Resolution No. 2747 Westside Plan

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r 3. More detailed housing inspection and code enforcement programs should be - devel oped, directed prii marl 1 y toward investor -owned units and particularly a blocks = in tho s cks having z 5 percent_ or greater substandard struct'u es T' Owner r or renter subsidies should be considered where needed in conjunction'.wit'h these programs. 40 An ongoing public information program should be made avail abl e tp ci ti'zens concerning state and local housing legislation and programs. parts cul ar. ly• those which benefit low- and moderate - income residents. Discussion of the R ecomendati ons , Two federal ly� funded housing rehabilitation 1 oan ro rams are currentl vas l- u p 9 y a able in the Westsi de area. The 312 Program, as implemented i•n the W Neighborhood, concentrates on investor-owned housing. Funds avail abl e' through the Community Development Westsi de Neighborhood Improvement Program• (WIPY are allocated to owner -- occupants. Similar programs should be instituted, or these extended, to meet the full need for this kind of activi Because of direct correlations between substandard housing and i ndi"ces such las persons on fixed incomes, female-headed households, and age of structures, re- pai r and maintenance programs shout, d be instituted . for this area.' The Westsi'de has a high proportion of elderly, handicapped, and female-headed households 'Com- pared wi th the rest of the ci ty ; these popul a,ti ons, combi ned wi th the. greater age of structures i n the the. ghborhood , i ndi ca -tes the Wests i de • as a hi gh • pri ori area for this kind of program. Code enforcement programs in the nei ghbor•hoo'd shoul d focus on those blocks where concentration of substandard uni is ' exi - sts i n order to prevent the spread of deterioration to entire blocks*. Improvements made to a structure through code enforcement can increase housing costs because of rai ses in rents or taxes. Subsidy programs to help absorb these increases and maintain the low rent structure should -be developed* Many people may be unaware of housing programs, both local and state, • for •which , they might be eligible, and which would benefit them and the neigh- borhood indirectly. A program of public education to make people aware of these opportunities co d have valuable effects . for the entire city. For instance, - programs which were begun as a result of the 1975 Tegi sl ati ve session which could benefit many in the We sts i de include: 1. HB 2342--Provides for five --year property tax exemption on rehabilitation of older rental properties, - n 2. HB 2343 -- Creates a' ten -year p tax exem exemption for ual ff i ed multiple- ti 1 p , q p e unit housing built in central city neighborhoods. "i 3. HB 2344--Allows exemption from-property taxes of increased value which resul from deferred maintenance of owner - occupied, single-family-homes.' 4, HB 2333-Allows property tax deferral for land used for residences but zoned for commercial ai , i ndustri al , or high - density resi- denti al use. -17-