HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURANI-2015-08-14
Ithaca
Urban
Renewal
Agency
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 274-655
MINUTES
IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee
August 14, 2015
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:35 by Vice chair K. Graham. Present were: K. Graham, T.
Halpert, F. de Aragon, N. Bohn (staff), P. Mazarella (INHS) and J. Bowes (INHS). L. Truame (staff)
arrived and N. Bohn left the meeting at 9:00.
II. Public comment
None.
III. Review of Minutes – July 2015
T. Halpert moved, F. de Aragon seconded. Approved as written.
IV. New Business
1.Update from INHS on 210 Hancock project
Paul Mazarella described the current configuration of the project as 54 1- & 2-bed rental units in the
mixed use building and 12 townhouses, of which 7 will be for sale and 5 will be rental. All townhouse
units will have three bedrooms and one townhouse will be fully accessible. The change to convert
some townhouses to rental was due to financial feasibility concerns for for-sale projects. INHS
expects they will need to provide a deferred second mortgage of $40-$50,000 per unit to achieve
affordability on the townhouse units (approximately $130K - $140,000 sales price) in addition to the
receipt of HOME funding for those units. Inclusion of five townhouses in the Low Income Housing Tax
Credit project should shorten the overall construction schedule for project build out.
J. Bowes reported that the deadline for early round submissions for unified funding has been
established by NY Homes and Communities as October 6, 2015.
V. Old Business
1. Draft Action Plan, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing – resolution
The committee continued their review of the draft AI Action Plan, which was revised by L. Truame
based on comments made by committee members at the July 2015 meeting.
The committee discussed possible changes to the action steps addressing Impediment 7, the lack of a
meaningful enforcement mechanism for complaints of housing discrimination. L. Truame noted that,
unlike the other impediments, this one involved changes to a City ordinance, an action that would be
entirely outside the purview of the IURA. Given that, it was difficult to know how to word the
proposed action steps. After some discussion, it was decided to reformat the existing action step to
emphasize that future steps to address the impediment would be identified after the City had
discussed the impediment, and options to address it, in more depth.
K. Graham asked about the apparent increase in homeless families with children noted in
Impediment 8 and suggested an action step be added to investigate the possible need for a family-
oriented emergency shelter. The committee agreed to add this to the Action Plan. This would also
be a good question to raise with the Continuum of Care, possibly at an upcoming Homeless and
Housing Task Force meeting.
2. Update on SSCC security cameras
L. Truame reported that the scope of the projected had been expanded to include interior cameras.
Apparently, there have been some problems with vandalism occurring inside the building. The IURA’s
total financial commitment to the project remains unchanged; the difference in cost will be covered
by the City as part of the Building Maintenance and Solid Waste Supervisor’s budget for the building.
VI. Motion to Adjourn
Meeting adjourned by consensus at 9:36.