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Warren council advances plan to create second brownfield authority to speed housing infill
Summary
The council passed a resolution of intent to form a second Brownfield Redevelopment Authority aligned with the city land bank to focus on residential infill redevelopment and project-based tax capture to finance gap funding; a public hearing is expected July 14.
The Warren City Council on June 23 voted to advance a resolution of intent to create a second Brownfield Redevelopment Authority that would be coordinated with the city’s land bank and focused on residential infill development.
Consultant Emily Dorr, introduced by a council member, told the council the new authority would let the land bank and a Brownfield board meet back-to-back, target single-family residential parcels that the land bank acquires, and offer project-by-project tax-capture financing similar to a TIF to fill development funding gaps. "This would be an opportunity to have a targeted focus on properties that the land bank receives to focus their redevelopment through infill housing in a more aggressive way," Dorr said.
Dorr said the state land bank awarded a grant that funded demolition of three parcels and is supporting consultant work; staff later noted the city has roughly 300 scattered lots that could be candidates for infill projects. Council members asked about oversight and independence. City staff and the attorney said the authority would remain subject to council oversight and that the city controller would act as fiscal agent for the land bank, adding transparency checks the council said were important.
The resolution approved by the council is a resolution of intent. City staff recommended a public hearing on July 14; if the public hearing is held, council would return for a final resolution to create the Brownfield authority. Councilmembers framed the step as the beginning of a process rather than a final approval.
What happens next: a public hearing is expected to be scheduled (staff recommended July 14), followed by formal council action to create the authority if the hearing record supports it.
Quotes: "You have an existing brownfield redevelopment authority... the opportunity to start a second brownfield redevelopment authority that would be tied with the land bank..." said Emily Dorr, consultant to the land bank. "This is the first step in a process," staff said.
Clarifying details: the land-bank consultant work was funded by a state land bank grant to support demolition and training; staff referenced a potential pool of "over 300" scattered properties for redevelopment.
Ending: The council approved the resolution of intent; staff will set a public hearing and return to the council for final action.
