Minutes 11/23/1971 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(s) (6) (7) (8) Emphasis will be placed on conservation for rehabilitation purposes throughout the project, as was the initial intent. Homeowners will receive special attention so as to maintain the highest possible level of owner-occupancy in the neighborhood. First action to be taken immediately under eminent domain provisions will be against landlords of rental property that is clearly sub-standard. This action will be taken against the 57 non-compliance cases where the staff already has made recommendations, including exercise of eminent domain power within the allowances of the present budget. The 36 owner-occupants, who have not responded to requests for inspections to date, will be contacted personally during the next month by a staff member, seeking voluntary cooperation and project support as soon as practicable. An inspector will visit property owned by absentee landlords who have not responded to inspection requests, seeking tenant permission for entrance. Where entrance is not obtained, the effort will be reviewed by the staff, and, upon recommendation, the property owner will then be contacted by our legal counsel. Full cooperation with the Public Health Department~a~l be established in its present and continuing effort to enforce provisions of the City's Minimum Housing Code within the conservation area. Such cooperation can insure that Park View.will gain a reputation for being a particularly poor investment area for the absentee landlord who seeks to reap high profit by neglecting building maintenance. Such cooperation is seen only as a preventative measure and will not preclude enforcement of more stringent rehabilitation standards in the overall conservation area. property (The Authority also endorses adoption of the new Minimum Housing Code Ordinance and suggests that renewal project areas be "trial run" areas for enforcement of this new ordinance.) In regard to City Code inspections of September,October and November, 1971, property owners who have been given notices to correct code violations may be granted extensions under a general agreement already made with the Minimum Housing Board if they will contact the site offices in order to work in good faith toward an answer to their individual problems in meeting Code requirements within the time allowed. Also, in regard to these recent inspections, a cooperation agreement has been established with HUD's area office in Richmond to extend 312 eligibility to persons wishing to meet Minimum Housing requirements at the present time as an "emergency" need. Normally, a property owner cannot include in his 512 loan application costs incurred for repairs made prior to his property rehabilitation standards work writeup and loan request. It is emphasized that this agreement provides such repairs future legitimacy in the 312 work writeup and does not provide any advance of funds; however, people who.have Code violations to correct and wish to file for 512 assistance will be given priority in the workload of the technical staff. It will be the Authority's policy to request compliance with Park View property rehabilitation standards within one year and a month from the first date of notification of violations for a particular property, even though the property may change hands within that time period. This policy can alleviate the present problem of leap-frogging -- the shifting of property deeds from landlord to another, apparently to avoid compliance with the property rehabilitation standards. In order to make this policy effective in the future, the necessary notification information will be filed with the Clerk of Court. Action taken for non-com- pliance under such circumstances would depend upon a review of the individual case. As soon as practicable, the Authority will conduct an in-depth review of"the Park View'Conservation Plan and make recommendation to the resident committee and the City Council for "red pencil" amendments. The Authority also will complete an in-depth review and projection of the financial status of the projects, including local and federal participation, and make recommendations for major amendments as they relate to non-cash improvements and staff increases and services. In answer to resident concern for the problems.in the Park View "core", this report makes reference to the application for a Federally-assisted Code Enforcement Program submitted for HUD approval by the City Manager on September 27, 1971. The present coordinator for planning and com- munity organization worked closely with the City's Federal Grant Coordi- nator to compile this application in record time. The work which will take place in the Code area should provide renewed incentive ~o conservation