December SNG Community Development Committee Agenda
AGENDA
SNG Community Development Committee
Matthews Center, 2318 29th Av. S.
December 13, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
7:00 Introductions and approval of minutes. 7:10 Update on Touchstone Project - Seward Commons Redevelopment The Phase I Touchstone project of the Seward Commons Redevelopment is now
fully funded. The Touchstone building will include 40 apartments for the
persistently mentally ill with on-site staff support, a Health and
Wellness Center and offices for Touchstone Mental Health. Touchstone’s
office move will bring a minimum of 40 existing jobs and 25 new jobs to
Seward. The project is scheduled to be under construction in the late spring or
early summer of 2012. The project partners, Seward Redesign, PPL and Touchstone Mental Health,
are now in the final stages of design development. The partners wish to
meet with the Seward Neighborhood Group’s Community Development Committee
to review current designs, including any likely zoning changes and
variances that will be required. 7:50 Updates:
- Seward Redesign
- SNG Housing Coordinator
- City Council Member Gordon 8:00 Other Business 8:05 Adjourn. (The Park staff lock the outside doors at 9 p.m. so all
attendees must exit).
_________________________ Draft Minutes
Community Development Committee
November 8, 2011 Attending: Charlie Hoffman (chair), Bob Hain, Sheldon Mains (SNG Board
Co-President), Brian Miller (Redesign), Peter Fleck (Seward ENews), Doug
Wise (SNG Housing Coordinator) and Robin Garwood (Council Member Gordon’s
Office). The minutes for the October meeting were approved.
Discussion on SNG Loan Programs Doug Wise stated the reduction in SNG loan activity is consistent with the
broader community. Both the Center for Energy and Environment and the
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency said the demand for their home
improvement loans has been down substantially this last year. The primary
reason is attributed to changes in the housing market and economy, people
are hesitant to invest more money in their homes or take on additional
debt. The decrease in home values has also dramatically changed existing
mortgage amounts in relation to the home’s value making it impossible for
many homeowners to borrow additional funds. Doug pointed out that in regard to the program’s goal of leveraging other
funding, SNG could not have done much better. Our $41,000 in NRP loans
leveraged $355,000 in other loans, or $9 in other funding for every dollar
from SNG. If you combine loans and rebates, every dollar of SNG money
leveraged $13 in other funding. Doug offered several possible program changes. He said SNG is free to
make just about any changes it would like to the existing programs, such
as changing the maximum amount, term, interest rate or income limits. SNG
could also open up the programs to non-occupant owners of rental property.
Doug outlined three possibilities for new programs: (1) an emergency loan
fund, which would be used for emergency repairs such as a furnace going
out, plumbing and electrical problems, or fixing a leaking roof; (2) a
deferred loan program for low-income residents where no monthly payments
are required and the loan is repaid when the house is sold; and (3) a
program to assist with the redevelopment of foreclosed and other
distressed properties. The discussion first focused on the existing loan programs. It was stated
that the current income limits are low resulting in few people qualifying
for the programs. It was felt that raising the income limits would
provide an incentive for more people to make improvements to their
property. Motion: Moved that the SNG increase the income limits for the SNG
Revolving Loan Program and Interest Reduction Program to be consistent
with the MN Fix-up Fund (115% of Metropolitan Median Income) Sheldon
moved and Brian seconded. Robin abstained. Motion passed. The committee discussed making non occupant owners of rental property
eligible for the programs. Doug pointed out that two-thirds of Seward’s
residents are renters and there are a lot of small apartment buildings
that need work. He said the current programs are available to owner
occupied 1-4 unit buildings and the “owner occupied” requirement could be
eliminated. Charlie stated that the rental market is strong right now. He said SNG would need to make sure the money goes directly into the
building to improve the living conditions for the tenants. The committee
asked Doug to do further research on a rental loan program and report back
at a future meeting. Doug was also asked to look at increasing the loan
limits for 2-4 unit owner occupied buildings. There was strong support for establishing an emergency loan program. Doug
said that Longfellow neighborhood has an emergency loan program that has
been used a lot. He said that it is a deferred loan program targeted at
low-income residents. The committee felt action should be taken right
away so that the program could be up and running in time for people to use
it this winter. Motion: Moved that the SNG reallocate $25,000 from the SNG Revolving loan
Program to an emergency loan program and that the housing coordinator
prepare draft program guidelines for the Board meeting. The program
should primarily focus on providing deferred loans to low income
homeowners. Income limits will be consistent with SNG’s other loan
programs. Charlie moved and Sheldon seconded. Robin abstained. Motion
passed. The committee discussed establishing a program to assist with the
redevelopment of foreclosed and blighted properties. There was general
support for the program, it was agreed that much more research needs to be
done on how the program would work. The committee asked Doug to do
further research and and come back with suggestions of how the program
could be structured at a future date.
