The process of developing a Consolidated Planning Document for Lincoln Park officially began in the fall of 1994, with training provided by the U.S. Department of HUD. The purpose of this training was to provide "hands-on" training for the preparation of the Consolidated Plan using a computer system. In addition, the training was designed to sensitize the Community Improvement staff to the various issues confronting the nation in general and urban areas such as Lincoln Park in particular. Creation of the Consolidated Plan involves a community wide process of assessing its needs and resources. The community designates priority issues that it can address with the HUD formula funds it receives. The Consolidated Plan also serves as an application for HUD's Community Development Block Grant Program, the HOME Program, and Emergency Shelter Grants Program, and the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program. For FY 1995, the City proposes to fund 18 projects involving improvements to public facilities, programs for youth, and programs to assist youth.
The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to create a strategy for assisting very low, low, and moderate-income persons and to provide city-wide benefits. The City also made use of a variety of citizens advisory groups or commissions to assist in the development of this Consolidated Plan. The City met with the Lincoln Park Cable Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Youth Commission, the Planning Commission, the Economic Development Corporation and the Downtown Development Authority. The City consulted with the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Dangerous Buildings Board. The City has made great efforts to expand the participation of the public in this development process.
The City has made contact with the smaller communities surrounding it geographically. The Cities of Allen Park, Southgate, Ecorse, Wyandotte and Melvindale all participate with Wayne County in their Urban County CDBG Program and were not very interested seemingly in what this City was doing. The City received the most interest and support from the City of Wyandotte (Mr, Peter McInerney) and we discussed several projects going on along our border-with that community.
The City held several meetings with the Lincoln Park Public Housing Authority (hereinafter PHA) to discuss the needs and concerns of that agency. In an effort to include as many groups and individuals in the Consolidated Plan development process as wished to participate, the City met several times with it's Community Improvement Commission. This Commission serves as a "Citizens Advisory Panel" and participated in developing the Comprehensive Housing Development Strategy (hereinafter CHAS) previously and also were deeply involved in developing this document. Many revisions and additions to the document occurred because of the input received from this group. The City also met with members of the Downriver Board of Realtors (hereinafter Realtor Board) in an effort to discover unmet needs and special needs of the community for housing and also non-housing community development areas of concern. This groups believes that for the most part the needs of the community are being met. The City met once each with the Lincoln Park Rotary Club, Exchange Club, Lions Club and Kiwanis Club to discuss the needs of the community.
After careful deliberation individually and as a group, the Mayor and City
Council approved the following preliminary budget for the 1995-96 fiscal year,
at their regular meeting on Monday March 13th, 1995, and in it's final form at
their regular meeting held on Monday May 8th, 1995. A public hearing was held
in the John A. Aloisi Council Chambers on Monday January 23rd, 1995, commencing
at 6:00 pm. The second public hearing was held on March 6, 1995, at 6:00 p.m.
Both meetings were well attended and the Mayor and City Council received
numerous requests and suggestions for program / project funding for the coming
fiscal year. The City will continue to advertise this process when appropriate
and will continue to carry on a relationship with these various groups in an
effort to expand participation in the future. These same groups will be
consulted with and encouraged to participate in any revisions or amendments to
this document in the future as well.
The City of Lincoln Park has been referred to as a bedroom community by which it is generally meant that the majority of its residents work outside the City and return in the evening and during leisure times. Approximately 80% of the tax base for the City is made up of residential properties. The balance of the tax base is recreational, commercial and industrial in nature. Lincoln Park is an "inner-ring" suburb of Detroit and is completely surrounded by six other communities, The City is approximately 5.93 square miles being about 2 miles wide by 3 miles long. The six communities surrounding Lincoln Park are Detroit, Melvindale, Ecorse, Wyandotte, Allen Park and Southgate. Access to major transportation arteries is one important feature of the area. The City is intersected by 1-75 (Fisher Freeway), M-85 (Fort Street), M-39 (Southfield Road) and M-50 (Dix-Toledo Highway). Also within just a few miles distance, 1-275, I-94 and I-96 interchanges can be found. The City is also served by the main lines of the Consolidated Rail Corporation and is located just about one mile from the Detroit River and hence the entire Great Lakes Basin and is served as well by two marine terminals.
Lincoln Park is virtually a fully-built community with very little open
space left for development of new housing or commercial concerns. The City is
currently developing an extension of St. Johns Street between Wilson and Gohl
Streets and installing other needed utilities and infrastructure at that
location. The City intends to sell buildable lots at this location which will
allow for the construction of about 40 new detached single family homes over the
next couple of years. This development will represent the first large
development of new housing in the City in about ten years.
The housing stock of Lincoln Park is predominantly structures that were constructed 30 or more years ago. Of the 16,763 housing units in the City, 11.1% were constructed before World War II. The greatest housing construction activity boom occurred between 1940 and 1959 (the baby-boom generation) with a total of 66.3% of all housing units being constructed during that time period. During the period of 1960 to 1979, 18.1 % of the housing stock of the City was constructed. Only about 4.5% of the housing stock of Lincoln Park was constructed during the past 16 years. Lincoln Park had 16,257 occupied housing units at the time the 1990 United States Census was taken. Of that total, 3,503 or 21.5% were renter-occupied units. That of course leaves 12,754 or 78.5% of all housing units being occupied by owners of that property. Generally, one of the major concerns of any urban City like Lincoln Park is that of overcrowding. However, the results of the survey of the housing stock indicates that this is not a problem in this City. Of all the rental units in the City, 3,503 or 38.3% are one bedroom units. Another 42% of those units have two bedrooms and 19.7% of the units have three or more bedrooms in them. Of the owner- occupied units in Lincoln Park, 12,754 have one bedroom, 28.5% have two bedrooms and 70. 1% have three or more bedrooms in them.
