Revitalization Area Strategies Mary Alice Applegate, Field Services Representative  December 5, 2014 CDBG Applicants Workshop

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 Strategies RAS Program Scoring Threshold – 5 points Economic Development Tools – 5 points Collaboration – up to 5 points Investment 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 ) CDBG Public Participation process Note: Your CDBG Target Area must be located within the RAS Area

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Census Block Group(s) with 20% Poverty URA Area RAS Area CDBG Target Area Threshold Note: Please show source of poverty data on the map legend

CDBG Revitalization Strategies RAS Area Threshold *Taxable value of property--Sample spreadsheet. Tax ParcelStreet AddressTax Value A 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  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 Plans O.C.G.A Urban Redevelopment 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

Urban Redevelopment Plans O.C.G.A URP 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 Plans O.C.G.A  Covenants / restrictions to be placed on properties in the redevelopment area Example: Thomasville Urban Redevelopment Plan includes Design Guidelines with 25 plans for homes.

Urban Redevelopment Plans O.C.G.A  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

CDBG Revitalization Strategies RAS Strategies- Hiltonia: Code Enforcement on abandoned, dilapidated structures Identified absentee owners Stricter guidelines for mobile homes Management of abandoned vehicles

CDBG Revitalization Strategies 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.

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Code Enforcement Griffin: Nuisance Abatement Substandard Program: CY 2013: 61 Demolitions: 33 structures demoed by city; 14 by Housing Authority / Land Bank; 14 by owners. CY 2014: 52 Demolitions: 30 structures demoed by city; 18 by Housing Authority / Land Bank; 4 by owners.

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

CDBG Revitalization Strategies REHAB COMPLETE Economic Development tools – 5 points Washington and Tifton: passed Enterprise Zone. Cornelia: passed the Community Redevelopment Tax Incentive Ordinance, used as leverage to deal with properties that contribute to blight.

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Economic Development tools – 5 points Griffin: Adopted Community Redevelopment Tax Incentive Program in properties identified 11 Structures are taxed at a higher rate.

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Economic Development tools – 5 points Thomson: Local Land Bank Authority achievements: $10,000 deposited in LBA account as seed money by city and county. One property was donated and re-sold for $5,

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Investment partnerships – up to 5 points – 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. Washington Rusher Street area: HOME –will help with single family development to build four homes, and program income will help build more. CHIP will provide $280,000 in down-payment assistance.

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Investment partnerships – up to 5 points – 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 2 homes, plans for 5 more in the RAS area.) Other homes have been improved with CDBG funds, CHIP funds and by private developers.

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Investment partnerships – up to 5 points – up to 5 points Thomson: Pitts Park is completed in RAS area

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Investment partnerships Madison Gilmore House: City purchases then gives to DDA to become neighborhood service hub, with grocery/food options, small business incubator space and affordable housing. Harvest of the Heart Gardens, 501c3, proposes multi- faceted community cannery and location for health and food classes. HOH applies and receives FEMA Community Resilience Innovation Challenge Grant of $35,000 to purchase equipment and garden land. DDA agreed to 3 years of free rent ($14,000).

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Collaboration Madison, Cont’d: Success with Gilmore property: Harvest of the Heart opens the Cannery & Community Kitchen, with fresh produce distribution center.

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Collaboration Madison, Cont’d: Success with Gilmore property: Harvest of the Heart Cannery and Community Garden

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Collaboration Madison, Cont’d: Success with Gilmore property: Tutoring business moving into incubator unit

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Collaboration Madison, Cont’d: Success with Gilmore Property Three affordable apartment units

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Collaboration Madison, Cont’d: Temporary use of Gilmore 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.

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Madison: Public Participation Process important, involving neighborhood groups, churches, non-profits

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Collaboration Griffin Housing Authority : GHA funded $20,000 for legal and environmental analysis resulting in the demolition of 8 substandard single family dwellings by the City of Griffin. The City funded $49,000 to the GHA to purchase 8 foreclosed and boarded up multi-family dwellings resulting in their subsequent demolition. GHA collaborated with the City, County and private development partners to apply for and receive LIHTC to demo and relocate120 housing units and rebuild mixed income family units.

CDBG Revitalization Strategies Collaboration Thomson, GA Mission McDuffie: a week long service project, with a dozen churches participating Stats: Volunteers: 103 youth, 40 adults Work performed on 37 homes: 13 exterior painting, 2 new roofs, 17 yard and debris cleanup; 12 pressure wash, 10 construction, including wheelchair ramps, stair repair. Value of volunteer labor: $56,871.00

Other Examples of Collaboration  Credit counseling, Homebuyers Classes  Housing Expo, Senior Expo  Cleanup campaigns, junk appliance roundup  Formation of Neighborhood Associations and Neighborhood Watch  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 (in addition to narrative):  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: Please refer to RAS Manual and RAS Form 1 for Application See RAS Form 2 for Annual Progress Report

For more info: Revitalization Area Strategies, contact:  Steed Robinson (404) Urban Redevelopment Plans, contact:  Mary Alice Applegate (404)  Kelly Lane (404)