Agenda Item # 4

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

12/09/2014

Agenda Report # 60


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Department of Community Affairs HOME Grant

INITIATED BY: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager

Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an alternate proposal, at the request of NeighborWorks Columbus to utilize the Georgia Department of Community Affairs $400,000 Home Investment Partnership Program Grant awarded to the City to provide low income rental housing for veterans in the Beallwood community.

Background: In Resolution 62-14, Council authorized the City Manager, in partnership with NeighborWorks Columbus, to submit an application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for a Home Investment Partnership Program Grant. The City was awarded a $400,000 grant to provide low income rental housing for veterans in the Winterfield area. Additional funding for the housing program would come from program income through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Analysis: NeighborWorks Columbus initiated design and engineering services for the Winterfield project upon notification of the DCA grant award. During this process it was determined there were significant engineering and infrastructure challenges to the development. The organization also conducted a marketability assessment which indicated the project did not appear to be viable. Based on these results, NeighborWorks pursued other alternatives to utilize the DCA funds for low income rental housing for veterans in the community.

NeighborWorks is partnering with TEAMeffort, a college student ministry organization to perform home repairs and maintenance on homes in the Beallwood area. Neighborworks is recommending the DCA funds be reallocated to the Beallwood area to provide low income rental housing in conjunction with the TEAMeffort project. The two projects would constitute a significant neighborhood revitalization project. If approved by Council, the alternative proposal would have to be submitted to DCA for final approval.

Financial Considerations: DCA grant funds and program income from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program would be utilized for the program.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: None

Legal Considerations: Council must approve submission of the alternate proposal.

Recommendations/ Actions: Authorize the City Manager to submit an alternate proposal, at the request of NeighborWorks Columbus to utilize the Georgia Department of Community Affairs $400,000 Home Investment Partnership Program Grant awarded to the City to provide low income rental housing for veterans in the Beallwood community.



DCA Home Grant.pdfRES 62-14.pdfcolumbus_pdf_brochure2015.pdf


A RESOLUTION

NO. _____


A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN ALTERNATE PROPOSAL, AT THE REQUEST OF NEIGHBORWORKS COLUMBUS, TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO UTILIZE THE $400,000 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP GRANT AWARDED TO THE CITY TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME RENTAL HOUSING FOR VETERANS IN THE BEALLWOOD COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS, in Resolution 62-14 Council authorized the City to partner with NeighborWorks Columbus to submit a grant application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the Home Investment Partnership Program Grant to provide low income rental housing in the Winterfield area. The grant application submitted by the City and NeighborWorks was approved by the Department of Community Affairs and the City was awarded $400,000 for the project; and,

WHEREAS, NeighborWorks Columbus initiated planning, design, and engineering for the Winterfield project upon notification of the grant award. Due to engineering, infrastructure and marketability barriers the Winterfield project was not deemed to be a viable project at this time; and,

WHEREAS, NeighborWorks desires to submit an alternate proposal to utilize the Home Investment Partnership Program Grant funds in the Beallwood community to prevent loss of the grant funding and to insure additional low income rental housing is available to veterans; and,

WHEREAS, NeighborWorks has partnered with TEAMeffort, a college student ministry organization, to perform repairs and maintenance on homes in the Beallwood area as part of a neighborhood revitalization efforts; and,

WHEREAS, the utilization of the grant funds in the Beallwood area would further enhance the neighborhood revitalization efforts and allow the City to still take advantage of the grant funding to provide low income rental housing.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

The City Manager is hereby authorized to submit an alternate proposal, at the request of NeighborWorks Columbus, to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to utilize the $400,000 Home Investment Partnership Grant award to the City for low income rental housing for veterans in the Beallwood Community. The City Manager is further authorized to sign any and all documents necessary for the submission of the alternate proposal and to execute the delivery of the grant funds if approved by the Department of Community Affairs.


___________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________ 2014, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting .
Councilor Baker voting .
Councilor Barnes voting .
Councilor Buck voting ___________.
Councilor Davis voting .
Councilor Henderson voting .
Councilor Huff voting .
Councilor Thomas voting .
Councilor Turner-Pugh voting .
Councilor Woodson voting .


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Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor