Title
Eastside Multi-Year Project Budget (NB)
Explanation
After the district bus tour in April, the Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board (ERAB) discussed the development of several project themes for the coming year. The Board was particularly interested in discussing the increased demolition of boarded and vacant houses in the Eastside CRA and with cleanliness issues as next steps to implement the redevelopment plan.
CRA staff has worked with Jim Garrett, Code Enforcement Manager, to develop a proposal in which the ERAB would partner with Code Enforcement to implement an aggressive program to demolish a significant number of buildings within the upcoming year. This program would include the CRA providing funds and intern staff time to move the project forward. Mr. Garrett attended the May 2004 ERAB meeting to explain the demolition process and to discuss the proposed project. The Board agreed that this would be an excellent project and recommends that $20,000 and intern staff time be dedicated to its development and implementation. The HUD funded intern would be responsible for this project. CRA funds will be used only for the physical demolition of the buildings and the CRA will have an interest in any payment made against liens filed on the property.
At present, the CRA funds sidewalk cleaning using the Green Machine, graffiti abatement and some landscape maintenance along key corridors in the Downtown, College Park University Heights and Fifth Avenue Pleasant Street districts. The ERAB is very anxious to have a similar program within their district. Solid Waste Management is currently working on a plan to use inmate crews to provide this type of service Citywide. The ERAB recommends the CRA fund $10,000 of the inmate crew services to provide sidewalk cleaning, lot clearing and graffiti abatement in the Eastside district. The Board has several areas that they would like to identify for attention as the program is developed.
Fiscal Note
The Eastside currently has $40,000 budgeted for Facade Grants, $6,000 budgeted for sidewalks, $7,000 budgeted for the coordinated wayfinding signage project, $5,000 budgeted for the Retail Incubator project and $83,442 held for projects yet to be determined. The two new proposed projects could be funded from the $83,442. It is anticipated that an additional $70,000 will be added to the project budget in October 2004.
Recommendation
Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board to the CRA: Approve $20,000 for the demolition of dangerous buildings in the Eastside district; and 2) $10,000 towards the Solid Waste inmate crew program to provide services in the Eastside district.