City Council hears plan to reallocate $1.0M in CDBG funds for senior home repairs and park improvements

Anisha Nicholas, director of grants for the City of South Fulton, presented a proposed substantial amendment to the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plans for 2023–24 on April 8. The change would reallocate roughly $1.0 million in federal CDBG funds to prioritize a pilot senior rehabilitation program and park improvements in low‑ and moderate‑income areas.

Nicholas told the council the city currently has “a little over a million dollars” in available CDBG funds and proposed shifting $200,000 to launch a senior‑home rehabilitation pilot and roughly $812,000 to public‑facilities work for parks and playgrounds. The senior pilot would target owner‑occupied, single‑family homes for residents age 62 and older and cap assistance at $20,000 per home plus an estimated $5,000 per household for project delivery and inspection fees.

Eligibility and coordination Nicholas said CDBG rules require beneficiaries to meet HUD low‑ and moderate‑income thresholds (households at or below 80% of area median income for eligibility). She told the council the city has identified 56 City of South Fulton residents on an existing waiting list for housing rehab services and that staff are coordinating with Fulton County’s established programs to avoid duplication and use existing administrative capacity where possible.

Nicholas said eligible rehab work would include roof repairs, HVAC, accessibility upgrades, electrical and plumbing health‑and‑safety work, and potentially weatherization. The park allocation would fund improvements at Burdette and Creel parks; she said maps in the presentation show the target LMI areas where CDBG spending is permitted.

Council questions and staff responses Councilmembers sought assurance that reallocating CDBG money would not curtail the city’s ability to tackle blight or demolitions. Nicholas and City Manager Sharon D. Subadan told the council demolitions are not proposed for CDBG funding; the city will continue to use general‑fund resources and code‑enforcement processes for nuisance abatements and demolitions. Reginald McClendon, managing director of Community Development & Regulatory Affairs, said the city is actively pursuing nuisance abatement and lien recovery procedures when property owners fail to address blight.

Councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown asked whether the city had confirmed the county waiting list and how many of the county’s applicants actually reside inside the city; staff confirmed 56 city residents appear on the county list and said they will verify addresses to avoid serving non‑city households. Nicholas said the program design anticipates a limited initial reach and is intended as a pilot to supplement — not replace — county services.

Timing and next steps Nicholas said the city is in a HUD‑required 30‑day public‑comment period; this public hearing served as the first hearing. She said staff plan to return to council on April 22 for final adoption of the amendment and then submit the amendment to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval. Nicholas noted CDBG funding must meet federal timeliness rules and that the city is focused on an early pilot rollout while building longer‑term capacity.

Ending: The council took no final vote at the April 8 hearing; staff will bring the proposed amendment back for final council action after the public comment period.