HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURANI-2018-01-12
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 274-6565
MINUTES
IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee (NIC)
8:30 am, Friday, January 12, 2018
Third Floor Conference Room
City Hall, 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850
Present: Karl Graham, Chair; Tracy Farrell; Vice‐Chair; Fernando de Aragón; Teresa Halpert; Paulette
Manos
Staff: Anisa Mendizabal
Excused: None
Guests: None
I. Call to Order
Chair Graham called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
II. Changes/additions to Agenda
None
III. Public comment
None
IV. Review of Minutes – December 8, 2017
Moved by Farrell, seconded by de Aragón. Approved as written. Carried unanimously.
V. New Business
1. Discussion of Request for Proposals – City of Ithaca 2018 HUD Entitlement Program
Mendizabal distributed a chart with expected outcomes through the end of Program Year
2017. Discussion ensured regarding affordable housing goals. Outcomes as reported to HUD
do not reflect the power of leveraged funds. IURA’s early commitment to many affordable
housing projects that have occurred within the Con Plan cycle has proven beneficial in gaining
further financial support for these projects.
Ithaca
Urban
Renewal
Agency
Mendizabal pointed to out that Lakeview Mental Health’s affordable housing development
was a funded project for PY2017, however, due to insurmountable burdens in meeting some
federal regulations, Lakeview ultimately declined the award. This project is proceeding and
will ultimately produce affordable units, albeit without entitlement funding.
The Committee directed staff to provide information regarding the actual number of
affordable housing units built in Ithaca during the Con Plan cycle and the number of projects
that utilized HUD Entitlement Funding.
Discussion turned to the City’s low homeownership rates and high housing costs. The benefits
and possible unintended consequences of inclusionary zoning were discussed. Halpert
reported that nationally, 5‐7% return on investment is seen as good by developers.
Mendizabal circulated an analysis of the City of Burlington, VT inclusionary zoning program
published in January 2017, which includes scenarios for adjusting its IZ policies. Halpert and
de Aragón noted the value of employer‐sponsored workforce housing. Mendizabal will look
for current examples of employer‐sponsored workforce housing for transferrable lessons.
2. Resolution – Technical Correction to Promissory Note for 2015 Action Plan Project #1 –
210 Hancock Street
Project #1 – 210 Hancock (Action Plan 2015) – Technical Correction to Promissory Note
WHEREAS, Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) provided Ithaca Neighborhood Housing
Services (INHS) with $120,000 in financial assistance in the form of a construction loan on
June 30, 2016 to support Action Plan 2016 Project #1 – 210 Hancock, and
WHEREAS, an error in the language of the Promissory Note between IURA and INHS results in
incorrect calculation of the late fees imposed as five percent (5%) of total annual payment
instead of five percent of total monthly payment, and
WHEREAS, this matter has been reviewed and by the Neighborhood Investment Committee of
the IURA who recommends the following; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Neighborhood Investment Committee of the IURA hereby recommends
the IURA approve a correction to the executed promissory note for the construction loan of
Project #1 – 210 Hancock (Action Plan 2016) to establish late fees that are calculated at 5% of
the total monthly payment.
Moved by Farrell, seconded by Manos. Carried Unanimously 5‐0.
VI. Other Business
1. IURA Grant Summary
The Committee reviewed progress of projects to ensure all were on track to meeting
HUD’s spend‐down requirements.
2. Staff Report
a. HUD Updates
The Committee discussed HUD’s suspension of the AFFH Rule.
Mendizabal reported the goals articulated in the City of Ithaca’s Assessment of Fair
Housing (AFH) will be incorporated into the Consolidated Plan, as planned.
Mendizabal has verified with HUD Buffalo that the Con Plan cycle is due June 16,
2019, not 2018, as previously stated. Therefore, Con Planning will begin in earnest
in Fall 2018.
Mendizabal reported that starting January 1, 2018, the HUD CPD Field
Representative to our community will be Alex Vilardo. Mr. Vilardo replaces
Elizabeth McClam. Mr. Vilardo is familiar with Ithaca, having been its Field Rep
previously.
The Committee reviewed the 2016 Annual Community Assessment (ACA) from
HUD.
b. Program Updates
Mendizabal notified the Committee of communication from TCAT Staff regarding
AP2017 Project #12 – Urban Bus Signage and Amenities Upgrades. Due to ongoing
infrastructural improvements being made by the City at Chestnut and Elm Streets,
the proposed use of funding there will be significantly delayed. TCAT has
submitted some alternative uses for the funds, including improvements to
Chestnut Hill bus shelter to make it ADA compliant or put funding toward the LCD
TCAT messaging screen at Salvation Army. The Committee discussed and feels ADA
compliance is a more urgent and important use (bus stop at Chestnut Hill Apts).
Mendizabal shared the subsidy layering analysis for 828 Hector Street (AP2017
#21—CHDO Reserve). In the future, the Committee will review analysis when/if
the project has encountered difficulty.
Mendizabal reported that Love Knows No Bounds (AP2016 #3) is on track for
fulfilling commitment, and has requested and received a 90‐day extension.
Another townhome at 210 Hancock (AP2016 #5), making the total 5 of 7.
Harriet Giannelis CCC closing has been delayed until 1/25/2018.
3. Next meeting date: February 9, 2018
VII. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by Farrell; seconded Halpert. Carried Unanimously 5‐0. Adjourned at 9:43 am.
Prepared by A. Mendizabal.