Council members at the June meeting expressed concern that tax dollars would contribute to homelessness under standard policies of subsidizing "low-moderate income" housing because so many residents might qualify under the income limitations but had such limited income that they would not be able to afford the units produced in the neighborhood. Accordingly, the Council presented this resolution to the FPSE Community Development Corporation, asking for more affordable units and continuing information about policies and practices. The CDC Board referred the resolution to its Housing Committee which will next meet on July 16 at 6 p.m. at the 4464 Oakland.  

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Date: July 9, 2001
To:Forest Park Southeast Community Development Corporation and RHCDA
From:Forest Park Southeast Community Council
 
A Resolution

   Whereas the plans for redeveloping 73 units of affordable housing and 12 units of for sale housing will not address the needs of the 50% of FPSE families with incomes of $15,000 or less per year,

   And whereas Lipton Management as well as FPSE CDC and RHCDA do not commit to finding replacement housing for those who will be leaving the Park East redevelopment area, even though they will be satisfying the City requirements for relocation assistance,

   And whereas the plans for rehabilitating the buildings include 21 one- and two-bedroom apartments but only one larger unit,

   And whereas Lipton Management stated that there may be a question as to whether Lipton will rent to families who may have an arrest or warrant for arrest by no conviction,

   And whereas average rents in Park East are now $300 per month and will be much higher after rehabilitation,

   Now therefore, the FPSE Community Council makes the following requests of FPSE CDC and RHCDA:

  1. That you make a written commitment to have one of every four apartments affordable to families whose incomes are 30% or below Area Median Income (AMI) as East Palo Alto, California has done;
  2. That your Relocation Plan, which is required on page 10 of the City of St. Louis Relocation Policy, be made available to the public;
  3. That you have an open information policy with the FPSE Community Council, reporting to it on a monthly basis;
  4. That you decide on a case-by-case basis who comes back into Park East, not automatically disqualifying families because of some criminal record;
  5. That you commit to finding actual apartments for those who cannot come back into your rehabilitated apartments;
  6. That you include more large apartments in your plan;
  7. That you assure those who have to leave their apartments that their replacement dwelling will be available at a cost consistent with the market for their previous apartment, as stated on page 2 of the City Relocation Policy;
  8. They you request McCormack Baron to sell $500,000 in tax credits so that you can do home improvement as was stated in the original FPSE Plan; and
  9. That you answer our requests in writing by August 15, 2001.

Respectfully submitted by the FPSE Community Council
Joan Botwinick, Secretary

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