Action Plan

The City of North Little Rock's Consolidated Plan focuses on programs and projects to reverse the impact of its population decline during the 1980's. An overall spending plan of $1,106,767 ($994,000 of CDBG Entitlment funds and $112,767 from previous year's funding) has been proposed to address the City's outline of housing and community development needs.

Citizen Participation

North Little Rock made every effort to assure its citizens participation in the Consolidated Plan process. During the citizen participation process, which began in August and ended in November of 1994, citizens had requested numerous projects as reflected in the minutes. However, after the program was developed and published, no citizen comments were received. Citizens were invited to participate in both meetings and written comments, along with service providers, nonprofits, city departments, State and local agencies and elected officials. Some area participants in the planning process included the Little Rock Housing Authority, Metroplan, Argenta Community Development Corporation, United Way, NAACP, various Property Owners Associations, and many others.

The City of North Little Rock experienced an historical change which impacted its social and demographic conditions during the 1980's. The 1990 Decennial marked the first time in history that the City lost population. Population decreased by over 2,000 residents, primarily in neighborhoods located south of Interstate 40, the downtown and central city areas. This decrease specifically affected the area's housing needs of its residents and the availability of affordable housing.

Conditions

The decade of the 1980's was a great change for the City of North Little Rock's affordable housing market. The regional school crisis, "white flight", and a stagnant economy all served to substantially increase the City's affordable housing needs for low to moderate income persons. Since the social and demographic changes have stabilized, the City does not anticipate any significant changes in its low income or supportive housing needs for the next five years.

Housing Needs

The City has designated it a high priority to address the housing needs of renters and owners with low to moderate incomes that are overburdened by the cost of housing. Census information shows that 65 percent of the residents with incomes below 30 percent of the median family income are cost overburdened and 47 percent of these extremely low income households are severely cost overburdened. As the degree of housing cost overburden decreases and income levels increase, the need to address housing problems decreases.

The City identified seven population groups with non-homeless special needs. Those groups included the elderly, frail elderly, severe mental illness, developmentally disabled, physically disabled, persons with Alcohol/Other Drug addictions, and persons with AIDS and related diseases. Of these groups, the elderly population is in most need of supportive housing.

Market Conditions

At the same time the City experienced population decreases in the 1980's, there was an increase in the rental housing market. At the beginning of the decade, rental occupied units comprised of 34 percent of the total occupied housing market, by 1990, the percent rose to 41 percent. The following factors are attributed to this increase:

• high mortgage interest rates which prevented many households from entering the single-family housing market;

• high mortgage interest rates coupled with favorable tax laws, led to an expansion of multifamily housing units;

• the City's limited amount of land suitable for urbanization and/or single family developments; and

• decrease in the number of owner-occupied units was greater than the increase in the number of single-family attached or detached units.

Figures indicated that from 1980 to 1990, total housing stock went from 24,914 to 27,255 dwelling units, an increase of 5.2 percent. During that same period, owner-occupied units decreased from 15,123 to 14,712 units, or -2.7 percent; renter-occupied units increased from 9,408 to 10,275 units, or 9.2 percent and vacant units increased from 1,376 to 2,268 units, or 68.4 percent. This period revealed a significant shift from the owner-occupied to renter-occupied housing market.

The decrease in population accelerated neighborhood blight in the older downtown areas and the number of vacant and/or substandard homes increased. As a result, these neighborhoods will more likely be faced with disinvestment, abandonment, and condemnation.

The City concludes that many low and very low income neighborhoods are experiencing decline due to outward migrations, disinvestments, change from owner to renter occupancy, high-crime statistics, and various other factors, for which it is committed to reversing.

Affordable Housing Needs

The City's affordable housing needs are based on loss population, smaller household sizes; more households headed by single-family parents with lower incomes than married couple households; larger populations of minority and elderly residents with low incomes and greater needs; reduction in the percentage of owner-occupied homes relative to renter- occupied units; and an increase in the number of vacant homes and lots.

Homeless Needs

Given the City's difficulty in assessing the needs in this area, it contacted other state agencies and local providers, such as the Central Arkansas Area Agency on Aging, Professional Counseling Associates, NAACP, North Little Rock Health Department, for input. While little information has been received, the City proposes in its Five-Year plan to develop and improve network to assess and address the needs of this population group.

