Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Affordable Housing Trust Corporation (AHTC) for Columbus and Franklin County. The AHTC currently facilitates the production of affordable housing and the enhancement of home ownership opportunities in Columbus. Specifically, this legislation authorizes the AHTC and the city of Columbus Home Again Initiative to selectively target acquisitions of vacant and abandoned properties for redevelopment and to waive the provisions of Columbus City Code Sections 328.01 and 329.29. The legislation also authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute any and all agreements and deeds necessary for conveyance of title of properties. Properties acquired by the AHTC and/or its subsidiary, the City County Holding Company, will be deeded to the city of Columbus and its Land Redevelopment Office. urban land reutilization program. As such, t The properties will be held and managed by the City's Land Bank that is managed and maintained by the Land Redevelopment Office. Residential structures acquired for rehabilitation will be held until the rehabilitation is completed and then transferred back to the City County Holding Company.
The AHTC and/or its subsidiary will contract for and manage the rehabilitation of these structures. The AHTC may also select residential structures to rehabilitate that were acquired through the Land Reutilization Program and held in the City's Land Bank. Vacant properties will be processed in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Land Redevelopment Office for the implementation of the Land Reutilization Program.
Emergency action is necessary to allow for the AHTC and/or its subsidiary, the City County Holding Company, to immediately begin the acquisition process.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation. Costs to hold these properties include but are not limited to real estate taxes, filing fees, general maintenance costs, board up costs, and demolition costs.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into an agreement with the AHTC; to authorize the acceptance of properties acquired by the AHTC and/or its subsidiary, the City County Holding Company to be held and managed by the Land Redevelopment Office; to authorize the transfer of those properties rehabilitated to the AHTC and/or its subsidiary the City County Holding Company; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to execute any and all agreements and deeds necessary for conveyance of title; to waive the provisions of Columbus City Code Sections 328.01 and 329.29; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to administer the Home Again Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to enter into an agreement with the Affordable Housing Trust Corporation (AHTC) for Columbus and Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition of vacant properties for redevelopment will be used to assist in implementing the Home Again Initiative to preserve the supply of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is necessary to allow for acquisition and rehabilitation of vacant properties to begin immediately, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said agreement with the Affordable Housing Trust Corporation (AHTC) for Columbus and Franklin County to allow for acquisition and rehabilitation of vacant property, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Affordable Housing Trust Corporation (AHTC) for Columbus and Franklin County to implement a component of the city's Home Again Initiative.
Section 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to execute any and all agreements and deeds necessary for conveyance of title.
Section 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the city of Columbus will accept title to all future properties acquired by the AHTC and or its subsidiary , the City County Holding Company, for the city's Home Again Initiative and that no further legislation is required for subsequent acquisitions and transfers on individual properties acquired or transferred. Upon acquisition by the AHTC and/or its subsidiary the City County Holding Company, the properties will be deeded to and remain with and be maintained by the city's Land Redevelopment Office until rehabilitation is completed.
Section 4. That the provisions of Columbus City Code Sections 328.01 and 329.29 are hereby waived.
Section 5. That 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 its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.