Minutes 11-05-2020 Virtual Business Meeting

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