A survey completed by United Way in 1988 based the number of homeless persons within the City on a survey completed on Pulaski County. While the survey estimated 850 homeless persons in 1988, the United Way figured a ten percent annual growth rate, making the County's current homeless population at 1,369 persons.

Because North Little Rock is in such close proximity to Little Rock, the capitol city, and a larger metropolitan area, many homeless individuals, with or without special needs, seek housing and housing related services for the City of North Little Rock.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

The City of North Little Rock's Public Housing Authority (PHA) has an on-going resident initiative program, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOPE I Planning grant, counseling classes for tenants, a resident partnership to accept issues raised by tenants, all geared towards family self-sufficiency. The PHA received a "high performer" recognition by the Public Housing Management Assessment Program this past fiscal year.

The City's PHA recently completed a survey to assess its residents on areas that it could better serve them environmentally and socially. Through the monitoring system of the Community Development Agency and PHA, the City is committed to maintaining an adequate housing inventory within the City. The City and the PHA anticipate on improving the management, operations, and environment of the North Little Rock public housing developments.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

The City reveals that it has no barriers to affordable housing, because it has:

• no excessive growth controls that increase the cost of housing, such as impact fees;

• no excessive zoning requirements such as exclusionary zoning or zoning that excludes certain types of housing;

• no excessive subdivision controls mandating "gold-plated" infrastructure, such as extra wide roads, excessive street lighting, or costly material requirements;

• no burdensome and uncoordinated permit systems that require long delays or multiple agency reviews;

• no restrictive housing codes and standards; and

• no city-wide restrictions on certain types of affordable housing.

Fair Housing

The City has a long record in assuring that its programs are made available to all citizens, where no person is discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, National origin, religion, sex or familiar status.

Lead-Based Paint

The City acknowledges the areas that experienced the most significant degree of change were in its downtown and central city neighborhoods, which are the City's oldest neighborhoods, and subject to possibility of environmental and lead-based paint concerns.

The City consulted with the Department of Health, which provided that of the 30 children tested for blood lead levels, 10 children were found to have lead in their blood. The City currently has an asbestos assessment requirement for multifamily and commercial structures.

While limited information is available in this area, the City expects the number of housing built prior to 1979 are contaminated with lead hazards. To curtail their expectations, the City has included in their Consolidated Plan a Lead-Based Paint and Asbestos Assessment Plan. The City is also working on a state-wide effort to receive a grant to assist in the analysis of lead-based paint and its contributions to elevated blood lead levels and elimination of lead hazards.

Coordination

The City is making strides in coordinating its services to its citizens. There are daily efforts made by the Planning, Community Development, Commerce, Community Relations, Public Works, and Engineering Departments to meet the needs of its citizens. Several other State and local agencies are also being targeted within the City's coordination efforts to implement to meet the needs of its residents.

Vision for Change

The City estimates that, in the long run, increased homebuyer assistance would have the greatest impact on deteriorating neighborhoods because owner occupants would be more stable (i.e. less likely to move) and have a greater incentive to maintain their properties.

Housing and Community Development Objectives and Priorities

In an effort to stabilize deteriorating neighborhoods, the City has decided to make a substantial commitment to providing homebuyer and homeowner rehabilitation assistance for low to moderate income households, especially those willing to purchase homes in the older, declining neighborhoods.

Housing Priorities

1. Provide Homebuyer Assistance for low income households in declining neighborhoods, which has led to an increase in the number of vacant buildings.

2. Provide rehabilitation assistance grants for low income homeowners. The City estimates 570 substandard owner-occupied homes in rehabable condition.

3. Provide rental assistance for low income households. The City estimates over 3,000 low income households are in need of assistance.

4. Provide rehabilitation assistance for low income renter and owner-occupied units. Assistance is also targeted for handicapped persons.

5. Public Housing Resident Enhancement Programs including drug elimination, youth sports and educational programs.

6. Provide Neighborhood Enrichment Programs, one that will focus on local neighborhoods that provide information and assistance and another program to offer police officers downpayment assistance.

7. Provide assistance to homeless and non-homeless persons with special needs to help them achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Non-Housing Community Development Priorities

1. Provide for control of local flooding and drainage in low income areas, including ponding, hazardous conditions, and storm run-off.

