10/13/2015 NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
October 13, 2015
Present: Vice Chair Vicki Adelson, Board Member Peggy M. Cutkomp, Board Member Lisa
Hughes, Board Member Linda Kemp, Board Member Empty Seat
Absent: Chair Michael Potts, Board Member Kevin Chinault
Also Present: Geri Campos Lopez— Economic Development & Housing Director, Patricia O.
Sullivan — Board Reporter
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
3 —Approval of Minutes
3.1. Approve minutes of the September 8, 2015 Neighborhood & Affordable Housing
Advisory Board meeting as submitted in written summation.
Member Hughes said she was not present at the September meeting.
Member Cutkomp moved to approve minutes of the September 8, 2015 Neighborhood &
Affordable Housing Advisory Board meeting as amended. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
4—Citizens to be Heard re Items Not on the Agenda: None.
5 - Notification of EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant Application
Economic Development& Housing Assistant Director Denise Sanderson distributed an
informational brochure on Clearwater's Brownfields Program and discussed Brownfields
assessment phases. The City will submit an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Brownfields Assessment Grant application; results will be announced in 2016.
In response to a question, Economic Development & Housing Director Geri Campos Lopez said
Brownfields funds were used to clean up the former Clearwater Automotive site. The Willa
Carson Health Center and Fire Station 51 were located on former Brownfields sites.
Ms. Lopez discussed implementation of priorities identified by the ULI (Urban Land Institute)
downtown assessment. Ms. Sanderson said information on downtown sites identified for
redevelopment was distributed extensively and advertised in the September and October issues
of Florida Trend magazine.
6 — Housing Project Updates
6.1 Prospect Towers
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Ms. Lopez said Prospect Towers was sold to a non-profit following completion of the
rehabilitation projects; the City was repaid its $800,000 rehab loan. The City will monitor land
use restrictions which require some building units to remain affordable. The new owner's
intention, so far, was to continue providing affordable senior housing.
6.2. Country Club Townhomes
Ms. Lopez said the last Country Club Townhome unit was sold. Staff will close out the project's
Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant.
6.3. Stevens Creek
Mike Sutton, CEO for Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, said most construction of the
Stevens Creek subdivision was completed; houses were being built on 3 of the remaining 8 lots.
He anticipated the subdivision will be built out in 12 months. He appreciated the City's
partnership with the agency.
6.4. Garden Trail
Ms. Lopez said the Housing Division's $350,000 loan to the Garden Trail Apartments, LLC
project to underground development utilities closed in September. That work will start soon.
Financing with State tax credits will close around December. Construction of the 76-unit family
project will begin in late winter/early spring. Staff worked on this project for more than 10 years.
6.5. Milton Street Homes
Ms. Lopez said the Housing Division's $200,000 loan to Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County
to construct 4 single-family houses on the Milton Street lots had closed.
Mr. Sutton said the project was fast tracked with ground broken for all 4 units; he estimated
construction will be completed by June 30, 2016. He said Habitat for Humanity partnered with
Clearwater Gas; he was excited that Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County was offering
natural gas to homeowners for the first time.
6.6. Kimberly Home
Ms. Lopez said the Housing Division's $95,000 loan to Kimberly Home to purchase property had
closed. The rehab project would start soon.
7 - CHDO Recertification for Bright Community Trust
Ms. Lopez said recertification for the Bright Community Trust CHDO (Community Housing
Development Organization) was in process and would be presented to NAHAB (Neighborhood
& Affordable Housing Advisory Board) upon completion. Bright Community Trust rehabilitated
properties on Keene Road and Neptune Avenue.
The City's other CHODO, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, probably will be recertified if
a project is identified.
8 — Low Income Housing Tax Credit Application
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Ms. Lopez reviewed Florida's low- income housing tax credit program. The City issued a RFQ
(Request for Qualifications) in September and received one application, which proposed
Chestnut Trail, an 80 -unit senior affordable rental housing development at the intersection of
Chestnut and East streets.
Staff requested the City Council to approve a $75,000 grant in General Fund Reserves to set
aside as a commitment for the required local government contribution for SP Trail LLC for
Chestnut Trail, to be developed by Southport Development, Inc. Once approved, the City will
sign required forms and the developer will submit the application.
9 — Old /New Business
Ms. Lopez said staff was strategizing re projects to invest income from repayment of the
Prospect Towers' loan. A RFP (Request for Proposals) will be released. HOME Investment
Partnerships Program funds must be spent within 2 years of approval.
Ms. Lopez said the 2016 NAHAB meeting calendar was distributed.
Ms. Lopez said the Housing Manager position was advertised; she hoped a new hire would start
in January 2016. Michael Holmes retired in September and will return as a temporary hire from
November through January to help prepare the annual report and the new hire transition.
10 — Next Meeting — December 8, 2015
Ms. Lopez said important business at the December NAHAB meeting includes review of the
HUD (Housing & Urban Development) Department annual report and a CHDO recertification.
11 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:33 a.m.
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