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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Jim Pilmer, Director of Neighborhood Standards
DATE: June 2, 2014
SUBJECT:
Requesting authorization for the Mayor to enter into a Program Funding Agreement with Illinois Housing Development Authority in the amount of $250,000.00 for eligible uses in connection with maintenance and demolition of Abandoned Vacant Property within Aurora, Illinois.
PURPOSE:
The recent recession and foreclosure crisis created abandoned and vacant property throughout communities. The City of Aurora and Division of Property Standards implemented a Residential Vacant Property Program in July 2013 and budgeted $250,000.00 in FY 2014 to pursue the maintenance and demolition of abandoned and vacant property. The Illinois Housing Development Authority in 2013 amended the Illinois Housing Development Act, 20 ILCS 3805/1 (the IDHA Act) to allow Section 7.31 of the IDHA Act authorizing the Abandoned Residential Property Municipal Relief Program. This program allowed communities to submit grant applications in the amount of $75,000.00 or seek waiver to ask for $250,000.00 with a 1 to 1 match on funds in excess of $75,000.00. Aurora was awarded the waiver and will receive $250,000.00 in IDHA funding. The program will be administered by the Department of Neighborhood Standards, with assistance from the Finance Department, Legal Counsel, and Neighborhood Redevelopment. The funds can be used citywide, but an emphasis will be in the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area of the near east side of Aurora.
BACKGROUND:
Since July 2013 the Division of Property Standards began the Residential Vacant Property Program. The program has two elements. 1. With the cooperation of Legal, Zoning, Building and Permits and Engineering, the Division of Property Standards has been working towards active Code Enforcement cases for the Repair or Demolition of Abandoned Residential Properties. 2. Through the Vacant Residential Property Registration Prog...
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