2. Provide for standard city streets and curb and gutter projects, including sidewalks where appropriate in conjunction with City policy.

3. Provide for infrastructure (i.e. sewer, water, and other utility projects and programs) to further City goals toward quality of life.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

The City's Five-Year and One-Year Plans focuses on delivering affordable housing to areas of the city containing individuals who are at the greatest risk of suffering from lack of housing support. Those individuals and families whose incomes are below the poverty level will benefit the most from their proposed programs , which are designed to economically supplement and benefit those persons either directly through financial support or through programs which improve citizens living conditions and the overall environment.

Housing and Community Development Resources

The City of North Little Rock has developed a comprehensive list of sources it feels will be reasonably available during the next fiscal year to implement its housing and community development objectives. Among those noted were: various HUD programs, Gateway Education Grant, Public Housing Modification Funds, Union Rescue Mission Transient Lodge, Community Development Corporations, and the Local Initiative Support Corporation.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

The City of North Little Rock plans to continue its coordination efforts between other entities receiving HUD funds, private and nonprofit organizations and Metroplan. The City acknowledges that close coordination and interaction among City departments, nonprofit and for-profit organizations in the community is necessary to successfully implement their five year strategy and contends that information shared by these entities will provide them with a means to improve its housing related programs from year to year.

In addition to tracking conditions of the City's housing stock, it's Community Development Agency will have the lead role in coordinating all housing-related activities and programs, as well as monitoring implementation of the Consolidated Plan.

The City of North Little Rock anticipates using $994,000 in CDBG funds with an additional $112,767 in reprogrammed funds from prior year CDBG allocations, for a total of $1,106,767 to implement its housing and community development objectives.

Description of Key Projects

• $44,755 for Chiquito Road & Sewer Improvements;

• $103,800 for Park Street Completion to include drainage, curbs, gutters, and paving improvements;

• $149,422 for Freeman Circle Completion to include repaving, curb, gutters, and drainage improvements;

• $149,253 for Levy, Phase IV to include paving, curb, gutter, and drainage improvements;

• $59,408 for Rehabilitation, Housing Assistance Grants, Emergency Assistance Grants, Self Help, Handicapped Ramps, and HOME Administrative support;

• $35,782 for NLR Boys and Girls Club Improvements;

• $63,031 for Downtown Sidewalks, including renovation, repair, and new sidewalks;

• $2,000 for the Community Housing Resource Board to further fair housing activities;

• $24,904 for Services and Opportunities for Seniors to include Meals on Wheels and new kitchen facility;

• $9,443 for Riverbend Recovery to support an alcohol and drug treatment center;

• $40,000 for Eastgate Community Center/Housing Authority to support a community center, gymnasium and general meeting place;

• $15,000 for Down Payment Assistance to include closing costs and downpayment assistance;

• $53,916 for Baring Cross School/Vestal Sidewalks to provide handicapped sidewalks and ramps;

• $103,525 for Hyacinth Street Drainage and Street Improvements to include curb, gutter, drainage, and resurfacing of the street;

• $60,468 for Tie Plant Outfall to support drainage, curbs and gutters, and paving;

• $17,000 for Moss Street Park Equipment; and

• $175,000 for Administration of the CDBG Program.

Locations

The City's plan focuses on those areas which suffered from the greatest degree of population decline during the 1980's. These areas are primarily south of Interstate 40, the downtown and central city areas. These neighborhoods also suffer from a number of old housing structures, which led to other concerns, including environmental and lead-based paint hazards.

Lead Agencies

North Little Rock's Community Development Agency has the lead role in all housing-related planning by virtue of its responsibility for coordinating and developing the Consolidated Plan. The CDA also has responsibility for administering the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Housing Goals

The City is committed to its primary objective of serving those cost overburdened persons to assure their needs are met and any threat of homelessness is removed, thus helping them from becoming homeless.

The City further plans to:

• assist 50 households become homebuyers in the Five-year Plan.
• rehabilitate approximately 23 households per year.
• continue assistance to low income household needing rental assistance.
• provide for the coordination of Community Development Corporations.
• provide street and drainage projects as needed.

Maps

MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.

MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.

MAP 4 depicts unemployment levels for the jurisdiction.

TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).