Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

11:30am-2:30pm

www.facebook.com/GreenvilleCommunityPlan

Greenville Community Plan Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program

AGENDA
Refreshments and Networking: 11:30-11:50am Welcome: 11:50am-12:00pm
John Restrepo, Garden State Episcopal CDC

Revisiting Purpose: 12-12:30pm

Angela McKnight, Angela Cares/Resident Rosemary Nwabueze, Christ The King Church/Bergen Communities United

Catching Up: 12:30-1:00pm

John Restrepo/Matt Ward , Garden State Episcopal CDC Monique Andrews, Snyder High School Parent Council/Resident Arnold B. Williams, Old Greenville Neighborhood Association

Residential & Community Development Strategies: 1-1:40pm

Evans Jones, Mason Jones Realty/Resident

Corridor Improvement Strategies: 1:40-2:15pm

Tinia Bland, Astor Place Neighborhood Association President

Next Steps: 2:15-2:30pm

Cornelius A Frazier & Cheronne Cheatam, Residents/Positively Reinforcing Youth Development

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Welcome
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty- Winston Churchill
Building an Empire Christ the King Church Claremont Lafayette United Presbyterian Church C-line Community Outreach Services College Preparatory Incentive Program Friends of the Lifers Garden State Episcopal CDC Jackson Hill Main Street SID NAACP Rising Tide Capital Snyder High School Parent Council Urban League of Hudson County Angela McKnight Angela Carter Arnold B. Williams Celestine Shaw Cheronne Cheatam Cornelius Frazier Deborah Alston Donna Sweringen Edward Chiles Evans Jones James Johnson Kim Greene Loukia Altenor Tawana Williams Tiffany McQueary Tinia Bland Rose Howard Rose Moultrie Regina Hill Vandora Fair

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Revisiting Purpose
What is this plan about? Why are we doing this? What are the goals? Why is it important?
Flexibility-The NRTC funds can be leveraged in many ways that fill the gaps where other funding stops. Replacement- Establishing NRTC Programs can help replace monies lost in by budget cuts. Funding- The NRTC brings in much needed funding for community projects. Momentum- The process provides a venue to build community support for innovative initiatives. Collaboration- The planning process encourages dialogue among stakeholders in Greenville to work towards the public good Idea development- NRTC is an incentive for the community to collaboratively develop solid fundable programs

Greenville Community Plan

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Revisiting Purpose continued

Example: Bergen Communities United

www.bergencommunitiesunited.com
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Revisiting Purpose continued

What area does it cover?

Union St.

Greenville Community Plan

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Revisiting Purpose continued

How Does the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) Program Work?

Planning Process Requirements How does it interact with existing plans and activities?

In Short, NRTC establishes:

An incentive to bring Exchange Place funds to MLK Drive.

A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION FOR GREENVILLE BY GREENVILLE

Greenville Community Plan

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The Key to the success of the NRTC Planning efforts lies within the carrot the plans provide to inspire corporate support for the plans programs.

Potential Funders

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OUR NRTC Foundation

Benefits
Localized control of community investment Leverages other funding Capacity to combine with other funding sources Collaboration on projects Gap financing Funding for real estate and nonreal estate programs Possible replacement for funding cuts Can address service voids
Greenville Community Plan

Boundaries
Project must occur in the target area No more that $1 million in NRTC financing can be spent on one program/project No more than $4 million can be spent on all programs/projects 60% of funds must be used for brick and mortar or economic development and 40% on non-real estate programs Review after 4 years

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Revisiting Purpose continued

Decision Makers

The Steering Committees Role Ultimate authority of the plan

Expertise

The Consultants Role Experience in the development of NRTC Plans across NJ

Conduit
Greenville Community Plan

Garden State Episcopal CDCs Role NJDCA Grantee and Facilitator/Administrative support

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Catching Up Revisiting Purpose continued Who is Garden State Episcopal CDC (GSECDC)?
Before After Before After

Greenville Community Plan

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Revisiting Purpose continued Revisiting Purpose continued Who is Garden State Episcopal CDC (GSECDC)?
Started as affordable housing organization in 1986 Serves over 2,000 people annually
220 units /82 abandoned properties

House 500 people annually

Remediated 44 lots with chromium contamination Rehabilitated abandoned school house 55 units of home ownership over the past 5 years

Also provides employment training, social services, housing education and homeless services
Over 60% of services benefit Greenville
Greenville Community Plan

Mixed use development

200 units house the homeless and special need populations 18 foreclosed units (working on 16 more) 150 people served annually through employment training and

placement. 65% placement rate. Average salary is $12-15 p/hr.

