30 low-income rent units cost city $7 million

Baltimore Sun ^ | March 20, 2004 | Eric Siegel

[Madame Dufarge]

Baltimore officials are spending nearly $7 million to quietly buy and renovate 30 homes in mostly white, middle-class neighborhoods for use as public housing rental unit...

Because a similar but smaller program was scuttled four years ago after a community uproar, housing officials discussed this program with neighborhood leaders beforehand but until recently refused to publicly disclose many details.

First of all, I'd like to know who the "neighborhood leader" in my neighborhood is - what does that even mean?

And if this was discussed so comprehensively with the "neighborhood leaders" who purportedly are all for the idea, why does the city have to resort to "quietly" buying up the properties?

[cherry]

"neighborhood leaders" IMO could be anyone they can find to agree with them, probably some demonrat living on a govt pension who has connections to the union workers....

these people LIE.....about everything....and don't forget that....

[RightWhale]

When you're trying to get into some markets that are healthy markets, you're going to pay more for it."

Why get up to the eyebrows into some markets? They could put these low-income units into high-rent districts without any problem if they spread out the units. One unit per block, not 30 units in a block.

[detsaoT]

Could be the senior committee members of the neighborhood associations?

[Madame Dufarge]

these people LIE.....about everything....and don't forget that....

I know that - guess I forgot the sarcasm tag....

[lowbridge]

Acknowledging that there are cheaper ways to provide public housing, city Housing Commissioner Paul T. Graziano said rehab costs averaging about $80,000 per unit were driven by federal regulations, ranging from lead paint abatement to historical preservation, and by the decision to install new roofs and heating systems to lower future maintenance costs.

Federal regulations causes home building costs to almost double? Who'da thunk it?

[ridesthemiles]

This is the cost before you account for plunging property values in the rest of the neighborhood as home owners flee to the safety of exurbs and edge cities.

AMEN

Very few citizens get that point. I have lived it. I know it first hand. Lost 40% of house value when neighborhood turned into undesirables. Wasn't pretty nor fun.

[ridesthemiles]

And if this was discussed so comprehensively with the "neighborhood leaders" who purportedly are all for the idea, why does the city have to resort to "quietly" buying up the properties?

Jimmy Hoffa might be dead and gone, but his string arm tactics live on.

[Jack Wilson]

Managing tenants and properties also takes some creativity, while most bureaucrats rely on rule books rather than intuition for guidance. Also, to do real estate right is very grueling work and unless you have a personal stake in the results, you will give up and the property and tenants will deteriorate.