HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-29-2000-8uORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 29, 2000
SUBJECT: HOME Program--Property Acquisition
Action Agenda
Item No. ~~
DEPARTMENT: Housing/Community Dev. PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/NJ No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Letter from EmPOWERment, Inc.
INFORMATION CONTACT;
Tara L. Fikes, ext 2490
Development Agreement
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough
Chapel Hill
Durham
Mebane
732181
968-4501
688-7331
336-227-2031
o au onze a execution o a eve opment greement wi ent, con
behalf of the Orange County HOME Consortium for the acquisition of rental property in Chapel Hill and
authorize the Manager to execute the document upon the approval of the County Attorney.
BACKGROUND: The Orange County HOME Consortium, in May 1999 approved the FY 1999 HOME
Program that included an allocation of $100,000 for rental property acquisition by the non-profit agency,
EmPOWERment, Incorporated.
The agency has now identified property at 316 A & B McMasters Street in Chapel Hill to purchase and
repair and then lease to low-income families. The purchase price is $85,000 and they anticipate repair
costs to be approximately $60,000. The current appraised value of this property is $87,000. These are
three bedroom units that EmPOWERment will lease for $815 per month. They are requesting $45,000 in
HOME funds to apply to acquisition and the remaining costs far acquisition and BB&T will finance rehab
costs.
As the lead entity for the Orange County HOME Consortium, the County must enter into a Development
Agreement with EmPOWERment, Inc. for expenditure of HOME funds for this property acquisition.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This action will represent an expenditure of $45,000 from the 1999 HOME
Program allocation.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends authorizing the execution of a Development
Agreement with EmPOWERment, Inc on behalf of the Orange County HOME Consortium for the
acquisition of rental property in Chapel Hill and authorize the Manager to execute the document subject to
final review by staff and the County Attorney.
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Em ~ • ~ ment
INC.
Reclaiming the PQWER of our Communities
90ARb~F CIRECTQRS
June 6, 2000
Vivian S. Faushee, Ptrsidenr
Nmthride ~ Atroegapoir Ms. Tara Fikes
Orange County Housing and Community Development
Stepney Edwards, Viee Pn:sident PO $181
`5~ Hillsborough, NC 27278
Matthew Fearrington, Secretary
L1gd Stmt Nei~ibcneuad Armdmrimr
Jane Stan, Treas~uer
C7
C RE: HOME Request 316 McMasters Street RECD J U N 0 6 z00p
nv,
.aiunron Seirrc Fmceda6oir
SAM Brooke
x~aL7 ox
Dear Tara:
~`~"` Br°`""
Cmr Caat NdgGGa-baad A,tmiaarrdr I am wri ' to uest HOME fund' of $45,000 to urchase 316 A&B McMasters Street in
~ ~l ~ P
Chapel Hill. We are under contract to purchase the units for $85,000 and we anticipate rehab
~~'~ B
Lord Stnmt Neig6barbaod A.rtoaanro~ costs of $60,000 to significantly improve the two units.
Rev. Robert Campbell The property consists of two houses connected by 4x4 posts. I have spoken with JB Culpepper
Rogers Rarer Nei~i6a~bioad A.eraeiaAdoa at the Chapel Hill Planning Department and she has assured me that the property comprises an
r3ubic Mere existing nonconformity. Rather than rehab the homes separately, we are proposing to combine
the two homes, build a flrewall and convert the units to condominiums. We have checked the
sttsan Mmirikwc
Street Neiabhnrhoad.9ssa~apbn setback re ulrements and are confident that an rehab will lessen the existin non~onformi
q y $ ty
I have met with BB&T and they are prepared to make a loan pending the County's support.
Robin Rattkirt
No>t~ ~~ Our rehab plan calls for building a new foundation between the two homes; creating a firewall
sraFF separation; upgrading electrical, HVAC, plumbing; rebuilding bathrooms and kitchens;
installing a new roof system; and altering the layout of the homes to convert them from 2-
My~ p,Y,g~ bedroom units to 3-bedroom units. Renovations will take approximately 90 days. An opinion
p; on title, appraisals, development budget and operating pro forma are attached. Jeff Jones of
M~~ne MitrF+wll Beemer, Savery, Hadley and Jones will handle the closing.