Emergency food pantry for the hungry Emergency services and drop in center for the homeless www.gsecdc.org www.facebook.com/GardenStateEpiscopal

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Revisiting Purpose continued Revisiting Purpose continued

Who is Garden State Episcopal CDC (GSECDC)?

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Catching Up

Planning Process
The Plan
identifies issues and develops programs for proposed solutions

The State
certifies that the plan meets state rules for programs and participation.

A Group
approaches the steering committee to implement a program in the Plan.

Corporations
approach the state to fund the approved program.

The State approves

the Steering committee request to fund a program in the Plan.

The Steering Committee reviews

the request for program implementation.

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Catching Up
Neighborhood Plan Development

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Catching Up

Greenville Community Plan

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Catching Up

What Has Been Done to Date?

Greenville Community Plan

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Catching Up

Vision Statement
In 2022, the Greenville is

PROSPEROUS EDUCATED

A GREAT COMMUNITY

SAFE

UNITED

INFORMED

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Catching Up

Goals and Objectives

1. Empower Local Residents & Strengthen Families 2. Ensure Economic Opportunity for Residents & Vitality of MLK Drive 3. Improve Housing Quality & Neighborhood Amenities 4. Create a Safe Place to Live, Work, & Play
Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Catching Up

Program Menu
Education &Training
After school programs Summer programs Apprenticeships Job fairs Entrepreneurship Local Business development Internships & Volunteer programs with Regional Employers Work with Existing Training agencies to bring service to MLK Corridor Life Skills Training Create employment opportunities from activities funded by the plan

Health & Human Services

Community Gardens Mobile Health Services Neighborhood Guide Expand recreational facilities Annual Health Fairs Additional Day Care

Transportation
Bus Shelters Light Rail Safety Transit oriented development at HUB Ride Sharing Programs Jitney Service Improve frequency of bus lines B

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Catching Up

Program Menu
Residential & Community Development
Block clean ups Street Fairs/Festivals Target abandoned properties Rehabilitate vacant structures Fill vacant lots Promote home ownership Target foreclosures Foreclosure prevention Advocate for adequate mortgage products for new buyers and people that need to refinance Address code violations Create more affordable housing sustainable and mixed Beautify the neighborhood- utility boxes, pride flags, notice boards, walking historical tours, murals

Corridor Improvements

Faade improvements Beautify with flower boxes, benches, et Improve pedestrian crossings Discourage loitering Bike lanes Promote higher density at HUB
Work with County, State and city to reduce crime Provide young offenders options when released Improve Lighting Gang Awareness Walking and bicycle patrols Security cameras Neighborhood watch Understanding statistics to advise strategy

Public Safety

Greenville Community Plan

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Residential & Community Development

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Residential & Community Development

Key Statistics to Consider

147 abandoned buildings (21% of city total) 17 foreclosures 46 pre-foreclosures ( mostly 2 family homes) 2011 backlog of foreclosures coming in 2012 $135,000 average negative equity 110 vacant lots

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Residential & Community Development Catching Up

Key Statistics to Consider

Median income $33,000 can afford: $847 Rent $63,000 single family home $240,000 two family home 41% of population earns less than $25k annual Can only afford $500 rent Fair Market Rent s $1,085- $1,652 for 1-4 BR units Median value of homes is $280,000 From 2000 to 2010 affordability options diminished for households earning 50-80% Area Median Income (AMI) 49% of homes were affordable in 2000 vs. 18% in 2010 for people at 80% AMI 24% of homes were affordable in 2000 vs. 7% in 2010 for people at 50% AMI

16% vacancy rate vs. 2.46 % in County 75% rental stock vs. 25% Owners 44% of owners and renters are cost burdened Concentration of high cost loans 45% of foreclosures are in Greenville 41 Home Improvement loans in 2004 vs. 1 in 2010

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Residential & Community Development Catching Up

