2010-11-15-CPC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Weiss questioned why the request for CPA funding had risen from $250,000 last fiscal year to $315,000 this fiscal year. Mr. Goddard said Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype, Inc. had given the estimate of the costs last fiscal year, and noted that the components of this year’s request might be different. Ms. Weiss also asked what would happen to the Senior Center if the Human Services were to ultimately move to the White House. Mr. Goddard replied that the Senior Center space would be used for another Town purpose. 3. Housing Partnership, Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program – Mr. Bob Bicknell met with the Committee to discuss the Housing Partnership’s proposal to provide assistance for down payments and closing costs for new homeowners who purchase affordable units. He said that due to a disparity between requirements in HUD (Federal Housing and Urban Development) and the DHCD (State Department of Housing and Community Development), homeowners seeking to purchase affordable units could not currently receive federal assistance of this kind, and this had left some Lexington applicants without this assistance. He explained that the problem involved the different types of deed riders required by the two agencies and DHCD’s insistence that their deed rider be used if the units were to qualify as affordable. He explained that the Housing Partnership had raised $10,000 in private funds to help three families, but stated that further assistance was needed to provide for families and individuals in FY12. In order to meet the needs of these groups, he requested $30,000 in CPA funding. He also requested that if the Committee ruled positively on the Housing Partnership’s proposal, it make funds immediately available after Town Meeting rather than on July 1, 2012. There was a lengthy discussion of the details of the Housing Partnership’s request, with some members questioning how applicants could pay condo fees, etc, if they needed assistance for a down payment and closing costs. Mr. Bicknell stated that the foreclosure rate for the applicants had been extremely low - in the range of only 1-2%. Ms. Fenollosa questioned whether the Housing Partnership’s Assistance Program could be managed by LexHAB, who would be seeking $450,000 in FY12 for unallocated housing expenses. There was some discussion of this possibility, but Mr. Kanter raised some concern that the Town’s investment in LexHAB builds equity for the Town, while the investment in the Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program would not. Ms. Weiss spoke in favor of the proposal, stating that the foreclosure rate of 1.5% was very impressive, and reminded the CPC that it approves funding for the Housing Authority properties which are owned by the State rather than the Town. th Members wished to see current foreclosure data for the public hearing on December 7, and took under consideration Mr. Bicknells’ request to have funding available after Town Meeting rather than on July 1. 4. Muzzey Condominium Association - Window Replacement – Ms. Ginger McGuire and Mr. Hans Maas of the Muzzey Condominium Association met with the CPC to request funds to replace 132 windows in 44 units at the former high school, a historic building. Ms. McGuire explained that the project was being proposed under both the historic and affordable housing components of the Community Preservation Act, and that it further conformed to the goals set forth in the (2002) Comprehensive Plan for the Town. Ms. McGuire explained that the present windows are 100 years old, in poor repair, and have interior storm windows which are difficult to manage. The windows present the only other form of egress for many of the units, and in many cases cannot be opened. She said the Condominium Association had met with the Historic Districts Commission and that the two groups had reviewed the options for replacement of the windows in a style that would conform to HDC standards. The Association had initially proposed a vinyl window for their needs, but the HDC required a product closer to historic materials, available from Andersen. She said the Condominium Association also had the option of rebuilding the existing windows, but had decided against this alternative. The HDC-preferred window was priced at more than three times the cost of the vinyl alternative ($931 vs. $2,855) and Ms. McGuire explained that the Association was seeking funding from the CPC to bridge this difference. Ms. McGuire further reviewed the finances of the Condominium Association, noting that the condo fees were $180 to $210 per year for an average unit and that special assessments have been levied upon the owners for $290,000 in the 2