Updates: Brian said that the Touchstone project has received its funding and is
expected to start construction next Spring. The committee asked Brian if
the developer could come to the next meeting and update the committee. The 22nd Street extension to Cedar has been funded. A left turn on to 22nd
from Cedar has not received approval yet. The senior housing project is
currently being reviewed by HUD (since the meeting we have heard that the
funding has been approved by HUD). Brian stated that the Tri-State Bearing building has been foreclosed on by
the County for back taxes. Brian said a day care had contacted him about
locating at the Gopher Roofing site. There was a brief discussion about
redevelopment of the site. It was suggested that cooperative housing could
also work on the site. Doug said he had been contacted by someone with concerns about the
intersection of 33rd Avenue and 26th Street. The intersection currently
has stop signs on 26th Street. The party said he had witnessed several
close calls and asked if the city could attach “cross traffic does not
stop” signs to the stop signs. Robin said the city does not like to put
up “cross traffic does not stop” signs because it goes against the
expectation that people are supposed to stop at stop signs. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. 
SNG Community Development Committee
Matthews Center, 2318 29th Av. S.
December 13, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
7:00 Introductions and approval of minutes. 7:10 Update on Touchstone Project - Seward Commons Redevelopment The Phase I Touchstone project of the Seward Commons Redevelopment is now
fully funded. The Touchstone building will include 40 apartments for the
persistently mentally ill with on-site staff support, a Health and
Wellness Center and offices for Touchstone Mental Health. Touchstone’s
office move will bring a minimum of 40 existing jobs and 25 new jobs to
Seward. The project is scheduled to be under construction in the late spring or
early summer of 2012. The project partners, Seward Redesign, PPL and Touchstone Mental Health,
are now in the final stages of design development. The partners wish to
meet with the Seward Neighborhood Group’s Community Development Committee
to review current designs, including any likely zoning changes and
variances that will be required. 7:50 Updates:
- Seward Redesign
- SNG Housing Coordinator
- City Council Member Gordon 8:00 Other Business 8:05 Adjourn. (The Park staff lock the outside doors at 9 p.m. so all
attendees must exit).
_________________________ Draft Minutes
Community Development Committee
November 8, 2011 Attending: Charlie Hoffman (chair), Bob Hain, Sheldon Mains (SNG Board
Co-President), Brian Miller (Redesign), Peter Fleck (Seward ENews), Doug
Wise (SNG Housing Coordinator) and Robin Garwood (Council Member Gordon’s
Office). The minutes for the October meeting were approved.
