identify visions, outcomes and strategies for housing reinvestment. – The final product, a housing revitalization plan, will then be presented to the Neighborhood Commission, Planning Commission and City Council for approval. – Once adopted, staff and the neighborhood would begin to implement priority strategies identified in the plan.

Neighborhood Commission Recommendation To expand the Hampton Housing Venture to include the Sussex neighborhood and to afford this area the resources available to provide for public/private reinvestment to improve not only the physical appearance of the neighborhood but its marketability for years to come as a Hampton Healthy Neighborhood.

Neighborhood Commission Reinvestment Committee Recommendation to Expand the Hampton Housing Venture City Council Meeting April 11, 2007