Minutes 01/28/1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.) t) 1..:. "-.I MONDAY JANUARY 28, 1985 It is recommended that an organization or agency be given the re- sponsiMlity of commercial development and expansion in the City. Consideration should be given to the redevelopment of the block bounded by Church, Market, Fayette and Moss Street, with the pos- sibility of securing an Urban Development Action Grant to aid in the cost of purchasing and preparing the property involved for com- mercial redevelopment. c. The Ecomony The expansion of the industrial and commercial base is needed to provide increased job opportunities for persons who wish to live in Martinsville. These new jobs would create a demand for housing which would benefit the housing and building trades industry and help stabilize population decline. In summary, the City should continue its industrial development efforts through support of the Economic Development Corporation and should make a strong effort to promote commercial/retail growth and activities within the CBD and in other areas of the City. Industrial and commercial growth are essential if the economy of the City is to remain healthy. Housing and Population Loss There is a direct relationship between population loss in the City and affordable housing. According to the 1980 census, Martinsville diminished in population from 19,653 in 1970 to 18,149 in 1980. The 1981 population has been estimated to be 17,900. This apparently resulted from a decline in the number of married couples with children and a growth in the number of older persons. This condition is serious as it relates to school facil- ities and operations, since the school population has shown a steady decline for a number of years. The recently-completed comprehensive plan indicates an exodus of people from Martinsvile to Henry County and other communities for various reasons, including: 1) housing and land cost; 2) lack of housing; 3) limited resi- dentially-developable land and 4) property taxes. Even though a population decline occurred during the period from 1970-1980, the overall number of housing units increased by 11.3 percent (720 units). This is due to the moving of young families to Henry County and other areas. Permit records reveal that 44.5 percent of the housing permits issued in Henry County since 1970 were for mobile homes. None were issued for mobile homes in the City for this period. Therefore, it seems that much of the affordable housing in recent years within the area was mobile homes. This verifies the demand for single-family housing units by young families. Therefore, an effort should be made to find ways of cutting costs of single- family housing units to an affordable level, especially for young couples with f amil ie s. The construction of additional multi-family housing units is also a method of meeting housing needs and assisting in stabilizing the City's population decline. The present high cost of raw land, plus land development cost and high interest rates, virtually eliminate the subdivision and development