HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2001.09.06 - 26658REPORT (MISC. #01192) September 6, 2001
BY: General Government Committee, William Patterson, Chairperson
IN RE: MR #01192 - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - SUPPORT OF
LIGHTHOUSE OF OAKLAND COUNTY HOUSING PROJECT
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The General Government Committee, having reviewed the above-
titled resolution on August 27, 2001, recommends that the
resolution be adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I
move acceptance of the foregoing report.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
September 6, 2001
REPORT (MISC. #01192)
BY: PLANNING & BUILDING COMMITTEE, CHARLES E. PALMER, CHAIRPERSON
RE: MR #01192 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT OF LIGHTHOUSE OF
OAKLAND COUNTY HOUSING PROJECT
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Planning and Building Committee, having reviewed the above referenced resolution on
August 28, 2001, recommends the resolution be adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Planning & Building Committee, I move the acceptance of the
foregoing report.
PLANNING & BUILDING COMMITTEE
Planning & Building Committee Vote:
Motion carried on unanimous roll call vote.
David B. Buckley
Commissioner, District #14
Miscellaneous Resolution #01192
BY: Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub, District #12, David B. Buckley, District #14,
Brenda A Causey-Mitchell, District #6
RE: Board of Commissioners - Support of Lighthouse of Oakland County Housing Project
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, Lighthouse of Oakland County has proposed a project to provide affordable
housing in the Unity Park neighborhood, located in the City of Pontiac; and
WHEREAS, the Unity Park neighborhood is a federally designated low to moderate- income
area. The Unity Park Affordable Housing Project will enable service sector and entry level
employees to own affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, this $102 million Unity Park Affordable Housing Project will provide assistance
with the purchase of land, the construction of new homes, the restoration of existing homes, down
payment assistance, and gap funding to make the final mortgage more affordable; and
WHEREAS, the Unity Park Affordable Housing Project will also have a significant economic
impact by creating hundreds of construction related jobs, as well as, increase demands for
construction materials; and
WHEREAS, Lighthouse of Oakland County and its affiliate, Lighthouse Community
Development, have requested $2 million in federal funding to support the Unity Park Affordable
Housing Project; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
does hereby recognize the valuable contribution that the Unity Park Affordable Housing Project will
provide to the City of Pontiac and to all of Oakland County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of Commissioners does
hereby support the Lighthouse of Oakland County's Unity Park Affordable Housing Project and
urges the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to approve federal funding for this
worthy project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this adopted resolution be forwarded to the
Michigan delegation, the United States Senate Appropriations Committee, Lighthouse of Oakland
County and the county's legislative lobbyists.
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoingAvsolution.
Shelley Goocfr*Ljaub
Connmissione17' District #12
Brenda A. Causey-Mitchell
Commissioner, District #6
1Levin
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JUN-20-2001 16:47 LIGHTHOUSE ORK,.CNTY , 2463351099 P.02/02
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510
Tune 12,2001
Ms. K Noreen Keating
Lighthouse of Okaland County, Inc.
46156 Woodward Ave.
P.O. Box 430508
Pontiac, M1 48343
Dear Ms. Keating:
I am writing to advise you that Senator Levin and I have submitted your request
for $2 million in VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Subcommittee Appropriations
funding for the Unity Park Affordable Housing Project. We are pleased to recommend
your project to our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee.
We are hopeful that the Committee will consider our request and provide the
adequate amount of federal funding for the project. We will keep you advised of the
progress of the request.
Debbie Stabenow
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LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT INFORMATION FOR
SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATION
Project Name: Unity Park Affordable Housing Project
Total Project Cost $102,000,000
Specific Request to Senator Stabenow: $2,000,000
Budget:
Affordable housing subsidy for 30 new homes $900,000
(Reduction in purchase price of $30,000 per home)
Land acquisition and infrastructure $350,000
preparation (environmental review, removing
old foundations, etc.) for new 30 homes
Acquisition of ten existing homes $150,000
Restoration of ten existing homes $600,000
1) Does the project create jobs or meet a compelling human need. Please
explain,
The project will do both. There is a significant need for affordable housing in the
Unity Park neighborhood as well as the City of Pontiac and all of Oakland
County. The robust economy over the last nine years has actually made it more
difficult for low-income wage earners to find and maintain a decent home for their
families. This group of low-income wage earners goes far beyond those leaving
public assistance programs. It includes those who have an education, work hard,
and still struggle to find a place they can afford. They may be secretaries, or
sanitation workers, or hospital staff, or service sector employees.
