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Housing and Redevelopment Minutes <br />August 5, 20]9 <br />Page 3 <br />hiring LHB to conduct inspections of the currently owned properties earlier this year so we <br />are on their schedule. She noted inspections are very intensive and conclusive and take <br />months to complete. <br />8.2 Blighted Properties Discussion <br />Ms. Othoudt presented her staff report. <br />Chair Toth feels some properties in the city should be uninhabitable and he would like to <br />consider expanding the blighted properties program to include assistance with rehabilitation <br />or demolition of these properties. He expressed an interest in offering better incentives for <br />residential property owners. <br />Ms. Othoudt noted the HRA blighted properties forgivable loan has been highly successful <br />for commercial properties but underutilized for residential and she's not sure if it's an <br />advertising issue or if the program itself isn't incentivizing enough to residential property <br />owners. <br />Commissioner Ovall explained one reason property is blighted is because residents don't <br />have discretionary income to fix their property up which means they may not have income <br />to take out a loan. He believes contractors or builders may be the best audience for <br />demolition of a blighted home to build a new home. He suggested offering a forgivable <br />demolition loan with conditions that the new home must be in the affordable housing range <br />and sold on the open market as a primary residence. It was noted the loan may have to be <br />forgivable right away so it doesn't conflict with any new construction loan. <br />Consensus of the HRA was to continue discussing possible changes to the blighted <br />properties program. <br />Commissioner Eder questioned if staff has looked at programs in other cities such as Coon <br />Rapids and Anoka. Ms. Othoudt indicated staff did research other cities when the program <br />was implemented but its possible things have changed. She stated staff will research what's <br />working in other communities and come back at a future work session. <br />9. Adjournment <br />Chair Toth adjourned the meeting at 6:28 p.m. <br />Minutes prepared , Jessica Miller. <br />Tina Allard, City Clerk <br />,.` <br />La Toth, C hair <br />Housing & Redevelopment Authority <br />