The mission of the Community Development Department is to preserve and enhance the quality and livability of the City’s housing stock and neighborhoods through the promotion of affordable homeownership opportunities, the enhancement of the existing housing and the creation of economic development opportunities within the City of Chesapeake. Organization & Activities: The Community Development Department consists of two divisions and several functional activities that provide an array of services. The division of Construction Management oversees new construction and rehabilitation projects, and public housing stock capital improvement projects. The division of Programs Management oversees the administration and monitoring of the principal sources of funding in addition to administering the various homeownership programs and homeownership educational/counseling services. The principal sources of funding include: HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program (CDBG Advance) Capital Funds Program Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) These funding sources allows the Authority to accomplish the following activities: The HOME Investment Partnerships Program assists qualified residents in the City of Chesapeake in the following manner: - Down payment/closing cost assistance to qualified homebuyers for the purchase of affordable single family residences.
- Low interest/deferred loans, to qualified homeowners, for improvements to residential structures to correct violations of applicable housing codes and standards
- Low interest loans to qualified residential rental property owners for improvements to correct violations of applicable housing codes and standards
- Provide homeownership and credit counseling services to homeowners who participate in the Authority’s rehabilitation loan and homeownership programs
- Provided financial assistance to local Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO’s) through a 15% set aside of the Authority’s annual HOME fund allocation
Under contract with the City of Chesapeake, the Authority administers the bulk of the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The Community Development Department assists to the City’s Department of Intergovernmental Affairs in the preparation of the Consolidated Plan/Action Plan, the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER), and other quarterly and semi-annual HUD reports. CDBG funds provides assists in the following manner: - Emergency rehabilitation and Façade assistance grants to qualified homeowners for repairs and improvements residential structures to remove imminent health and safety hazards or accessibility barriers, and city exterior code violations
- Low interest/deferred loans, to qualified homeowners, for improvements to residential structures necessary to correct violations of applicable housing codes and standards
- Maintenance and improvements to Children’s Harbor Daycare Center, a daycare services facility for low-moderate income families
- Business Incubator Program provides economic development opportunities to area business that serve and/or provides opportunities to low to moderate-income citizens.
- Neighborhood Revitalization will be part of the Authority’s overall strategic plan to enhance deteriorating or blighted neighborhoods and communities throughout the City.
Campostella Square Redevelopment Project Source of funds include Section 108 Loan for land acquisition and infrastructure upgrade; HOME, CDBG and VHDA SPARC funds for qualified first time homebuyers - Provided 64 homeownership opportunities to low-moderate income families with home price ranges of $78,000 to $150,000.
Have partnered with numerous organizations in the realization of the master plan: City of Chesapeake; Tidewater Builders Association; Habitat for Humanity; House that Jill Built; Target; Accessible Housing/Accessible Space; Greater Mt. Zion Church - Currently managing final phases of $3.5 million infrastructure upgrade. Final phase will include 36 residential lots.
- Completed 12 acre open recreation area with tot lot, picnic area, jogging trail, basketball court
The Capital Improvement Fund Program provides essential non-routine maintenance, revitalization, or redevelopment of the public housing communities. Recently completed and /or current modernization projects include: - $3 million in heating and air conditioning systems upgrades at Broadlawn Park and Owens Village
- Screen Door replacement at Broadlawn Park ($91,000).
- Continuing replacement of housing appliances (stoves and refrigerators).
Staff is currently in the process of initiating a comprehensive Capital Improvement Program for all of its Public Housing developments. This approach will allow the Authority to finance and complete about $3 million in Capital Improvements over 2-5 years. Other Projects: In its ongoing revitalization efforts, the Authority purchased the Madison Arms Apartments, renamed Oakdale Square, in April of 2002. The property became blighted and was a source of community unrest in the Oakdale area. When the Authority acquired the property it was decided that the deteriorating structure needed to be demolished and replaced with new construction. The new structure will be 40 units for low to moderate-income families, to include five units designated for handicapped individuals. This development will be one of the first in Chesapeake to incorporate Greenbuild concepts: a design principle that emphasizes energy efficiency and the use of environmentally safe substances and materials. The funding sources include, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, VHDA SPARC funds, DHCD Commonwealth Priority Funds, HOME/CDBG, and Authority funds. South Norfolk Revitalization CRHA is completing an assessment of a designated part of the South Norfolk area. The study will determine the feasibility of a redevelopment and/or conservation plan to further the revitalization of the South Norfolk area. Housing Strategic Plan CRHA has contracted with the Virginia Tech University to conduct a housing assessment of the City of Chesapeake and also develop a strategic plan for the Authority to use as a guide in its efforts to redevelop and revitalize the under-served communities throughout the City. A draft of the housing study is expected by the end of July 2004. City of Chesapeake Comprehensive Plan 2026 CRHA has worked with the City’s Comprehensive Plan team to introduce goals and implementation strategies for affordable housing and redevelopment that the City will hopefully use as a guide in its policy making decisions. If the goals and strategies are agreeable with the City, new opportunities will be created for CRHA and the City to partner in affordable housing and redevelopment initiatives. Fair Housing Fair housing is a priority within the City of Chesapeake and is actively promoted by the Authority. To ensure compliance with existing statutes under the federal Fair Housing Law, the Authority has a designated Fair Housing Officer on staff to investigate fair housing complaints. The Authority works in conjunction with the Hampton Roads Community Housing Resource |