These individuals have traditionally rented but very much want to own their own
homes. Home ownership for them will bring increased stability to their families,
increased vitality for their neighborhoods, and increased revenue for
municipalities, The American families who fall into this group are continuing to
increase and many are finding it difficult to afford sky rocketing rents as they
strive to move to home ownership.
A report published by the National Low income Housing Coalition in September
of 2000 entitled Out of Reach showed that the Fair Market Rent for a two
bedroom apartment in Michigan is $589 and in many cases the rent is $625 or
$650. It would be far better for families paying these rent costs to invest in their
own homes. The $102,000,000 project funding will assist with the purchase of
land, the construction of new homes, the restoration of existing homes, down
payment assistance, and gap funding to make the final mortgages more
affordable.
• ,JUL709-2001 13:23 , LIGHTHOUSE OAK CNTY.'. 2483351099 F. 03
In terms of employment impact, the construction of 30 new homes as well as the
restoration of existing homes will generate hundreds of construction related jobs.
In addition, there will be an economic impact for secondary suppliers of
construction materiels. Another very important economic impact will be the
ability for service sector employees and entry level employees to live where they
work. This is a serious problem in Oakland County, which has a 2%
unemployment rate, as well as the aforementioned affordable housing problems.
2) Does the project benefit low to moderate-income neighborhoods.
Yes. The Unity Park neighborhood is a federally designated low to moderate-
income and represents approximately 50% of the land area of census track 1424.
The area historically housed autoworkers and their families and small shops lined
the railroad bed. The neighborhood has always had a cross section of incomes
and housing values. Many of the larger homes in the area have, over the years,
been subdivided into multi-family units. 11% of the homes were vacant in the
1990 census and many of these have since been demolished.
3) Does the project eliminate physical or economic distress?
Yes the project does eliminate physical distress. This once beautiful
neighborhood has suffered through a gradual decline in the last thirty years.
Homes have become multi-family with absentee landlords and many of the
homes In private ownership are owned by senior citizens who do not have the
financial resources to make necessary repairs, The neighborhood infrastructure
has also declined as the City of Pontiac has struggled to fund repairs and
maintenance of sewers, streets, and parks. With the involvement of Lighthouse
of Oakland County, via Lighthouse Community Development, the City has shown
a willingness to begin repairing the infrastructure. The construction of new
homes and the restoration of existing homes will expedite this process and
improve the overall appearance of the neighborhood.
4) Is this a one-year request that will complete the project?
This one-year request will complete the first phase of a much larger
$102,000,000 project.
5) Does this request have matching funding from a non-federal source?
Yes the project also has support from the Building Industry Association of
Southeastern Michigan, Standard Federal Bank, LISC, private donors, and faith
based groups.
6) Please provide the name and address of the potential grantee, including
contact person.
Grantee: Lighthouse of Oakland County, Inc.
46156 Woodward Avenue
P.O. Box 430508
Pontiac, MI 48343
5UL-09-2001 13:23 LIGHTHOUSE 0All CNTY.
Contact: K. Noreen Keating
Chief Executive Officer
248192016060, Ext. 2112
2483351099 P.04
Thomas Stowell
Chief Operations Officer
2481920/6000, Ext. 2110
Project Manager: Michael A. Goddard
Executive Director
Lighthouse Community Development
248/920/6060, Ext. 2401
Resolution #01192 July 19, 2001
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government and
Planning and Building Committees. There were no objections.
E THE FOREG'(ING PESO UTION
c
Date er—sork County Executive
I HERE P
Resolution #01192 September 6, 2001
Moved by Douglas supported by Moss the resolutions on the Consent Agenda,
as amended, be adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
AYES: Appel, Brian, Buckley, Causey-Mitchell, Coleman, Crawford, Dingeldey,
Douglas, Galloway, Garfield, Gregory, Law, McPherson, Melton, Millard, Moffitt,
Moss, Obrecht, Palmer, Patterson, Sever, Suarez, Taub, Webster, Amos. (25)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefore, the resolutions on the Consent
Agenda, as amended, were adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, G. William Caddell, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the
Oakland County Board of Commissioners on September 6, 2001 with the original
record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the
County of Oakland at Pontiac, Michigan this 6t1day qeSeptember, 2001.
G. William Caddell, County Clerk