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8 <br /> 1 organization that is committed to serving the African American community in Chapel Hill. She <br /> 2 echoed comments made by previous speakers in support of this project. <br /> 3 Jess Brandes said she is with CASA, and is here to answer questions. <br /> 4 Commissioner Bedford said she had a question about the Interchurch Council Housing <br /> 5 Corporation request of$165,840. She said the BOCC received a letter from this corporation <br /> 6 stating HUD has waived a requirement for stairwells. She asked if this change impacts the <br /> 7 funding in any way. <br /> 8 Erika Brandt said she is not sure if the project can be deferred. She said staff did look <br /> 9 into available County rehab funds, but those have been used up. <br /> 10 Chair Rich said the affordable housing bond referendum did not include maintenance <br /> 11 funding, and asked if there is a reason the Interchurch Council Housing Corporation was even <br /> 12 considered. She said this project does not create any new housing, but rather is for <br /> 13 maintenance on 40 existing units. <br /> 14 Emila Sutton said she did not really know how to answer that question. She said rehab <br /> 15 was included in the first round of funding. <br /> 16 Allison Mahaley said the Affordable Housing Advisory Board did discuss this issue, and <br /> 17 while no new units will be added, 40 units will be lost if they are not maintained. <br /> 18 Commissioner McKee referred to the stairwell upgrades, and said maintenance is vital to <br /> 19 the life of properties. He said there will be a health and safety hazard if this maintenance is not <br /> 20 completed, and putting some money in now could save far more money in the future. <br /> 21 Commissioner Dorosin said he read the bond referendum language more broadly, and it <br /> 22 does not clearly state funds must be used for new housing only. <br /> 23 Chair Rich asked how the Board wanted to proceed with discussing this item. <br /> 24 Commissioner Dorosin said if the leveraging line is removed from the scorecard, then <br /> 25 the scores are much closer. He said there is value in leveraging, but that line seems to skew <br /> 26 the scores. He said he appreciated the projects proposed and appreciated the advisory boards <br /> 27 time and effort in evaluating the projects. He proposed changing the dollar amounts <br /> 28 recommended reflecting a reduction from Habitat for Humanity, and an increase in support of <br /> 29 the Homestead Road project proposed by Center for Community Self-Help. He said Habitat is <br /> 30 home ownership, while the others are rentals. He said the need for affordable rentals is greater. <br /> 31 He said Habitat is also involved in the Homestead project, and this project is really quite unique. <br /> 32 Commissioner McKee said he appreciated Commissioners Dorosin's comments about <br /> 33 leveraging. He disagreed with Commissioner Dorosin on moving funds from Habitat for <br /> 34 Humanity's home ownership project, as home ownership is one of the best ways to move up the <br /> 35 economic ladder. He said the division of funds is equitable and seems sufficient. <br /> 36 Commissioner Price asked if staff knows the timeline for building Weavers Grove verses <br /> 37 the Homestead Road project. <br /> 38 Dan Levine said the hope is to break ground at the end of 2021 on the Homestead Road <br /> 39 project. <br /> 40 Jennifer Player said the timeline for Weaver's Grove is to clear the site in March of 2021, <br /> 41 with vertical construction starting in summer of 2022. <br /> 42 Commissioner Greene agreed with Commissioner Dorosin, and said the Homestead <br /> 43 Road project is unique and timely. She said home ownership is indeed valuable, but the <br /> 44 community has a large need for immediate affordable housing for those who cannot qualify for a <br /> 45 mortgage. She said she would like to move some of the Weaver's Grove project to the <br /> 46 Homestead Road project. <br /> 47 Commissioner Marcoplos said this is a painful decision, but there is a great need for <br /> 48 rental housing. He said he wishes there could have been more funds on the bond referendum. <br /> 49 He said the Homestead Road project is $13,274/unit; EmPOWERment's PEACH project is <br /> 50 $87,500/unit; and Habitat's Weaver's Grove is $15,000/unit. He agreed that the stairwell <br /> 51 maintenance project is a good investment of funds for the future life of the properties. He said <br />