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MOunms ViEw of Mounds View Staff Item #: 6A Meeting Date: July 16, 2010 Type of Business: EDC Administrator Review: To: Economic Development Commission From: Heidi Steinmetz, Economic Development Specialist Item Title/Subject: Review Housing Rehabilitation Programs Introduction On June 21, 2010, staff received an application from the property owner of a single-family home located at 7968 Edgewood Drive in Mounds View. Mr. Nollet asked the EDA to acquire the property through the EDA's Housing Replacement Program. Mr. Nollet's application prompted City staff to request that the City Council discuss refocusing the Housing Replacement Program because the EDA has not supported the program in recent years (the EDA has denied the last three acquisition requests). These actions are consistent with the EDA's decision in 2007 to refocus the program towards demolition rather than acquisition. The City Council discussed the EDA's Housing Replacement Program at the July 6, 2010 Work Session and again at the July 12, 2010 EDA meeting. Attached are the staff reports from those meetings. On July 6th, the City Council discussed completely eliminating the acquisition portion of the EDA's Housing Replacement Program. On July 12th, the EDA denied the Housing Replacement Program application to acquire 7968 Edgewood Drive. The next step in the EDA/City Council's discussion of housing programs is for City staff to provide them with several options of housing rehabilitation programs that are not currently available to Mounds View residents. Staff is going to meet with Housing Resource Center staff later this month to discuss ways to structure a Mounds View housing program that would fill more of the needs for Mounds View residents while not repeating an existing program. In the meantime, staff is asking that the EDC discuss and provide feedback on the City Council's recent housing program discussions. Background The last time the EDC discussed Mounds View housing issues was in March April, May and December of 2008. Below are excerpts from each set of meeting minutes: March 21 200 EDC Meeting Minutes Excerpt The Housing Replacement Program is a City program administered offsite through the Housing Resource Center. The program offers a forgivable loan to be paid back within 10 years. The purpose of the program is to assist people who want to replace blighted homes. Staff would like the EDC's input regarding whether or not the City and the Housing Resource Center is meeting the needs of the community. This issue has come to light because of the foreclosure crisis. Chair Helgemoe asked how many foreclosures are in