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1996 EDA Annual ReportCRYSTAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1996 ANNUAL REPORT In 1996, the Crystal Economic Development Authority (EDA) continued its efforts to maintain and improve the community's housing stock. Strategies for this include acquiring and removing blighted and substandard single family homes through the Scattered Site Acquisition program, selling cleared lots for new move -up housing through the New Crystal Home program and rehabilitation of single family homes with deferred maintenance needs through the CDBG Rehabilitation program for qualifying households. The EDA recently started using HUD's 203(k) mortgage program to acquire single family homes in need of serious cosmetic and code repairs and updating. Through this program, the EDA completes the repairs and updating and sells the houses to qualifying households. To provide additional resources to assist with residential redevelopment and rehabilitation, the EDA and City established a Housing Replacement Program to generate additional income. Each year, several parcels are added to the housing district which will generate revenue to help or partially defray the costs of residential redevelopment. The EDA took the following actions on the properties listed below: - Demolished the existing home at 5423-27 Welcome Avenue North; - Sold 5427 Welcome for construction of a new single family home through the New Crystal Home Program; - Acquired and demolished the blighted structure at 3535 June Avenue North through the Scattered Site Program; - Acquired and demolished the blighted structure at 4342 Adair Avenue North through the Scattered Site Program; - Sold 5423 Welcome for construction of a new single family home through the New Crystal Home Program; - Demolished the house and sold the property at 6308 - 43rd Avenue North to adjacent property owner for combination into one large lot; - Approved the acquisition of 2731 Douglas Drive to pursue a townhouse project; - Approved the demolition of 3557 Regent Avenue North; and - Approved the acquisition of 3525-29 Lee Avenue North through the Scattered Site Program. To encourage first time homebuyers to purchase Crystal homes, the EDA again participated in the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency's MCPP program for first time homebuyers. All $576,000 that were allocated for Crystal were used for the purchase of Crystal homes. Another priority of the EDA is to redevelop blighted or underutilized areas to increase the community's tax base and provide additional employment opportunities. In 1996, the EDA focused on the Bass Lake Road/West Broadway northeast corner and Suburban Motel areas. Specific actions include: - Demolishing the structures at 5454 and 5518 Lakeland Avenue to facilitate redevelopment of the site; - Approving the acquisition of 5624 Hampshire Avenue North as part of redevelopment of northeast corner of Bass Lake Road and West Broadway; and - Extending the development agreement for redevelopment of the northeast corner of Bass Lake Road and West Broadway to require construction of new commercial development by December 31, 1997. In addition the following private development occurred along West Broadway in the core commercial area: - Construction of new American Brake Systems facility at 5264 West Broadway (this included demolition of a vacant and unattractive storage building and site); - Addition of a self-service car wash facility at the existing Jiffy Lube at 5273 West Broadway; and - Construction of a new McDonalds and demolition of old building at 5400 West Broadway. To provide another source of funds for redevelopment activities, the EDA again recommended the Council approve an EDA levy for redevelopment activities. Funds from this levy are in a special account to be used only for redevelopment activities, particularly in cases when no other funds are available. This is the third year this special levy was approved. The EDA Advisory Commission continued to advise the EDA on economic development matters, including completing the necessary requirements for Crystal to remain a Star City. In 1997, the EDA looks forward to continuing its various activities and programs geared towards maintaining and improving the community's housing stock and neighborhoods. The EDA will pursue new programs which may be appropriate to achieve these goals. HUD's 203(k) mortgage program will continue to be used as a way to finance the rehabilitation of single family homes which, upon completion, are sold to qualifying households. The EDA intends to establish partnerships with local lenders to market programs which will encourage private reinvestment and upgrading of housing stock. The EDA anticipates the redevelopment of the northeast corner of Bass Lake Road and West Broadway proceeding according to the revised schedule with the new commercial development being substantially complete by the end of 1997. The EDA looks forward to securing a developer and approving a development plan for redevelopment of the Suburban Motel site and beginning redevelopment of the County Road 81 corridor area. The EDA will continue to work with the EDA Advisory Commission to establish short and long range goals for economic development and jointly develop strategies for achieving those goals.