Drreetar gfCaneaanriiy B,oorldara
We will rent the homes to families earning less than $0% AMI and rent levels will be
T`~ ~"°~
~M affordable under the Section 8 ro EmPOWERment, Inc. will
P l~• manage the properties.
We feel that it might be beneficial to give ourselves the flexibility to sell one ar both of the
Jeff Caiola condo units we will be creating. We intend to hold them as rentals for a while, but the front
a'~,re.~l unit could potentially be very attractive as a homeownership project. To provide maximum
flexibility in the long run,1 think it would be best to use part of the $100,000 in HOME funds
allocated to rental projects to provide the $45,000 subsidy required. We could split the subsidy
across both units as a $22,500 second mortgage. If we sell the front unit at a later date we
7os-A wit Rosemarq street could then transfer the second mortgage to a qualified family. Please let me know if you think
caalaoro, Nc z75to
Phone: (919) 967-8779 this is a workable solution. I look forward to hearin from ou.
g y
Fax: (919) 967-0710
errq~oweanentinc(a]ttrirtdspring.com Since ,
Myle
Direc r
NORTH CAROLINA
ORANGE COUNTY
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
This is an AGREEMENT between ORANGE COUNTY, a general local governmental
unit of the State of North Carolina, (hereinafter referred to as the "County") and
EMPOWERMENT, INC , a North Carolina non-profit housing organization (hereinafter
referred to as "EmPOWERment"). The effective date of this agreement is
WITNESSTH
WHEREAS, the Orange County HOME Consortium has designated $45,000 in FY 1999
HOME funds for the purpose of conveying these funds to assist with acquisition of two units on
McMasters Street in Chapel Hill hereinafter referred to as the "Project", which property is more
particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as the "Property") ;
WHEREAS, the County is the lead entity of the Orange County HOME Consortium, so
designated in an agreement dated August 27, 1992, and amended January 26, 1993, and July 28,
1993, and as such is the lead entity in a representative capacity for all members of the Orange
HOME Consortium far the purposes of carrying out the HOME Program in accordance wit the
Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (Pub. L. 101-625), (42
U.S.C. 3535(d) et. seq.) (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"), and as further defined in the
Federal Program Requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and
WHEREAS, EmPOWERment intends to purchase two rental units located at 316
McMasters Street in Chapel Hill (herein after referred to as the "Property"), and described in
EXHIBIT A attached hereto and incorporated herein; and
WHEREAS, EmPOWERment intends to rehabilitate these units and make them
available for rent to families earning up to 80% of HUD area median income; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, promises, and
representations contained herein, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
a. EmPOWERment shall acquire the dwelling units defined in the Project, obtain
all permits and licenses necessary to rehabilitate the units in the Froject, and
comply with applicable building and zoning ordinances as well as Section 8
Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
b. EmPOWERment shall make certain that the seller is aware of their rights
under the federal Uniform Relocation Act prior to completing the sale of the
property. The seller must also complete a Lead Based Paint Disclosure Form.
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c. The property to be acquired must have a value that does not exceed 9S°Io of
the area median purchase price for that type of housing.
Value must be established by one of the following methods:
i. An appraisal by a qualified appraiser.
ii. Tax assessments may be used to establish value, but only if they are
current and can be computed at 100% of market value.
d. Transfer of property that includes rehabilitatian requires an appraisal by a
qualified appraiser. If rehabilitation is required,' the appraised value of the
proerty after rehabilitation cannot exceed 9S% of the median area house
value. (Nate, the property value -- not purchase price -must be equal to or
less than 95% of median purchase price.) The after rehabilitation value
estimate must be completed prior to the investment of HOME funds.
e. The period of affordability will be 99 years and will be secured by a Deed of
Trust ,Promissory Note, and Declazation of Restrictive Covenants that will
incorporate a right of first refusal that may be exercised by EmPOWERment
and/or Orange County.
e. EmPOWERment agrees to lease the property to a family whose income does
not exceed $0% of the area median income by family size, as determined by
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and as amended
from time to time.
f. Any rental income in excess of the approved rental operations budget must be
returned to Orange County at the end of the July 1 fiscal year annually.
g. EmPOWERrment is responsible for verifying the income of prospective
tenants and maintaining eligibiliy data. EmPOWERment shall maintain
purchaser files as part of its Books and Records as required and for the period
of time required by Section 6.c. of this Agreement.
