Housing Committee Meeting
November 12, 2015, 7pm
1401 Hollins Street, Baltimore, MD 21223
MEETING MINUTES
In Attendance
Michael Seipp (SWP Staff), Jamie Pitts (Chair), Diana Geis, Daniel Rodenberg,Anne
Ames, Selina (B&O Tavern Owner), Nancy McCormack, Chris Redwood, Lou Packett
Edith Gilliard-Canty, Beverly Jacobs, Bif Browning
Meeting called to order at 7:09pm by Chair.
Chair asked if anyone had any other items to be added to the agenda before starting.
No one had any additions to the agenda. Community land trust would not be
discussed at the meeting because the people who were invited to discuss the land
trust were not able to make the meeting.
Announcements
The meeting was opened up to announcements.
Michael Seipp mentioned that a group of investors expressed interest in investing in
Southwest Baltimore neighborhoods through an investment fund. The governor has
agreed to support this fund. Implementation of the fund is a year away. Amount
potentially for the fund is anywhere from $15 million to $20 millon dollars. The SWP
vision plan was the motivator for the investor to provide finaincing to SW Baltimore
neighborhods. This fund is for any project or initiative as a loan from a bank and
would need to be paid back like any loan would need to be. This is not for SWP but
for the SW Baltimore area; anyone can apply once the fund is established.
It was brought up that a vacant city-owned house recently caught fire in Mount
Clare (205 S. Stricker St). Chair thinks that it would be a good idea to engage
firefighters as potential partners to help mitigate vacants. Anne Ames also suggested
boarding grants as a way of protecting the vacant properties that are open to casual
entry. 11 South Calhoun was also mentioned as a house that caught fire recently in
the area.
A genreal discussion took place about vacants in the city, steered by the chair, along
the lines of what can we do as a committee about vacants.
2
Selina from the B&O Tavern (now being renamed the B&O Café) was introduced as
the new owner of the establishment. She is changing the name to ‘café’.
FRANKLIN SQUARE and MOUNT CLARE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
Developer Interviews
Six non-profit developers approached by the Partnership to develop in the SWP
area. Four of those developers expressed interest (Telesis, GBAHC, Eterprise Homes,
and Unity Properties [aka, Bon Secour’s Housing]). To-date, 100 houses between
both neighborhoods are being focused on for redevelopment. The committee
members discussed interest in having the historic aspects and materials in the
properties maintained/preserved as much as possible either through the design
process as well as in the construction process.
A discussion was held on what questions to ask the developers when they are being
interviewed. Michael Seipp reminded the committee that this is a lease-to-purchase
project.
A suggestion was raised to ask the developers to consider hiring local contractors.
A comment was made about green building standards.
A question about lead in the properties came up as a concern and it was suggested
that the developers be evaluated on their ability to remove lead in these properties.
Someone asked about rebuilding a vacant house in between two stable homes.
Michael Seipp comented that infil housing redeveloment is very expensive and all
the developers will say that they would opt to raze the property, shore up the walls
on the existing houses, and create a yard for either of the flanking properties that sat
on either side of a demolished house.
Diana Geis asked who makes decisions on demolition of houses on alley streets
when demolition is occurring at the same time along adjacent major streets.
The developers and Michael Seipp have worked together over the years on a variety
of housing projects. He is familiar with their work.
Committee agreed to meet with two developers on Nov 19 at 4pm and 5pm at NDC.
Committee agreed to meet with last two developers on Nov 24 at 4pm and 5pm at
NDC
Meeting with Architects
Michael had discussions with three firms and obtained fee structures.
Michael suggested meeting with the lowest bidder first and going to the next if the
committee didn’t feel the lowest bidder would be a good fit for the redevelopment.
3
Committee agreed to meet with one of the three architect firms on Nov 16 at 4pm at
NDC.
LLC Formation to Hold Properties
Legal team recommends that SWP create an LLC for each property it acquires if it
wants to redevelop those properties. This is recommended for legal protection of
the organization in case there is legal action related to one of the properties. Once a
developer comes on-board, the property would be moved over to the developer and
out of the name of the LLC. The chair asked for consensus to ask the board to allow
formation of an LLC to acquire property.
A concern was raised about SWP having an LLC at all because of the negative
impression it could create about the partnership forming LLCs to own properties
and possibly fueling further accusations about the Partnership’s activities.
A comment was made that perhaps one LLC could be formed rather than an LLC for
each property.
A question was asked if this formation of LLC is legitimate. Michael commented that
it is, and that’s it’s commonly done.
Grant Requests to Foundations
Michael Seipp mentioned that SWP will need to apply to large foundations to apply
for grants. A resolution from the SWP board is needed to allow staff to do this.
Chair/Michael will ask the SWP Board of Directors to pass a resolution providing
approvl to make aplication. The committee was in agreement.
Observations by Diana Geis
Wants to see the committee tour the neighborhoods and houses being discussed in
the meetings. She toured Mount Clare with Anne Ames and was able to get a beetter
understand of the issues in the community. A general discussion ensued about rising
housing rents, quality of life issues with regards to housing, etc.
A comment was brought up about finding places for displaced people to go once
these houses are redeveloped.
A question was asked whether drug dealers will remain or go once these houses get
fixed up.
A comment was raised regarding the consequences of doing this develoment in both
neighborhoods.
Coordinated and Focused Housing Inspections (idea from Baltimore City
Housing)
4
Identify problem landlords to the city in order for the city to go after them. Problem
landlords being negligent on property repairs, providing substandard housing to
their tenants, not abating issues raised by tenants for basic living, etc.).
There was general discussion about this and most committee members seemed in
favor of coordinated and focused housing inspections.
A comment on being conscious and mindful of going after property owners tha
might negatively impact residents was raised by the chair. It was recommended that
we should wait until a resource guide for tenants informing them of their rights, etc.
was available.
A question was raised as to why the resource guide has not been developed and
disseminated to the community yet since it was brought up months ago. Michael
commented that time is an issue.
A objection was made to waiting for outreach to tenants (through the resource
guide) to happen and alerting them to code enforcement’s work in the area because
it would make the partnership seem to favor protecting negligent landlords instead
of working to improve quality of life for the community.
Diana Geis asked what happened to the code enforcement person who was
supposed to come some time ago to the Housing committee meeting.
Chair asked to have someone from the city’s code enforcement division at the next
meeting to discuss code enforcement. Michael Seipp agreed to ask Stan Janczak from
Code Enforcement to come to the next meeting.
No new business was raised.
Meeting adjourned 9:08pm by the Chair.
