Agenda - 01-23-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 1 She said the board also wants to continue conversations with Community Home Trust 2 regarding marketing and inventory. 3 She said the board continues to monitor the bond program in preparation for a future 4 affordable housing bond referendum. She said all of the 2001 bond money has been 5 committed, and most of it has been spent. 6 Commissioner Pelissier said she liked the clearinghouse idea. She asked if there are 7 already volunteers in place to work on this. 8 James Stroud said Vista Corp volunteers are willing to come in and work on this. He said 9 more volunteers will be recruited. 10 Chair Jacobs asked if the work plan includes implementation of a media campaign to 11 stimulate conversation about the need for affordable housing in the community. 12 A Housing Board Member said there were tables at the Hog Day festival, as well as a 13 room at the Senior Center. He said the site has been updated, there is a presence on 14 Facebook. 15 Patsy Barbee said activities and planning are managed on Facebook. 16 Commissioner Rich asked if there is a way to reach people who don't have computers. 17 Chair Jacobs asked if brochures have been placed at social services. 18 Chair Jacobs suggested the board meet with the Public Affairs Officer, Carla Banks, 19 regarding community outreach. 20 Chair Jacobs noted, on the top of page 5 in the minutes, the section on high end condo 21 units and set-asides. He said he toured the units at Greenbridge, and the units do not have 22 universal design. He asked if any of the issues identified on this page have been explored 23 further. 24 Tara Fikes said the board has not talked about that. She said the set-aside is part of 25 Chapel Hill's re-zoning requirement, and the County does not have jurisdiction. 26 Chair Jacobs said there will be an AOG meeting in November, and the County ought to 27 be able to articulate and advocate for standards that should be followed. 28 Tara Fikes said there have been conversations on a staff level with Home Trust, 29 regarding inventory and the desirability of some of the units. 30 Chair Jacobs said he would like to have some information before the Assembly of 31 Governments (AOG) meeting on November 21St, to articulate concerns like universal design. 32 Commissioner Dorosin said maybe the AOG is a good time to discuss this. He said the 33 idea of extracting units from any development doesn't ultimately serve the needs of the 34 community. He said the Home Trust has small one bedroom condos, and there is a small 35 market for these; however there is a wait list for families of 4 or 5. He said there is a disconnect 36 here. 37 He said there have been places in the past where a family unit was the model, and now 38 there is a trend toward luxury condos, and this is creating a growing disconnect. He said there 39 needs to be a discussion about this and the possible solution of giving the Home Trust more 40 discretion in determining where the needs are. 41 Commissioner Dorosin said the other issue to be discussed in the coming year is 42 affordable rental housing. He said doing this through subsidy is not economically feasible. He 43 said Chapel Hill is now debating the idea of a low income housing tax project. He said the only 44 way affordable rental housing is going to work is if it is owned, co-owned or co-developed by 45 one of the local governments. 46 Commissioner Dorosin said manufactured housing has not been considered a 47 reasonable choice in the past. He said there have been a lot of improvements in this, and it 48 remains the most affordable privately owned housing opportunity for most people. He said this 49 should be looked at and possibly incentivized, particularly in the unincorporated areas.