HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-14-1996 - VIII-J 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No _]W.�f
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 14, 1996
SUBJECT: Housing Development Application
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DEPARTMENT: Housing/Community Dev. PUBLIC HEARING YES NO_x_
Budget Amendment YES NO—x-
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ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT
Tara L. Fikes, 2490
Div. of Community Assistance Letter
County Response/Supplemental Information TELEPHONE NUMBER
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Mebane 227-2031
Durham 688-7331
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PURPOSE: To approve supplemental information for the County' s
FY1996 Community Development Block Grant Program Application in the
Housing Development category.
BACKGROUND: On or about March 20, 1996, the County submitted a
application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to
provide the necessary infrastructure in a small subdivision being
developed by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, NC, Inc. The
specific request was for $145, 750.
Since submission of the application, we have talked with Division of
Community Assistance (DCA) representatives regarding their concerns
pertaining to the proposed construction schedule. Specifically, they
have requested additional information has outlined in the attached
letter. A response has been developed and. must be approved by the
Board of Commissioners and the Habitat Board and submitted to DCA by
May 22, 1996.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Manager recommends approval of supplemental information for the
County' s FY1996 Community Development Block Grant Program Application
in the Housing Development category and authorize the Chair submit the
information to the Division of Community Assistance.
i STAND
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V � A
North Carolina
Department of Commerce
James B. Hunt Jr., Governor S. Davis Phillips, Secretary
May 2, 1996
Moses Carey, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
Dear Chairman Carey:
As you are aware, we are JIn the process of reviewing the County's Housing
Development application. The schedule for construction of the homes as described
in the application is not acceptable because Habitat would not begin construction
for over one year after a potential award date. After conversations with Susan Levy
from Habitat and Tara Fikes, we understand that Habitat can begin construction in
the fall of 1996 rather than 1997. Please provide the following information
concerning this issue:
1) Why did the original schedule set construction for September 1997?
2) What has changed that enables construction to take place in the fall of 1996?
3) Please provide evidence that construction can begin in fall of 1996 including
revised schedule showing all stages of the project.
The above information should oe approved by the Orange County Board of
Commissioners and Orange County Habitat for Humanity's board. Please submit the
information before May 22nd. If you have any questions, please call Jennifer Taylor
at 919-733-2850 (or TDD 1-800-735-2962).
Sincerely,
Pam Wilson, Section Chief
Program Development
Division of Community Assistance -William A. McNeil, Director
Suite 250, 1307 Glenwood Avenue, P. O. Box 12600, Raleigh,North Carolina 27605
Telephone 919-733-2850 - FAX 919-733-5262 - TDD 1-800-735-2962
An Equal Opportunity Affirmadve Action Employer
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Supplemental Information
FY 1996 Housing Development Application
Efland Estates, Phase II
1. Why did the original schedule set construction for
September 1997?
At the time of application, Habitat for Humanity of
Orange County, Inc. (HHOC) planned to construct ten houses
during 1996-1997 at various sites in the County.
Infrastructure construction was scheduled to begin in August
1996, assuming a May 1996 award, and be completed within
ninety days - on or about October 31, 1996. Since November
is not traditionally a good month to begin construction due
to weather related issues, HHOC proposed waiting until March
1997, the spring of the following year, to begin
construction. The May 6th letter requesting this
information references September 1997, however, in the
original application dated March 20, 1996, page 12, the
start of construction is listed as March 1997 .
2. What has changed that enables construction to take
place in the fall of 1996?
Infrastructure improvements are still scheduled to
begin in August 1996 and completed by October 31, 1996 as
originally proposed. However, HHOC is willing to begin
construction of the five houses as soon as the
infrastructure improvements allow access to the property
site.
The purchase and development of this site in Northern
Orange County is a high priority for the local Habitat for
Humanity affiliate. HHOC presently has an option to
purchase the land which expires May 31, 1996. In order to
develop this property, HHOC needs the assistance of
Community Development Block Grant funds to provide
water/sewer and a paved road in this small, planned
community. After discussions with Jennifer Taylor of the
Division of Community Assistance, HHOC has decided to
reshuffle resources and plans for the coming year and commit
themselves to starting construction in Efland Estates as
soon as the infrastructure is completed. HHOC does not
foresee a problem with this proposal, particularly, since
the fall of the year is their peak volunteer season. This
is important because the volunteers play a major role in the
sweat equity concept of Habitat affiliates.
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3. Provide evidence that construction can begin in the
fall of 1996 including revised schedule showing all
stages in the project.
Construction Schedule
May 1996 Grant Award; Begin solicitation of
Professional Engineer to prepare
specifications
June 1996 Engineer chosen; specifications completed.
Begin solicitation of Contractor to perform
the infrastructure work.
July 1996 Receive bids from qualified contractors .
August 1996 Award bid to the lowest responsible bidder.
August 1996 Begin work. Projected completion date
October 31 1996 assuming 60-90 days for
actual construction.
November 1996 Start house construction (2 units)
July 1997 Start house construction (3 units)
September 1997 Families occupy the houses begun in November
1996.*
May 1998 Families occupy the remaining completed three
units.*
*Habitat' s construction schedule, from grading of the
building lot and laying of the foundation by subcontractors,
to completion of house construction and landscaping by
volunteers, including punch list items, is typically nine to
ten months . Because they use volunteer labor for the
majority of the construction, and because the majority of
that volunteer labor occurs only on Saturdays, the length of
time it takes to complete a home is longer than a
conventional builder would normally require.
Schedule Note: The above schedule was developed in
consideration of past time frames for completion of actual
grant administrative requirements such as grant agreement
execution, release of funds, etc. Any changes in the time
required for administrative requirements will impact the
proposed schedule.