[MissoulaGov] MissoulaGov Digest, Vol 30, Issue 3

[Nancy Wilson]

Thanks Bob.  Another reason this type of investment in rental housing in urban renewal districts - particularly downtown - is one that many great places have had problems with.  When the downtown - or the core of Missoula - is turned into condos instead of rentals, many of those condos are for "part time" residents.  You get a lot of heated, beautiful, empty condos downtown.   Let's be careful as a community and continue to work hard to keep lots of people - of all incomes - living in the core of our community.  
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> From: nmcdc at montana.com

> To: missoulagov at cmslists.com

> Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:16:26 -0600

> Subject: Re: [MissoulaGov] MissoulaGov Digest, Vol 30, Issue 3

> 

> Re: Urban Renewal

> 

> Seattle was a city buffeted by condo conversions and heavy downtown 

> gentrification from the late 1980's through the present.  In partial 

> response to the human costs of displacement, the City created an ordinance 

> (Seattle Municipal Code 22.210.130) whereby, "Low-income tenants who are 

> displaced by demolition, change of use, substantial rehabilitation, or 

> removal of use restrictions, ....be paid by the City...relocation assistance 

> [that] shall be adjusted annually by the percentage amount of change in the 

> housing component of the Consumer Price Index..."

> 

> I don't know hou the funding mechanism is sourced.

> 

> The MRA has an obligation to assure relocation assistance to tenants who are 

> displaced because of projects directly receiving MRA funds.  Unfortunately, 

> I'm afraid that at times, regulatory loopholes related to project timing 

> (when MRA actually becomes officially involved), could allow devlopers the 

> opportunity to evade that intent.  I know that Ellen Buchanan and the MRA 

> board are looking at housing policies that will go beyond that requirement 

> and that will make proactive strategies to guarantee that some component of 

> affordable housing be created in MRA's renewal districts.  I'm very much 

> looking forward to see what comes from these current discussions.

> 

> Whatever we can come up with as a community, it will be none too soon.  It 

> sounds like the Penwell might go the way of the Wilma and, now, the Babs. 

> It's great seeing the rewards of this type of reinvestment but the social 

> costs in displacing residents (and sometimes businesses) is not discussed 

> nearly enough.  Thanks to everyone who has responded, so far, to add to that 

> conversation.

> 

> Bob Oaks 

> 

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