Mayoral candidates’ housing policies:
David Crockett:* Mayor’s Council on Affordable HousingCreate a Mayor’s Council on Affordable Housing which will meet on an ongoing basis to evaluate and offer solutions to affordable housing issues in the city.* Public-Private PartnershipsReinvigorate “The Chattanooga Way” to empower public-private partnerships across the community.* New Models for Affordable HousingConsider new models for affordable housing, just as Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise is also looking at new models for their work, and work with CNE to bring about new and innovative change and solutions.No New City AgenciesOppose the creation of new government agencies to address affordable housing issues. He explained that Chattanooga needs to empower the people, local businesses, and more public-private partnerships.Chris Long:* Stormwater regulationsPropose legislation to scale back the requirements for builders’ stormwater fees and regulations.* Scale back rules and regulationsPromote large-scale housing projects by changing rules and regulations that create barriers for builders and developers.Larry Grohn:* Affordable Housing Task ForceConvene an affordable housing task force within the first 100 days in office to develope a broad, system-wide plan for creating affordable housing on a neighborhood level.* Affordable Housing Trust FundCreate an affordable housing trust fund to support developers efforts to meet the affordable housing demand.* Opportunity ZonesIn neighborhoods identified as having housing decifits, create incentives for developers to build more housing and increase density.* Senior CitizensWork to enact legislation that will permanently shield senior citizens from paying any increase in property taxes at their principal residence.
Results from the city’s affordable housing initiatives:
The numbers reflect both the city’s programs as well as local nonprofits, such as Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise and Habitat for Humanity, that receive funds or partner with the city.Affordable Home Ownership — 60Affordable Home Ownership Preservation — 345Affordable Rental Producation — 406Affordable Rental Preservation — 364
One of Mayor Andy Berke’s challengers claims a key initiative of the mayor’s – creating affordable housing – has failed, producing only one affordable home since the mayor took office.
“If the mayor was truly, truly interested in affordable housing, he would have done better than developing one house in three years,” said Chattanooga City Councilman Larry Grohn.
Berke’s campaign manager acknowledged the mayor’s initial plan to turn back-taxed properties into affordable homes hasn’t taken shape. But he said overall the mayor’s affordable housing programs – which include efforts by local nonprofit groups that receive grant money or partner with the city – have created or preserved more than 1,000 affordable units in Chattanooga.