4. Affordability Requiremen#. Each unit must remain affordable for. a period of ninety-
nine yeazs. EmPOWERment retains full responsibility for compliance with the
affordability requirement for assisted units, unless affordability restrictions are
terminated due to the sale of the Property to anon-qualified buyer in which event the
Resale Provisions of Section S of this Agreement pertain., EmPOWERmenC shall assure
compliance with affordability of assisted units by having recording a "Declaration of
Restrictive Covenants" (EXHIBIT C) on the Property. This Declaration shall constitute
and remain a first lien on the Property during the period of affordability.
It is further the responsibility of EmPOWERment to rerecord the Declaration of
Restrictive Covenants no later than one day before the expiration of 30 years of the date
of the purchasing the property in the event that EmPOWERment is still the owner of the
dwelling unit at the time of the rerecording. County retains the right to periodically and
every 30 yeazs after the first recording of the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants on the
Property to register, with the Register of Deeds of Orange County, a notice of
preservation of the Restrictive Covenants an the Property as provided in North Carolina
General Statute § 47B-4 or any compazable preservation law in effect at the time of the
recording of the notice of preservation. It is the intent of this Section of this Agreement
that the 99 year affordability requirement contained herein be accomplished and that
EmPOWERment and the County will do what is necessary to ensure that the same is not
extinguished by the Real Property Marketable Title Act or any comparable law
purporting to extinguish, by the passage of time, non possessory interests in real property.
Both EmPOWERment and County agree to do what each must do to accomplish the 99
yeaz affordability requirement.
5. Resale Provisions. EmPOWERment shall assure compliance with affordability of
assisted units through the Declazation of Restrictive Covenants. The Declazation of
Restrictive Covenants shall include at least the following elements in their resale
provisions for the Improvements:
S.1 If the buyer no longer uses the Property as rental property is unable to continue
ownership, then the buyer must sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of their
interest in the Property only to an agency with similar interest in affordable
housing and serve families with incomes not exceeding 80% of the area median
household income by family size, as determined by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development at the time of the transfer, to use as their
principal residence.
S.2 However, if the property is sold during the term of affordability to anon-qualified
homebuyer, the Right of First Refusal provision of the County's Long-Term
Housing Affordability Policy must be followed and the net sales proceeds (sales
price less: (1) selling cost, (2) the unpaid principal amount of the original first
mortgage and (3) the unpaid principal amount of the initial County contribution
and any other initial government contribution secured by a deferred payment
promissory note and deed of trust) or "equity" will be divided SO/50 by the seller
of the Property and the County.
5.3 The resale provision shall remain in effect for the full affordability period - 99
yeazs.
6. Miscellaneous Provisions.
a. Termination of Agreement. The full benefit of the Project will be realized only
after the completion of the affordability periods for all properties constructed with funds provide
affordable units to low-income families. It is the County's intention that the full public benefit of
this project shall be completed under the auspices of EmPOWERment for the assisted units as
follows:
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i. In the event that EmPOWERment is unable to proceed with any aspect of the Project
in a timely manner, and County and EmPOWERment determine that reasonable
extension(s) for completion will not remedy the situation, then EmPOWERment will
retain responsibility for requirements for any dwelling units assisted and County will
make no further payments to EmPOWERment.
ii. In the event that EmPOWERment, prior to the contract completion date, is unable to
continue to function due to, but, not limited to, dissolution or insolvency of the
organization, its filing a petition for bankruptcy or similar proceedings, or is adjudged
bankrupt or fails to comply or perform with provisions of this agreement, then
EmPOWERment shall, upon the County's request, convey to the County the
properties assisted with funds. Conveyance shall be at the sole discretion of County
and on a dwelling unit by dwelling unit basis.
Conveyance of properties shall be on the terms set forth herein:
Conveyance of properties shall occur within thirty (30) days of County and
EmPOWERment's agreement of EmPOWERment's inability to continue as a viable
organization. EmPOWERment shall convey the subject properties to County by
general warranty deed, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances of record except
those which create a beneficial interest in County (Declaration of Restrictive
Covenants and Deed of Trust).
b. Default, Remedies. This Agreement may be terminated by anon-defaulting
party upon an event of default hereunder, after written notice thereof and thirty (30) days grace
period in which the defaulting party may act to cure. As used herein, the term "an event of
default" shall mean and refer to a failure or act of omission by either party with respect to any
undertaking, obligation, covenant or condition as set forth in this Agreement. With respect to
any event of default, the non-defaulting party may exercise any right available to it at law or in
equity with respect to such default.
