Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for the renovation of Country Ridge property in an amount up to $2,000,000.00. Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority will enter into a grant agreement with the city for the bond funds as a pass-through entity. CMHA Country Ridge LLC is the ownership entity of the project and Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is a general member.
Country Ridge is currently an affordable housing community consisting of (96) units with a (50) unit Project Based Voucher HAP Contract that is owned by Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. The development is located at 5656 Farmhouse Lane, Hilliard, Ohio 43026. The project consists of (48) two-bedroom units and (48) three-bedroom units and built in 1998. At the time it was developed by National Church Residences, the city made a HOME loan to the project for $1,152,000.00 which with interest had increased to approximately $2,400,000.00 when it was forgiven by the Columbus City Council in 2023. Upon the recapitalization of this development, it will be monitored by OHFA for 30 years.
Renovations to Country Ridge will include new kitchen and baths, flooring, appliances, HVAC, water heaters, window treatments, siding, windows and roofs.
All residents will have access to CMHA’s RISE Center. CMHA's RISE Center serves as a centralized hub that provides access to valuable community resources for CMHA residents. The RISE Center can help you coordinate access to supportive services in the following four areas: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health & Wellness, and Character & Leadership.
Some examples of available services include: Applying for emergency rental assistance, utility bill payment plans, and understanding your lease agreement. Signing up for health insurance, unemployment, and food assistance. Finding employment, housing, medical care, and educational opportunities. Managing health and well-being, including understanding illnesses and medications. Family planning, pregnancy care, and care for the entire family.
Emergency action is requested in order to maintain the construction schedule and to fulfill financing needs prior to closing deadlines with the developer’s other lenders. Without emergency action, new affordable housing would be further delayed from a low-income community in urgent need of it.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $2,000,000.00 is available in the Affordable Housing Bond fund. A transfer of cash is necessary.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 006216 and expires 09/08/2025.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds within the Affordable Housing Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for the renovation of Country Ridge property in an amount up to $2,000,000.00; to authorize the transfer and expenditure of up to $2,000,000.00 from the Affordable Housing Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Development seeks to enter into a grant agreement Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for the renovation of Country Ridge property in an amount up to $2,000,000.00; and
WHEREAS, The project consists of (48) two-bedroom units and (48) three-bedroom units and renovations will include new kitchen and baths, flooring, appliances, HVAC, water heaters, window treatments, siding, windows and roofs; and
WHEREAS, all residents will have access to CMHA’s RISE Center, coordinating access to supportive services in the following four areas: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health & Wellness, and Character & Leadership; and
WHEREAS, a transfer of cash and an expenditure in the Affordable Housing Bond Fund, Fund 7779, is necessary for funding this project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority in order to maintain the project schedule and to fulfill financing needs prior to closing deadlines with the developer's other lenders, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Development be and is hereby authorized into a grant agreement Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for the renovation of Country Ridge property in an amount up to $2,000,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $2,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7779 (Affordable Housing Bond fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $2,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in fund 7779 (Affordable Housing Bond fund), Project P782050-100004, Dept. 44-10 (Housing), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance
SECTION 6. For the reasons stated in the Preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.