Desired 5 year Outcomes

ADRESS PROBLEM PROPERTIES: Fix at least 30% (44) of abandoned structures Reduce property maintenance code violations by at least 50% Reduce vacant lots by at least 25% (27 lots) Reduce foreclosures by at least 25% (19-25 units) Reduce impact of foreclosures by at least 30% assisting 22-30 households with foreclosure prevention. Research viability of Buy Back Programs ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY ISSUES Increase stock of affordable housing by at least 3% (150 units) Decrease number of households paying over 30% of income for housing Increase home ownership rate by at least 5% (65 units) Increase affordable rental stock by at least 10% (85 units) Provide housing options to mixed income populations including seniors and special needs households Assist at least 40 cost burdened home owners with home improvements Provide pre purchase education to at least 200 potential first time buyers, savings programs and credit repair Provide regular information on mortgage products to at least 50 households per year OTHER: Walking tour of historical sites Murals and other beautification projects Community notice boards Increase sense of community through events Review appropriateness of zoning regulations Tie in city (HORP) and other resources for home improvements (Rebuilding Together) Advocate for competitive project selection and community feedback on all major projects and coordination of utility projects Trees and lighting

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

MLK Drive Corridor Improvements

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

MLK Drive Corridor Improvements

Key Information to Consider
June 1, 2012 Assessment
23 vacant lots 23 abandoned properties 18 vacant commercial spaces 9 vacant residential spaces above functioning ground floor 9 store front Houses of Worship Many essential services missing No Major Employers in the area From JGSC Group Bringing Business back to Martin Luther King Drive (continued) Key sites around HUB/Light rail remain vacant Create Special Improvements Districts and new public spaces to help businesses district succeed 25% vacant, 8% store front churches and 17 residential (no commercial component)- 50% of total properties Poor maintenance of sidewalks, streetlights, garbage cans, etc. Improper lighting not inviting to pedestrians Area lacks bus shelters contributes to perception of loitering Steel security gates contribute to feeling of insecurity Jumbled appearance business makes the district less attractive Buildings not well maintained Commercial rent is high and does not help recruitment and retention 2 out of 5 households do not have cars and rely on public transportation Bad signage (business and streets)- no theme Plan for parking for when commercial district takes off Need to increase residential spaces above ground to help with Eyes on Street

From JGSC Group Bringing Business back to Martin Luther King Drive (2009)
$343.3 million per year spent in other

communities instead of MLK Safety and security major deterrent for people outside of neighborhood Lacks variety of services Excess amount of vacant lots affect Window Shopping after 75 foot gaps Excess amount of vacant properties and blight contributes to unsafe feeling Need to broaden economic diversity (mixed income and disposable income)

Need to assess conditions, Bergen Ave. and Ocean Avenue.

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

MLK Corridor Improvements

Desired 5 year Outcomes Vibrant & Healthy Main Street on MLK Drive:
Reduce vacant lots by at least 13% (3 lots) Reduce abandoned structures by at least 13% (3 properties) Reduce boarded and broken windows by at least 50% (12 temporary murals) Reduce ground floor commercial vacancy rates by at least 27% (5 substandard ground floor spaces) Reduce upper floor residential vacancy rates by at least 30% (3 buildings) Promote cohesive shopping areas Faade improvement for 20 businesses or 2 blocks Beautify street corridor with banners, flower boxes, etc. Evaluate and improve pedestrian crossings Expand number of trash cans by 28% (15 with solar powered compression) Reduce business turnover through education and training (25 businesses) Diversify the commercial mix and range of essential services (banks, pharmacy, doctors, sit down restaurants) Reduce incidents of crime, including loitering through street lighting and expanding CCTV system Increase police foot patrols Promote code enforcement Advocate for increased services for proper maintenance of pavements and street lines Work with City on zoning issues relating to storefront houses of worship Promote pedestrian friendly signage Increase awareness of business assistance programs and services Target concentrated area for impact Develop affordable commercial grant/loan program to retain and recruit businesses to area Plan for future parking needs

Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012

Next Steps
Steering Committee will meet the 3rd Thursday of every month starting in July 19th at 11am at the Mary Bethune Center Schedule for completion of other program areas: Public Safety, Health and Human Services, Education and Training, and Transportation To Be Determined Resident Satisfaction Survey this summer with stipends Land/Property Survey this summer Complete draft plan by September for final public comment Submit to State in November How to Stay in touch mward@gsecdc.org 201-209-9301 x 315 www.facebook.com/GardenStateEpiscopal
Greenville Community Plan

Public Meeting #4 June 23, 2012