c. Books and Records. EmPOWERment shall maintain records of its grant
requirements under this contract for a period of not less than five (5) full fiscal years following
the contract completion date.
i. EmPOWERment shall ensure access to records and financial statements, as
necessary, to provide effective monitoring and evaluation of project performance. Upon
reasonable advance notice, County or its authorized representatives may from time to
time inspect, audit, and make copies of any of EmPOWERment's records that relate to
this contract. If any audit by County discloses that payments to EmPOWERment were in
excess of the amount to which EmPOWERment was entitled under this contract,
EmPOWERrnent shall promptly pay to County the amount of such excess. If the excess
is greater than 1% of the contract amount, EmPOWERment shall also reimburse County
its reasonable costs incurred in performing the audit.
ii. EmPOWERment shall maintain files of all tenants, regardless of length of
occupancy, residing in assisted units. Documentation shall verify eligibility for federal
assisted housing, at the paint of initial closing on the unit, and every subsequent buyer
thereafter for the period of affordability. Information maintained shall include buyer
income level, ethnic data, female head of household, and disability status and Property
and Improvement purchase price.
iii. EmPOWERment shall maintain records verifying the affordability of the assisted
units.
d. Notices. Any Notice shall be in writing and shall be given by depositing the same
in the United States mail, post-paid and registered or certified, and addressed to the party to be
notified, with return-receipt requested, or by delivering the same in person to an officer or
principal of such party. Notice deposited in the mail in the manner here in above described shall
be effective upon mailing. For purposes of Notice, the addresses of the parties shall, unless
changed as hereinafter provided, be as follows:
i. To the County: Orange County
c/o Housing and Community Development
Department
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
ATTN: Director
ii. To EmPOWERment: EmPOWERment, INC
P.O. Box 407
Hillsborough, NC 27278
ATTN: Executive Director
Either the County or EmPOWERment may change the person or address to which any future
Notice shall be given as herein provided.
e. No Assignment. No transfer or assignment of the interest of EmPOWERment in
this Agreement shall occur without the prior written consent of the County; neither may
EmPOWERment assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of County.
f. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
g. Indemnification. To the extent legally possible, EmPOWERment shall
indemnify and hold County, its officers, agents, and employees, harmless from and against any
and all claims, actions, liabilities, costs, including attorney fees and other costs of defense,
arising out of or in any way related to any act or failure to act by EmPOWERment, its
employees, agents, officers, and contractors in connection with this contract. In the event any
such action or claim is brought against County, EmPOWERment shall, upon County's tender,
defend the same at EmPOWERment's sole cost and expense, promptly satisfy any judgment
adverse to County or to County and EmPOWERment jointly, and reimburse County for any loss,
8
cost, damage, or expense, including attorney ;fees suffered or incurred by County.
h. Subcontracting. EmPOWERment shall not subcontract work under this contract,
in whole or in part, without County's prior written approval. EmPOWERment shall require any
approved subcontractor to agree, as to the portion subcontracted, to comply with all applicable
federal, state, and local laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations at all times and in the
performance of the work and to comply with all obligations of EmPOWERment specified in this
contract. Notwithstanding County's approval of a subcontractor, EmPOWERment shall remain
obligated for full performance of this contract and County shall incur no obligation to any
subcontractor EmPOWERment shall indemnify, defend, and hold County harmless from all
claims of its contractors.
i. No Joint Venture or Agency. The County and EmPOWERrnent each agree and
acknowledge that nothing contained herein or otherwise, including, without limitation, any act of
the County or EmPOWERment under this Agreement, shall be deemed or construed to create
any relationship of joint venture, partnership or agency between the parties.
j. Effect of Waiver or Forbearance. No failure by the County to insist upon the
strict performance of any term or condition of this Agreement, or to exercise any right or remedy
upon the breach by EmPOWERment of any of its obligations, agreements, or covenants
hereunder, shall be a waiver of such affected term or condition or of such breach; nor shall any
forbearance by the County to seek a ,remedy for any breach by EmPOWERment be a waiver by
the County of its rights and remedies with respect to that or any other breach.
k. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina. Any litigation arising out of this
Agreement shall be brought in courts sitting in North Cazolina, with venue in Orange County.
1. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement aze independent of and separable
from each other, and no provision shall be affected or rendered invalid or unenforceable by the
fact that for any reason any other provision may be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part.
If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstances
shall, to any extent, be or become invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement, or
the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is
held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each provisi6n of this
Agreement shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. The County and
EmPOWERment agree to substitute for such provision of this Agreement or the application
thereof determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such other provision as most closely
approximates, in a lawful manner, such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision. If the County
and EmPOWERment cannot agree, they shall apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to
substitute such provision as the court deems reasonable and judicially valid, legal and
enforceable. Such provision determined by the.court shall automatically be deemed part of this
Agreement ab initio.
m. Equal Opportunity. EmPOWERment shall not discriminate against any
employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
9
political affiliation or belief, age, handicap, or familial status in the implementation of this
Project.
n. Headings. Headings are for convenience only and shall not be used to interpret or
construe its provision.
o. Gender; Singular and Plural. As used herein, the neuter gender includes the
feminine and masculine. The masculine includes the feminine and neuter, and the feminine
includes the masculine and neuter and each includes a corporation, partnership or other legal
entity when the context so requires. The singular number includes the plural and vice versa,
whenever the context so requires.
p. Recording. The parties hereto agree that upon notice to the other and at its own
cost and expense, a party may record this Agreement in the Office of Register of Deeds .for
Orange County.
q. Compliance with Laws. To the extent applicable, each party hereto agrees to
comply with all laws, ordinances and regulations affecting the Property from and after the date
hereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, EmPOWERment shall comply with all
federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances applicable to the expenditure of funds
provided by the County, to purchase and develop the Property.
r. Publicity; Signage. EmPOWERment agrees to provide such publicity with
respect to .the County's participation in the development of the Property as the County shall
reasonably require. Any signage at the Property shall acknowledge the County's role and
contribution.
s. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute on and the
same instrument.
t. No Third Party Rights. The parties hereto covenant and agree that nothing
contained in this Agreement or any act by the County or EmPOWERment shall be deemed or
construed by the parties or any third party to create any relationship of third party beneficiary,
including third party principal or agent, or to create any right, claim or cause of action against
the County, EmPOWERment or any of their respective officers, agents or employees by any
third party.
u. Performance of Government Functions. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement which may be to the contrary, nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way
stop, limit or impair the County from exercising or performing any regulatory, policing or
governmental powers or functions with respect to the Property including, without limitation,
inspection of the Property in the performance of such functions.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, have set their hands
and seals on the day and year first above written.
COUNTY OF ORANGE, NORTH CAROLINA
(SEAL)
Jahn M. Link, Jr., County Manager
ATTEST:
Beverly A. Blythe
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
Approved as to form and legality
Geoffrey Gledhill, County Attorney
This document has been preaudited in accordance with the N.C. Local Government and Fiscal
Control Act. ,Kenneth Chavious, Finance Director
NORTH CAROLINA
ORANGE COUNTY
This is to certify that on this day personally came before me Beverly A. Blythe, with
whom I am personally acquainted, and being by me duly sworn, says that John M. Link, Jr. is the
County Manager of Orange County, NC, and that she the said Beverly A. Blythe; is the Clerk to
the Board of Commissioners of the County of Orange, the body politic and corporate named
within and which executed the foregoing instrument; that she knows the common seal of said
County; that the seal affixed to said instrument is said common seal; that the name of Orange
County was subscribed thereto by the said County Manager of Orange County, NC and said
Beverly A. Blythe subscribed their names hereto and said common seal was affixed, all by order
of the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County and that said instrument is the act and
deed of Orange County.
Witness my hand and notarial seal, this the day of 2000.
Notary Public
My commission expires:
11
EmPOWERment, INC
(SEAL)
President
ATTEST:
Secretary
NORTH CAROLINA
ORANGE COUNTY
I, ,Notary Public in and for the above named County and State,
do hereby certify that on this day personally appeared before me with whom I am
personally acquainted, who, being by me duly sworn, says at he is Secretary and that is
President of EmPOWERment, INC, a North Carolina corporation, and that by authority duly given and
as the act of the corporation, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by its President, sealed
with its corporate seal and attested to by its Secretary.
Witness my hand and notarial seal, this the day of 2000.
Notary Public
My commission expires: