RDA debates expanding housing-improvement program to include non-owner occupied properties

Administrator Rindy told the Redevelopment Agency that the current housing-improvement program supports owner-occupied properties with maintenance violations within Project Area 1 and floated whether the RDA should expand support to non-owner occupied residences. "We have currently the the housing kind of improvement program, that supports properties that have, property maintenance violations and meet the affordable housing threshold and are owner occupied, within RDA 1," Rindy said, framing the existing program and the question of expansion.

Board members expressed clear differences. One committee member said flatly, "I would not support, non owner occupied," opposing grants to rental properties; another raised enforcement and eligibility concerns, noting it may be difficult to prove that a resident is not effectively renting from family owners. Several members favored exploring a low-interest revolving-loan model instead of grants, with Administrator Rindy proposing staff follow-up to consult banks and potential users before drafting formal parameters. Rindy summarized that a modest pilot or a capped allocation (for example, an amount such as $100,000 was discussed as a possible threshold) coupled with a low-burden, bank-partnered loan structure could balance support for repairs with stewardship of limited funds.