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Council approves removal of property from rent-escrow oversight after staff testimony
Summary
The council approved a staff recommendation to remove a property from REAP after staff described a change in the property's use from residential to commercial and a period of vacancy; councilmembers voiced concern about enforcement and inspections.
The City Council on Wednesday approved a request to remove a property from the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP), following staff testimony that the site had changed from residential use to commercial use and had been vacant for several years.
Planning and housing staff told the council the property entered REAP in 1993 when it was in residential use. Staff said the property had been vacant from about 1995 until recently and that, within the last year, the owner had converted the site to commercial use with eight small businesses occupying it. Staff said outstanding violations earlier prevented the case from being closed while staff monitored potential reoccupation.
Councilmember Holden questioned why the housing department had not moved earlier to remove the property from REAP, telling staff "you didn't do a good job on this project" and urging better follow-up in the future. Staff responded that site visits had occurred and that rehabilitation activity was visible but that no formal plan approval or sign-off had been communicated until recently.
Clerk recorded 12 ayes on the roll call and the item was approved. The council's action removed the property from REAP as requested by the housing department; minutes show no additional conditions or escrow requirements attached to the approval.
