O-2006-2892 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Residential DevelopJ11en 33 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 of the La Porte Comprehensive Plan deals with the condition and availability of housing and its importance to the quality of life for community residents. The following represents an update of accomplishments of goals and objectives. GOAL 9.1: Consider Programs to revitalize and rehabilitate existing housing in the community where needed. OBJ. 9.1a: Provide access to public information regarding City and State Codes, standards and regulations. In 2005, the City initiated a "citizen-led" Building Code Appeals Board to hear cases of interpretation of Codes and to review existing and emerging Building Codes to ensure that the City of La Porte maintains pace with the surrounding cities and maintains acceptable standards. The Board has reviewed and made recommendations for the 2005 Electrical Code and is in the process of beginning a review of the latest building code updates. The information generated by this Board is now available to the Public via the City's website. Managing a small code enforcement staff, the Inspections Division has gone to a "Sweep Concept" which targets certain areas for a concentration of violations such as weeds, debris and junk vehicles. Once the issues in a certain area have been resolved, the code enforcement officers move on to the next target area. The staff continues to respond to complaints and information involving health, safety and welfare. Public infrastructure is constantly monitored by the Survey Division to add streets and sidewalks in need of repair and maintenance to the City's annual CIP list. Currently, $50,000 is spent annually in sidewalk maintenance and repair. In FY2006-2007, an additional $50,000 is being considered for new sidewalk construction. OBJ.9.1b: Utilize grant and loan programs for housing rehabilitation. From 2002-2005, the City's HOME Grant program on the Northside resulted in the construction of 11 new homes and provided up to $20,047 each to the new home owners in down payment assistance. One entire block of N. 1st Street has been revitalized using this program. In addition, the City continues to advise organizations such a Habitat for Humanity when suitable tax properties or City Trust Properties become available for development of affordable housing. Using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, the City is currently pursuing the extension ofN. 2nd Street with paving and utilities to open new lots to development of affordable housing. More than $96,000 has been allocated for this project. The project was bid in March 2006. For Program Year (PY) 2006, a new HOME grant was awarded to the City of La Porte in the amount of $452,300 with a City match of $113,000 for the construction of five additional homes with Harris County providing the down payment assistance to qualified buyers. A CDBG award for over $195,000 was granted to extend N. 7th Street with paving and utilities and improvements to the E Street right-of- way (ROW). As with N. 2nd Street, this new extension to ih Street will open new lots for development and the plan for the E Street ROW is to connect 2nd and 7th Streets with a "linear park." This park will provide pedestrian connectivity for the Northside Neighborhood along its Northern boundary and serve to buffer the residential neighborhood from the industrial uses to the North. By resolution, E Street will never be opened as a thoroughfare.