Springdale's 1995 Consolidated Plan constitutes a strategic vision for housing and community development in the city. This document summarized the plan so that citizens in the community can have a quick overview of Springdale's housing and community development problems; the 5-year broad goals, strategies, and actions proposed to deal with those problems; and specific projects for carrying out this strategy during 1995.
The Consolidated Plan includes a 1-year action plan for infrastructure projects, spending $326,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in 1995. These funds will be spent on street, storm drainage, curb, gutter and sidewalk, playground equipment and improvements, and housing rehabilitation.
Citizens, non-profit organizations and other interested parties were
afforded adequate opportunity to review and comment on the Consolidated Plan
prior to approval by the City Council. Notification of public hearings and
other meetings were listed in the local newspaper and by circulating flyers in
public schools, PHA, Head Start Center, stores, and churches. Two public
hearings on September 27, 1994 and November 8, 1994, were held prior to the
Plan's approval. In addition, a summary of the proposed consolidated submission
was published in the Morning News on October 9, 1994 and three notices were
published periodically during the 30-day comment period to notify citizens of
the availability of the plan.
The City of Springdale is located in Washington County in northwest
Arkansas. The city's is presently experiencing a population immigration due to
need of employment by the poultry industry and other local corporations. The
present unemployment rate stands at 2.3 percent. Anticipated population is
expected to reach 40,000 persons by the year 2000.
The severe shortage of available affordable housing is the major problem facing the community.
Approximately 42 percent of the 681 elderly renter households in the city have housing problems caused by excessive rental costs, overcrowded conditions, or substandard housing. In addition, approximately 18 percent of the 2,042 elderly owner households have similar housing problems. For the 1,999 small family renters, 23 percent have housing problems. Similarly, 23 percent of the low income large family renters are cost burdened and 11 percent are severely cost burdened. The 1990 Census data indicates that the City has 347 substandard housing units and estimates that 50 percent or 173 are occupied.
The demand for housing is at an all time high with new subdivisions either in the planning stage or under construction. Residential building permits for the first half of 1994 have increased 53 percent over the same period in 1993. The average sales price of a new home is expected to rise from the 1993 average of $66,400, which means a new house is out of reach for many in the work force. Affordable housing units as well as financial assistance for prospective buyers in the form of down payment and closing cost assistance is needed. Even with financial assistance, there are few houses in the price range which would qualify. Approximately 2,172 households or 19 per cent have incomes below the estimated FY 1991 4-person income limit of $14,500 for very low income families and are eligible for HUD subsidies. Therefore, 5,716 or 50 percent of the families in Springdale are within the range of income that does not qualify for either HUD subsidized housing or for the purchase of a modest, new conventional single-family unit if they were available. At the same time, 5,625 (77 percent) of the owner households in Springdale could qualify for the purchase of a housing unit costing $25,000; 66 percent at $35,000; and 49 percent at $50,000 if these priced units were available. Making matters worse, the demand for housing, due to immigration, is causing rents to increase at a rapid rate. Many of the present rental units are now being rented by the week rather than by the month causing families to double up in these units.
At the present time, there appears to be an adequate number of shelter facilities for the homeless in the city and no additional needs are forecasted. Nine community agencies including the municipal police departments of Springdale, Fayetteville and Rogers can provide temporary shelter for homeless individuals and families. A September 10, 1994 survey for the tri-city area found that 170 persons were provided shelter that day, of which 45 persons were from Springdale.
The Springdale Public Housing Authority (PHA) has 197 occupied housing units. However there are 148 families on the PHA waiting list, seven of whom claim to be homeless. The PHA has 102 Section 8 Certificates with a waiting list of 83, of which seven claim to be homeless.
Primary barrier is the NIMBY (not in my back yard) factor.
The need for thousands of workers by local industries and the influx of
immigrants, primarily Hispanic, moving into our area to fill these jobs, data
on low wages earned in this area, increased prices of new and existing housing -
both rental and owner- and the age of the City's housing stock, are indications
of some of the problems that the City needs to deal with in relation to housing
needs to accommodate the increased population. In addition, a top priority is
to establish a one-stop information center for immigrants where they can learn "life
skills" - such as how to get a driver's license, how to get public services
such as water and electricity, how to communicate in order to survive in an
English speaking community, and how to buy housing rather than rent.
Springdale's 5-year strategic plan coordinates needs and resources together to assist in providing decent housing, a suitable environment, and expand economic opportunities to low-, very low, and extremely low-income residents.
During the Plan's 5-year period, the City of Springdale plans to use CDBG housing funds to rehabilitate 40 housing units for low- income homeowners and 100 units using the State's HOME Program. Also propose to utilize State HOME funds to assist 75 homebuyers with down payment, closing cost assistance and rehabilitation grants. Anticipated HOME funds for the 1995-1999 period is $1,460,000. Rental Assistance programs, including PHA and Section 8 will be continued and other housing programs for homeless and those with special needs will be carried out.
Street, storm drainage, curbs, gutters and sidewalk improvements will be undertaken in the Crutcher, Dodson, Ewalt, Hart, Hill Revitalization Ares. In addition playground equipment, including the installation of soft resilient play areas will be undertaken in the Grove Street Neighborhood Park.
The City of Springdale plans to continue to promote programs which provide capital and technical support for new business and to excel in the area of education and job training. In order to reduce the number of households earning incomes below the poverty line, the City must not only promote industry/business with higher paying positions to the area but must have trained/educated people available to fill these positions.
Springdale proposes to coordinate efforts of the City's various department
with those of the supportive service agencies, schools, industries, businesses,
and developers to meet housing and community development goals and promote
affordable housing.
Three major activities are proposed for this year:
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 points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
