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Live Oak holds second public hearing on $1.5 million CDBG housing-rehab application
Summary
City of Live Oak solicited public comment on a draft application for a $1.5 million Small Cities Community Development Block Grant to rehabilitate or replace about 21 owner-occupied homes; officials said the exact number served could change after inspections and the city must update its housing assistance plan before applications open.
The City of Live Oak opened a second public hearing on a draft Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application that seeks $1.5 million to rehabilitate or, in some cases, demolish and replace homes, a consultant said.
"The purpose of this public hearing is to facilitate or to solicit public comments on the draft application," said Jeffrey Windsor of Cornerstone Community Partners, the consultant facilitating the grant application. Windsor told the council the application requests $1,500,000 in the housing rehabilitation category to assist 21 homes throughout the city.
City officials and public commenters said the grant aims to help residents repair or replace substandard housing and that the program would prioritize owner-occupied single-family homes. "Generally speaking, this is designed for owner occupied same family housing," Windsor said, adding that the housing assistance plan could include strategies to address rental properties but would require extra steps and owner commitments.
Why it matters: If funded, the grant would provide a one-time infusion of federal CDBG money to directly alter housing conditions for low- and moderate-income residents. Windsor said the application sets a benchmark of 21 homes to maximize the city’s competitive score; depending on per-home costs found during inspections, the number served could increase. Windsor noted that "that $1,500,000 ... [is] about 71 and a half thousand dollars for a home," reflecting the program’s per-unit funding estimate.
Council members and residents asked how homes would be selected and whether the program would favor homeowners over renters. Windsor said selection would follow the city’s housing assistance plan and a uniform application review process: "All applications will be reviewed using the same criteria," he said, and the city will update its housing assistance plan before opening applications.
Residents who spoke at the hearing urged the council to approve the application and to emphasize homeownership. Linda Williams said she was "very much in favor of this grant" and asked council members to consider prioritizing homeownership so recipients would remain and maintain properties. Anita Williams asked how the 21 homes would be chosen; Windsor repeated the selection would follow the housing assistance plan and the scoring formula in the application.
The public-comment portion of the second hearing was closed after questions and answers. No formal council action on the grant application was recorded at the meeting; Windsor and city staff said they would finalize the draft application and work with staff on the housing assistance plan before opening an application period.
The council’s next steps, as described in the hearing, include updating the housing assistance plan, completing preliminary inspections to refine per-home cost estimates and then soliciting applications if the grant is awarded.
