HOMES AND YARDS

Goal: Preserve and restore the charm and historic character of the neighborhood.

Objectives:

• Create a historical district and/or review process prior to proposed demolition of structures.
• Encourage reinvestment into older single-family homes that have been converted into multi-unit apartments.
• Identify blighted or crime-ridden properties and work closely with the Building Safety Department and law enforcement to identify key issues, solve problems and make improvements.
• Encourage infill development with well-designed compatible new structures.
• Maintain affordable housing that contributes to socio-economic diversity and the diversity of housing stock.
• Encourage remodeling projects that maintain the character of homes through incentives and guidelines.

Recommendations:

• Prohibit further conversion of single-family homes to multi-unit apartments.
• Carry out a windshield survey to inventory types of housing stock and property conditions; identify improvement needs and target investment areas.
• Create/identify funding programs that provide incentive and opportunity for those undertaking rehabilitation and reinvestment in single-family dwellings.
• Build a partnership program between landlords and neighborhood residents.
• Produce architectural guidelines and/or standards for new housing development and major remodels.
• Explore implementation of a deed-restriction program that assists home-owners in placing permanent restrictions on their property preventing it from conversion to rental or commercial use.
• Work with the First Homes Heritage Homes program to identify at-risk homes in need of renovations.
• Work with First Homes Community Land Trust program to ensure that certain homes are renovated and contribute to neighborhood character, yet remain affordable.