The Shadow
Covington City Council entertained discussions over city properties during its regular March meeting, conducted Tuesday night at Council Chambers in Covington City Hall.
The first property discussion took place during the consideration of the Helping Other People Excel (HOPE) Performance Agreement.
A?part of the performance agreement states that if approved, the city will demolish two structures located at 603 S.Alleghany Avenue and 401 E. Cherry Street at its cost, which is around $30,000.
Director of Development Services Eric Tyree stated that within the documentation of the performance agreement that he will seek out the funding in the 2019-2020 fiscal year city budget to fund the demolitions.
The demolitions would also have to take place within one year of the day of the execution of the performance agreement.
Also stated in the agreement is that once demolished, HOPE will replace the properties with new residential structures.
HOPE is required to start the development and construction of the new residential structures within five years and once construction has begun,
HOPE must complete the construction within two years from the start of construction.
Additional caveats of the performance agreement state that HOPE agrees that the city of Covington is entitled to record a lien on the property for the cost of demolition and if HOPE fulfills all obligations in accordance to the performance agreement, the city will provide release of any filed lien.
The city also has stipulations in place should HOPE not fulfill its requirements.
The agreement reads that if HOPE fails to meet requirements, they will have to give its interest in the property to the city at no cost.
Tyree stated, “This is a collaborative effort to remedy a problem on Alleghany Avenue.”
Tyree stated that he along with the members of HOPE have been working on this situation for two years.
Executive Director of HOPE Wanda Moore, who was accompanied to the meeting by her fellow HOPE members, then took time to address council on this issue.
Moore stated at the beginning of her address to council that she is passionate about this because this is a project her father, the late Elder Warner Hunter, wanted to complete before his passing.
Moore stated that while the final selection of residential structure types have not been selected, she hopes to construct up to four residential structure units that will accommodate veteran assistance, group home or supportive housing options.
Moore also said that HOPE has contacted the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program with no commitment from those agencies currently.
Moore also said that other grantor agencies will be contacted.
Interim City Manager Clay Goodman also had remarks on this issue.
“I want to thank Eric Tyree; he brought this issue to my attention and asked me to get it moving forward. I want to thank him for his time and energy he’s put on it,”?Goodman stated.
Goodman continued his remarks by going back to the financial details of this agreement.
“We have to budget the money in the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget. It’s not in our current budget; we’re seeking money that has not been approved yet.”
Goodman also added that when and if the funding was available, demolition would not have to take place until one year after, but he stressed that he would like to see demolitions take place as soon as possible.
“They got to be down,”?Goodman said emphatically about the buildings.
Vice Mayor David Crosier then asked for clarification on what council would approve Tuesday night.
After getting the clarification, he suggested that council approve this consideration with a provision that it would happen pending available funding in the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget.
Mayor Tom Sibold approved of Crosier’s suggestion by stating, “I’m good then.”
“I?thank you all very much,”?Moore said to council following the discussion.
At the conclusion of the discussion, city council approved the consideration unanimously for HOPE to start this project pending the funding becoming available.
Another property that was discussed during Tuesday’s meeting is located on Hunter’s Hill.
Hunter’s Hill resident Theresa Hunter informed council that the property in question is structurally inferior and is in danger of falling.
“I?live on Hunter’s Hill and I?have a house beside me that’s ready to fall,”?Hunter said.
Tyree informed Hunter that he and his staff were concerned about the residence as well.
He also stated that the house is in the top-five list of houses in the city that need immediate attention.
Sibold then explained to Hunter that Tyree is the individual who looks at all of the troublesome properties in town and puts them on a list.
When each property is addressed, the list is adjusted accordingly.
Tyree also stated that the house is in worse shape than it was during a prior visit.
Goodman then informed Hunter that the city has $15,000 per year for demolitions, which would demolish around two single-story houses or a two-story house.
“If that house falls, it’s on us,”?Hunter said.
“You have a very legitimate concern,” Tyree said to Hunter.
“Yeah, I?do,”?Hunter immediately answered.
Tyree then stated that the funding currently is not available to address that house as there are properties ahead of it on the list.
“We’re going to have to do something about that then because it’s my life. It’s my husband’s life. It’s worth more than $15,000,”?Hunter said emphatically.
“It costs us to do these things. It’s expensive and we don’t have extra money” Sibold said to Hunter.
Tyree and Sibold assured Hunter that the property is high on the list and it will be taken care of with high priority.
“He [Tyree] hears you,” Sibold said to Hunter after she addressed council.
The following appointments were made by council Tuesday:
— Gene Wood to the Industrial Development Authority Board (re-appointment);
— Marie Fitzpatrick and Linda McAllister to the Re-development and Housing Board (re-appointed to four-year terms).
