Title
RESOLUTION ADOPTING A HOUSING ACTION FRAMEWORK, ESTABLISHING INTERIM PRIORITIES FOR HOUSING POLICIES IN ADVANCE OF IMAGINE DULUTH 2035 COMPLETION.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that:
a) Citizens from across the city have participated in the Imagine Duluth 2035 process, establishing a basis for the prioritization of new development, preservation, and rehabilitation of housing throughout Duluth; and
b) Development of new housing, and especially housing that will be affordable to lower income households, is critically needed within the city of Duluth, based on analysis by community planning staff, the work of community partners including Duluth HRA, Duluth LISC, One Roof Community Housing, Center City Housing, and others, and consultants; and
c) The community planning division has prepared and recommends approval of the Housing Action Framework, an interim policy framework to allow for more rapid development of new housing options than would otherwise be possible through the Imagine Duluth 2035 plan; and
d) The purpose of the Housing Action Framework is to provide guidance and clarity regarding city priority areas for housing rehabilitation and new development; it includes a map to designate specific areas within the city for particular development types.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution adopts the Housing Action Framework, an interim action in advance of completion of the final Housing Chapter of the Imagine Duluth 2035 Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is expected to be finalized near the end of 2017. The accelerated timing for adoption of the Housing Action Framework will align opportunities for housing rehabilitation actions by the city in partnership with the Duluth HRA, and will provide certainty regarding the city's policy direction for non-profit partners seeking project funding assistance from partners such as the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). This includes potential actions in the near term, where One Roof Community Housing intends to request Low Income Housing Tax Credit assistance from MHFA for the Decker Dwellings. The proposed Decker Dwellings apartment development will help achieve several goals of the Housing Action Framework, including creation of new housing near employment opportunities and creation of affordable housing outside existing concentrations of poverty in the city of Duluth.