FOURTH PRECINCT ADVISORY COUNCIL – 4PAC - MEETING MINUTES – JULY 15, 2008
Call to order at 7:01 p.m. – Morrie Longballa, President
Introductions:
2008 Board Members were introduced as they convene their first meeting of the year as newly elected officials. Attendees then introduced themselves stating community or neighborhood.
Minutes from June 17, 2008 meeting approved as amended to include the last name of Michael Condon, Hennepin County Probation.
Treasurer’s Report: Reed Frentz: $ 613.59 current balance
Program: Rebuilding North Minneapolis
Stephanie Gruver, Special Projects Coordinator for GMHC – Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation sgurver@gmhchousing.org 612-339-0601 ext 18
A non-profit since 1970, the GMHC’s mission is to preserve, improve and increase affordable housing for low income and moderate-income families, as well as assist communities with housing revitalization.
Founded in 1970 by the Minneapolis business community, 1351 homes, at a cost of $132,605,893, have been renovated or constructed. GMHC currently has 181 homes under development for a total of $ 36,200,000. The organization also provides p redevelopment loans to other organizations to assist in the development of quality affordable housing.
Through five neighborhood Housing Resource Centers, GMHC provides free construction advice to existing homeowners. Information on home improvement grants and loans, refinance info, remodeling advice, etc. is free to any homeowner. The NW Housing Resource Center is located at 2148 - 44th Avenue North; 612-588-3033 – Gary Beatty.
North Minneapolis is experiencing a high rate of foreclosures threatening neighborhood stability. 65% of all foreclosures in North Minneapolis are investor owned rental properties. Stephanie has visited 241 vacated north side foreclosure properties since September of 2007. Most of the homes are purchased through MLS or public auctions. Over 20 homes have been purchased at auctions. Of the 241 houses visited 75 have been purchased. The majority of these homes require extensive repairs; new roofs, windows, retaining walls, drain tile systems, furnace/boilers, asbestos abatement, etc. 38 of these 75 homes will be for rehab and resold to owner occupants. The first six are scheduled for completion in August – currently available are 1946 Oliver for $ 150K and 3910 Dupont for $154K.
In 2007 the Family Housing Fund established the Home Prosperity Fund to assist with foreclosed properties and foreclosure issues. The first $10 million came from MN Housing to the Family Housing Fund. This money was loaned to GMHC to buy, redevelop and sell foreclosed homes in North Minneapolis. This became the Strategic Acquisition Fund. GMHC then obtained an additional $ 2 million in grants to cover the “gap” between the cost to rehab a home and the actual resale value. An additional $6 million in funding came in the form of low interest loans from four financial institutions.
Minneapolis is assisting in the purchasing of these and other homes. The Advantage Program received over 600 application requests for 50 loans. To date 25 loans have closed, the remaining 25 are reserved and there are two on the waiting list. 70% of the Advantage loans went to North Minneapolis. Check with your local neighborhood organization to see what other type of programs are available.
Questions:
Does GMHC purchase multiple family housing? At one time they purchased multiples in Hawthorne – they look to see if they can be converted to single-family housing. They also work with other development projects on multiple housing projects.
Would persons going through foreclosure today be able to qualify for a GMHC home? Possible – best to work with one of the neighborhood Home Resource Centers for advice (contact info noted above).
How are houses selected for your program? House has to be worth saving; typically two-three bedrooms, good foundation/bones/character, provide a variety of housing stock, more than just paint and new flooring needed. If multiple offers are made on a house and the other offers are owner/occupants, GMHC drops out of the bidding.
Rehab Time? Twelve months from purchase to sell
Market Rates / Current Homeowners Values – how affected by your subsidized pricing? This is a concern and they are trying to raise the rates as to not negatively affect the neighborhood housing values.
Tear downs: Currently has several tear downs in the works @ 3600 Lyndale area– generally costs $ 15K on average for tear down – dependent upon abatement issues – could go higher.
Dream Homes – typically not interested as these homes do not have basements or garages and come with electric baseboard heat. GMHC will always add a garage where there is none.
Eco Friendly? Green and Energy Star standards – partners with the Re-Use Center (Lake Street & Hiawatha) who comes into the house and strips anything worthwhile for re-use.
North Side Tour – working with Joel Breeggeman who took 33 people on a tour of four houses in the Dupont Block Club neighborhood, Stephanie held an Open House for the GMHC home at 3942 Colfax and 3910 Dupont – Dan Olson from MPR was in attendance and is doing a radio segment on MPR Friday morning, the 18th. The next tour date is July 24th in the Folwell neighborhood.
Many thanks to Stephanie for a very interesting program.
Inspector’s Report – Lt. Bret Lindbeck for Inspector Martin
Part One crimes down YTD 15% --- although still a trouble spots, robberies, assaults, and auto thefts also down. Domestic assault led to one death, one suicide and one child shot.
Discussion regarding Juneteenth and police involvement and how the shooting there may force changes or cancellation of certain activities.
Police were commended by resident for recovery of neighborhood children’s stolen bicycles.
Convention Updates: August 25 through September 5th – all vacation and days off have been suspended for police personnel. There will be more officers on the streets in North Minneapolis working two twelve-hour shifts. Lt. Mike Sauro and Lt. Lindbeck are in charge north side officers. Inspector Martin will be leading the citywide policing efforts.
Announcements:
Garage Sale: Volunteers needed to work on the planning committee – sign up sheet on the back table. Contact Joel or Vivian – dagnaultv@4pac.org if interested in helping out.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - Program: Guardian Angels
Meeting adjourned: 8:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Vivian Dagnault