Agenda 03/13/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF MARTINSVILLE PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 7:30 P.M. City Council Chamber, Municipal Building 55 W. Church St., Martinsvi!!e This public hearing is being held to solicit public input on local community development and housing needs in relation to Community Development Block Grant Funding for a possible project in Martinsville. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a federal program created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. In Virginia, the program is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The program provides funding for local governments to address community development needs, particularly of low and moderate income (LMI) persons. The goal of the CDBG program is to improve the economic and physical environment in Virginia's communities and neighborhoods with primary focus on benefiting low and moderate income households, preventing and diminating slums and blight, and meeting urgent community development needs posing a serious and immediate threat to the health, safety, and welfare of Virginia citizens. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) anticipates that approximately 23 million dollars will be made available in FY 2001 to approximately 300 eligible cities, towns, and counties in Virginia. Typically, 50-75 communities will submit applications and 20-25 of those will receive funding. A wide range of activities can be pursued with CDBG funds. These include, but are not limited to: *Neighborhood Revitalization *Downtown Revitalization *Community Service Facilities *Property Acquisition & Clearance *Housing Rehabilitation * Infrastructure Improvements *Economic Development Martinsviile's past use of CDBG funds: In the 1990s, the City has used CDBG funds to carry out neighborhood revitalization projects in several neighborhoods. These projects have included housing rehabilitation, water and sewer improvements, property acquisition, clearance of blighted buildings, and street improvements. In 1994, the City undertook a study that prioritized several neighborhoods needing attention, and these have been addressed in turn, including Massey Street in 1994, Moss-Barton in 1996, and Southside in 1999. Each of these projects was preceded by a Planning Grant, an award of CDBG funds to help develop a project proposal. The City has received a 2000 Planning Grant to study the R.P. Thomas site and surrounding neighborhood. Although not anticipated in the R.P. Thomas project, any residential displacement or relocation resulting from the implementation of CDBG projects will comply with federal guidelines as set forth in the "Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Properties Acquisition Policies Act". The