Discussion on SNG Loan Programs Doug Wise stated the reduction in SNG loan activity is consistent with the
broader community. Both the Center for Energy and Environment and the
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency said the demand for their home
improvement loans has been down substantially this last year. The primary
reason is attributed to changes in the housing market and economy, people
are hesitant to invest more money in their homes or take on additional
debt. The decrease in home values has also dramatically changed existing
mortgage amounts in relation to the home’s value making it impossible for
many homeowners to borrow additional funds. Doug pointed out that in regard to the program’s goal of leveraging other
funding, SNG could not have done much better. Our $41,000 in NRP loans
leveraged $355,000 in other loans, or $9 in other funding for every dollar
from SNG. If you combine loans and rebates, every dollar of SNG money
leveraged $13 in other funding. Doug offered several possible program changes. He said SNG is free to
make just about any changes it would like to the existing programs, such
as changing the maximum amount, term, interest rate or income limits. SNG
could also open up the programs to non-occupant owners of rental property.
Doug outlined three possibilities for new programs: (1) an emergency loan
fund, which would be used for emergency repairs such as a furnace going
out, plumbing and electrical problems, or fixing a leaking roof; (2) a
deferred loan program for low-income residents where no monthly payments
are required and the loan is repaid when the house is sold; and (3) a
program to assist with the redevelopment of foreclosed and other
distressed properties. The discussion first focused on the existing loan programs. It was stated
that the current income limits are low resulting in few people qualifying
for the programs. It was felt that raising the income limits would
provide an incentive for more people to make improvements to their
property. Motion: Moved that the SNG increase the income limits for the SNG
Revolving Loan Program and Interest Reduction Program to be consistent
with the MN Fix-up Fund (115% of Metropolitan Median Income) Sheldon
moved and Brian seconded. Robin abstained. Motion passed. The committee discussed making non occupant owners of rental property
eligible for the programs. Doug pointed out that two-thirds of Seward’s
residents are renters and there are a lot of small apartment buildings
that need work. He said the current programs are available to owner
occupied 1-4 unit buildings and the “owner occupied” requirement could be
eliminated. Charlie stated that the rental market is strong right now. He said SNG would need to make sure the money goes directly into the
building to improve the living conditions for the tenants. The committee
asked Doug to do further research on a rental loan program and report back
at a future meeting. Doug was also asked to look at increasing the loan
limits for 2-4 unit owner occupied buildings. There was strong support for establishing an emergency loan program. Doug
said that Longfellow neighborhood has an emergency loan program that has
been used a lot. He said that it is a deferred loan program targeted at
low-income residents. The committee felt action should be taken right
away so that the program could be up and running in time for people to use
it this winter. Motion: Moved that the SNG reallocate $25,000 from the SNG Revolving loan
Program to an emergency loan program and that the housing coordinator
prepare draft program guidelines for the Board meeting. The program
should primarily focus on providing deferred loans to low income
homeowners. Income limits will be consistent with SNG’s other loan
programs. Charlie moved and Sheldon seconded. Robin abstained. Motion
passed. The committee discussed establishing a program to assist with the
redevelopment of foreclosed and blighted properties. There was general
support for the program, it was agreed that much more research needs to be
done on how the program would work. The committee asked Doug to do
further research and and come back with suggestions of how the program
could be structured at a future date.
Updates: Brian said that the Touchstone project has received its funding and is
expected to start construction next Spring. The committee asked Brian if
the developer could come to the next meeting and update the committee. The 22nd Street extension to Cedar has been funded. A left turn on to 22nd
from Cedar has not received approval yet. The senior housing project is
currently being reviewed by HUD (since the meeting we have heard that the
funding has been approved by HUD). Brian stated that the Tri-State Bearing building has been foreclosed on by
the County for back taxes. Brian said a day care had contacted him about
locating at the Gopher Roofing site. There was a brief discussion about
redevelopment of the site. It was suggested that cooperative housing could
also work on the site. Doug said he had been contacted by someone with concerns about the
intersection of 33rd Avenue and 26th Street. The intersection currently
has stop signs on 26th Street. The party said he had witnessed several
close calls and asked if the city could attach “cross traffic does not
stop” signs to the stop signs. Robin said the city does not like to put
up “cross traffic does not stop” signs because it goes against the
expectation that people are supposed to stop at stop signs. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
