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Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes October 3, 2011 Page 3 Commissioner Moon that he did not feel it would make sense to remove the 720 building at a cost of • $95,000 - 120,000; repair the 716 building roof for $45,000; and then eventually remove the 716 building when parking is needed for an additional $75,000 - $120,000. Commissioner Lieser asked if the concrete could be buried. Mr. Ruprecht stated no, it must be removed. Vice-Chair Toth asked how much has been spent on this project so far. Ms. Deckert stated that the only cost has been staff time. Toth asked if any of the work could be done in-house. Mr. Ruprecht stated that some of the civil engineering could be done in-house, but the trusses for the 720 building are embedded into the meat market and a structural engineer would be necessary to design plans for separating the buildings. Toth stated that he believed the meat market had a separate wall. Mr. Ruprecht stated that he has not taken the wall apart enough to know exactly how it is put together. Toth stated that he felt the HRA should utilize staff to do whatever can be whatever can be done in- house. Commissioner Lieser concurred that both buildings should be demolished. Ms. Deckert stated that she would need authorization from the HRA to solicit quotes for the cost of demolition. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LIESER TO PROCEED WITH OBTAINING PROPOSALS FOR COSTS TO DEMOLISH THE 716 AND 720 MAIN STREET BUILDINGS. Commissioner Motin asked that staff continue to work with the Arts Alliance on relocation. He suggested that they check with the owner of the Bluff Block for temporary location in the empty • office space. Mr. Raymond stated that there are two possible spaces in this building but he did not know what the cost of the lease would be. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Presentation - Ed Nelson, MN Homeownership Center Vice-Chair introduced Clay Wilfahrt, Assistant Director of Economic Development. Mr. Wilfahrt introduced Ed Nelson of the Minnesota Homeownership Center (MNHOC). Mr. Nelson reviewed the programs offered by MNHOC including the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program, homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention, and home repair and rehab. He also discussed their public awareness campaign regarding foreclosure scams, and tools such as downpayment and entry cost assistance for first time homebuyers. Mr. Nelson stated that Minnesota experienced a downward trend in foreclosures in the first quarter of 2011, down from 2010 (250 in the first quarter of 2010, 142 in the first quarter of 2011). But, he noted that the numbers are creeping back up in the second quarter of 2011 (200). He stated that Elk River's numbers are coming down a little more, in comparison to the overall state numbers. He noted that 62 Elk River homeowners have come in for counseling and 16 have participated in pre- purchase education. Mr. Nelson noted there are some new innovations in foreclosure prevention counseling: (1) homeowners now have a single point of contact, to make sure that things are running smoothly, rather than having the homeowner work with multiple individuals; (2) MNHOC has a brand new • partnership with Fannie Mae; (3) counseling partnerships with other banks such as Wells Fargo and Chase; (4) Dodd- Frank Making Home Affordable program (300-400 households in Minnesota