AGENDA #11b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration of Resolution Authorizing the Town to Participate in Sykes Street Action Strategy
DATE: January 8, 2001
The attached resolution would authorize the Town’s participation in developing an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street area.
The proposal from Orange Community Housing Corporation and EmPOWERment, Inc. results from informal discussions about how to renovate and sell a property on Sykes Street purchased in November, 2000 by the Town with Community Development funds. On February 28, 2000, the Council approved the use of Community Development funds to acquire a vacant house located at 501 Sykes Street. The Chapel Hill Police Department proposed this acquisition as part of its community policing efforts in that neighborhood.
DISCUSSION
The proposal envisions that the Orange Community Housing Corporation, EmPOWERment, Inc., the Community Land Trust in Orange County, neighborhood residents, the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning, and the Town would form a partnership to develop an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street neighborhood. The request is that the Town Council authorize participation by the Town in this effort.
We understand that the role of the Town would be to participate in a team effort to develop this Action Strategy. Robert Dowling of Orange Community Housing Corporation and Mark Chilton of EmPOWERment, Inc. would co-chair this team effort.
In addition, we estimate that the Town would contribute $500 from Community Development funds for expenses related to the work undertaken by the UNC Department of City and Regional Planning class. These funds are available for use in the Community Development Program budget.
RECOMMENDATION
This process could complement the Town’s and EmPOWERment’s current efforts to revitalize the Northside neighborhood. We believe this is an opportunity for the Town to provide a supportive role in a community-based effort to improve living conditions in the Sykes Street area. We anticipate that a product of the work would be an estimate of how Community Development funds might be used to implement the Action Strategy as part of the project’s report to the Council proposed for May, 2001.
We recommend the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Town’s participation in developing an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street area.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICPATION BY THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL IN DEVELOPING AN ACTION STRATEGY FOR THE SYKES STREET AREA (2001-01-08/R-14)
WHEREAS, Orange Community Housing Corporation and EmPOWERment, Inc. have proposed a partnership among community organizations, neighborhood residents, the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning, and the Town of Chapel Hill to develop an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street area; and
WHEREAS, such a Strategy could help assist in carrying out the goals of the Town’s Community Development Program to revitalize the Northside neighborhood;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council joins with Orange Community Housing Corporation, EmPOWERment, Inc., the Community Land Trust in Orange County, neighborhood residents, and the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning class of Dr. William Rohe to develop an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street area;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the participation of the Town in this effort, including the use of $500 in Community Development funds for class expenses related the project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to provide technical assistance and staff support to the project in an advisory capacity.
This the 8th day of January, 2001.