Eugene Affordable Housing News
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IN THIS ISSUE | January 2019
Eugene Affordable Housing News
City Council Awards Property and Funds to St. Vincent de Paul
City Council Approves Funds for Homes for Good
Housing Tools and Strategies Work Group Reports to City Council
Ya-Po-Ah Terrace Receives HUD Funding
City Council Awards Property Tax Exemptions for Affordable Housing
Housing Policy Board Task Team Seeks Input from Eugene Renters
Fair Housing Presentation Offered to the Community
Public Shelter Feasibility Study is Released
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Eugene Affordable Housing News
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This new publication,
Eugene Affordable Housing News
, highlights progress made by the City of Eugene and community partners to create housing opportunities affordable to lower income persons. The Eugene City Council adopted Affordable Housing and Community Development Strategies as part of the five-year
2015 Consolidated Plan
. The strategies and goals in the Consolidated Plan guide the work of the Housing Opportunities Team.
This newsletter will be published approximately three times per year, keeping readers informed of the City of Eugene's affordable housing programs, progress, and accomplishments.
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City Council Awards Property and Funds to
St. Vincent de Paul
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On January 14, 2019, the Eugene City Council awarded St. Vincent de Paul a city-owned lot located at 1505-1525 River Road. Council also approved a $275,000 Systems Development Charge (SDC) waiver for the development. Council approved the use of $725,000 in federal HOME funds for the development, which were then awarded by the Eugene-Springfield HOME Consortium Governing Board on January 29, 2019.
In early 2016, the City purchased the nearly three acres on River Road using federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Through the 2018 HOME funded Affordable Housing Request for Proposals (RFP) process, three developers submitted proposals to develop the River Road site. As part of the RFP process, staff conducted extensive outreach with area neighbors including discussions at neighborhood meetings, a tour of existing affordable housing developments, a meeting with adjacent neighbors, and a presentation to interested neighbors by potential developers of the site.
The new development will include 53 units targeted to very low income households, including units set aside for survivors of domestic violence. Utilizing feedback from the neighbors, the development will feature a 3,000 square foot community building built to Essential Facility standards for disaster preparedness.
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City Council Approves Funds for
Homes for Good
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On January 14, 2019, Eugene City Council approved funding for Homes for Good for The Commons on MLK. Funding includes $150,000 in Low-Income Housing Funds and a $280,000 Systems Development Charge (SDC) waiver. City Council also approved the use of $750,000 in federal HOME funds for the project, which were then awarded by the Eugene-Springfield HOME Consortium Governing Board on January 29, 2019.
The Commons on MLK will be located in the Harlow Neighborhood at 2411 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The new development will have 51 studio units of permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing homelessness and will include full time services and staff.
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Housing Tools and Strategies Work Group
Makes Recommendations City Council
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On May 30, 2018, City Council directed staff to implement a process to identify barriers to housing affordability, availability, and diversity. Staff were also directed to suggest, evaluate, and recommend possible tools and strategies to address the barriers.
As part of the process, the City contracted with a consultant to facilitate a Housing Tools and Strategies Working Group. Four meetings were held to discuss barriers to housing and identify tools and strategies. An economist was also contracted to evaluate existing and potential tools and strategies to inform City decision-making.
The recommendations were presented to City Council on December 10, 2018 and January 14, 2019, which included a Construction Excise Tax (CET). City Council has scheduled a Public Hearing on the proposed CET for February 19, 2019. City Council also has a worksession scheduled on February 25, 2019, to discuss the CET ordinance.
To learn more about the Housing Tools and Strategies Working Group or process, please visit the website.
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Ya-Po-Ah Terrace Receives HUD Funding
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In December 2018, the City of Eugene closed its largest Rental Rehabilitation loan to date, lending $1,500,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. These funds were provided through the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and will benefit Ya-Po-Ah Terrace Retirement Apartments.
Located near Skinner Butte, Ya-Po-Ah Terrace is the tallest building in Lane County. Since 1968, the building has provided 222 units dedicated to seniors aged 62 and older. Of those, 210 apartments are for seniors with very low incomes who pay no more than 30% of their income as rent. The average resident is over 76 years old and has an income of $15,910 per year.
The substantial rehabilitation project will allow the continuation of federal subsidies to preserve these units as affordable housing for current and future residents, while also preserving this affordable housing asset for our community for decades to come.
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City Council Awards Property Tax Exemptions for Proposed Affordable Housing Development
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In 1990, the City of Eugene adopted a 20-year property tax exemption for low-income rental housing. The exemption is for rental properties affordable to individuals and families at 60% of Area Median Income or lower. Since 1990, Eugene has approved property tax exemptions for 31 affordable housing developments with over 1,200 units. In December 2018, City Council approved a property tax exemption for a proposed 70-unit affordable housing development in the Downtown neighborhood at 11th Avenue and Lincoln St. (rendering is above).
Earlier in 2018, Council approved two new property tax exemptions. The first was for the 22-unit tiny home development at Emerald Village Eugene by Square One (on Polk St. and Railroad). The second new property tax exemption approved was for 211 units at Ya-Po-Ah Terrace (in the Downtown neighborhood).
In addition, 20-year renewals of existing property tax exemptions for Woodleaf Village, Birchwood Apartments, Ross Lane Apartments, Mac MacDonald, and Hilyard Terrace were approved by Council in 2018, preserving 183 units affordable to lower income households.
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Housing Policy Board Task Team
Seeks Input from Eugene Renters
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The Intergovernmental Housing Policy Board (HPB) acts as a forum for public input on community issues related to affordable housing. It reviews low-income housing issues and makes policy, funding, and other recommendations regarding affordable housing to Eugene and Lane County governments.
HPB primarily meets the first Monday of each month and community members are invited to attend. Meetings occur at noon and are held at the Atrium.
The HPB Renter Protections Task Team is holding listening sessions for renters to learn about their experiences in the Eugene rental market. As part of their efforts, HPB is administering a city-wide
Renters' Experience Survey
for Eugene renters during the month of January.
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Fair Housing Presentation
Offered to the Community
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The City of Eugene engages in a number of activities related to affirmatively further fair housing. These
Fair Housing activities
include fair housing outreach and education, contracting with Fair Housing Council of Oregon to provide a Fair Housing hotline, and staffing the Housing Policy Board.
The most recent Fair Housing presentation for community members was held on January 29, 2019, at the Campbell Community Center and was was well attended. Planning is underway for future Fair Housing trainings and suggestions are welcome. Please contact
Teresa Kennedy
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Public Shelter Feasibility Study Released
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In March 2018, the City of Eugene and Lane County hired Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) out of Boston, MA to conduct a Public Shelter Feasibility Study and Homeless Service System Analysis in Lane County. TAC presented their final report during a Joint Lane County Board of Commissioners and Eugene City Council meeting on January 22, 2019.
The next step is to form a steering committee including electeds, staff, and nonprofit representatives that will advise on the implementation of the ten recommendations.
To read the report, the ten recommendations, and other City efforts related to homelessness, please visit the website.
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City of Eugene Planning & Development Department
99 W. 10th Avenue | Eugene | OR | 97401
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