Attending:
- Elka Davidson,
- Charlie Cromwell
- Wendy Cromwell, Co-Chair
- Carrie Sjogren, Co-Chair
- David Lewicki
Lesa Mayer, City Commissioner - Carol Burgess
- Gail Bell
- Ellen Graybeck
April Meeting recap: Doug Faust, Decatur Housing Authority, discussing Section 8 vouchers and the policy changes needed to create wider acceptance and more general effectiveness of vouchers.
Lesa Mayer Conversation Highlights
- No permits have been issued for Missing Middle, but there have been applicants.
- City of Decatur Schools is one of the applicants for the Westchester Drive property; school board has been very excited about the possibility
- City has high percentage of residential over commercial tax base (25 percent/75 percent)
- Decatur Land Trust; city has been looking for and buying houses for the land trust; arrangement will be 99-year lease with the Land Trust; 3 units in Park 108 (old AT&T near E. Lake MARTA)
- ARPA funds have been helpful in supporting housing purchases
- Strategies to preserve existing affordable housing in Decatur is coming this year; looking at tax relief programs
- Could the land trust explore relationships with people who owe taxes?
- The most effective way to support the commission is by staying organized and getting people out when there’s an issue
- Decatur Home Rehab program is expanding
- Turnout for community meetings is important. This is a way the Coalition can help
- Tax Allocation District fizzled