Not finding any evidence to the contrary, the City assumes that these statistics indicate a good mix of affordable, quality housing in the City. The average selling price of a home in Lincoln Park was $45,300, which represents a 37.94% increase in value over the previous United States Census data available from 1979. The average family income in 1989 was $34,976 and the per capita income was $13,572.
The Lincoln Park PHA has only one large housing complex located at Cicotte and Electric Streets on the northeast side of the City. This complex contains just over I 00 housing units and is dedicated to housing the relatively self-sufficient elderly of the area. The City PHA also operates a system of scattered-site housing and Section 8 subsidized housing, The City PHA has also recently taken over the operation of the Section 8 housing program of the City of River Rouge, Michigan. The City has for many years carried on a close working relationship with it's PHA.
In 1994, the City in cooperation with the City Housing Commission constructed a community space addition to the high rise apartment complex located at Electric and Cicotte Streets. This much needed community space addition will provide an area for congregating by the senior residents of the apartment complex, will provide a small store for basic items, an area for conducting health screening events and a larger area for holding special events. This addition cost $400,000 to construct with the City CDBG Program paying one-half those costs and the Housing Commission paying the other one-half of such costs. The Housing Commission received in late 1993 or early 1994, a $2.1 million dollar C.I.A.P. Grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. With that grant, the Housing Commission paid for one-half the cost of the new community space addition. The balance of the C.I.A.P. Grant is being used to renovate the senior high-rise apartment complex located at Cicotte and Electric Streets and the scattered-site housing under the control of the City PHA. The City believes that it has an excellent working relationship with it's PHA and will continue to work cooperatively to serve the housing needs of Lincoln Park residents.
Wayne County assists first-time home buyers with a cash assistance to make the necessary downpayment and to cover the closing costs. This Program is extremely popular among the local realtors as they believe it helps them sell a city to young home buyers who might otherwise go to another city. The Mayor and City Council however, believe that the limited resources available to the City at this time mandate that they be used to assist older and lower income residents remain in the housing they already occupy and to address the other non-housing economic and other development needs of the community.
A series of meetings were held with the special needs housing personnel of the Michigan Department of Mental Health, the Wayne County Public Health Department, the Lincoln Park School System and others relative to issues concerning homeless populations and special needs housing for the mentally ill and those returning to the community from institutional settings. The Michigan Department of Mental Health is of the opinion that those needs are being adequately addressed at the current time. The Mental Health Department met in the Office of Community Improvement for the first time in the last five years and both parties committed to maintaining closer cooperative contact with one another to make certain that these needs are identified and properly addressed in the future.
The City also met with Mr. Bill Walsh of Community Care Services to discuss the housing and other service or special needs of the mentally and physically challenged members of the community. The City met with members of the Youth Assistance Corporation (a subrecipient of the City CDBG Program) Board of Directors to discuss the needs of the community as well. The members of this group believe that more is needed to address the special needs of the youth of the City. The Director of Community Improvement explained the City's efforts to fund their organization as well as to work with the other organizations addressing the needs of the youth in the community. Along these same lines the City met with the Police Chief and members of the Police Department relative to their efforts to address the special needs of the youth of the community.
The City is funding through it's CDBG Program the operation of the D.A.R.E. Program in the elementary schools of the community. This Program is operated by the City Police Department and is funded jointly by the City CDBG Program and the Lincoln Park School Board. The City is also this year for the first time funding the operation of the Gang Resistance Education And Training (hereinafter GREAT) Program. This program operates in the elementary and middle school levels to combat the problems unique to this age group in the community. The City also consulted with and works closely with the Down River Guidance Clinic which provides out patient mental health and Counseling services to the youth and other aged members of the community. The City believes it is doing everything it can currently to address these needs given the resources available at this time,
The City also held meetings with the Wayne County Public Health Department, Mr. John Budzynski, to discuss the issue of lead-based paint hazards and the health risks to children. The City also consulted with Oakwood Downriver Hospital administrative staff to try and determine the incidents of such a health risk in the immediate area of the City. The City has also now written to Children's Hospital in Detroit to ascertain whether children from this City are being admitted with lead poisoning or related health problems. The City reviewed with Oakwood Downriver and the Wayne County Health Department, the advisory notice it uses with all residential rehabilitation projects and also reviewed the brochures currently in use at the City.
The City currently gives a copy of Lead-Based Paint: A Threat to Your Children (Revised in 1993) to every person/family participating in our Residential Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program. In addition, the City makes available copies of brochures on lead-based paint hazards and abatement to all residents of the City or others who may be in the Office of Community Development.
The City conducted a survey previously to determine whether or not there existed any barriers to affordable housing such as restrictive Zoning Codes, Building Codes, Restrictive Covenants or Conditions contained in subdivision plats or in deeds. The Director of Community Improvement has met with the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Public Housing Authority and various local realtors to discuss this issue. The City cannot identify any barriers to affordable housing but will continue to monitor the situation for possible improvements that could be made.
The Director of Community Improvement met to discuss this issue with the Detroit Office of HUD, (Ms. Ruth Featherstone) Fair Housing Department. The Director has also met with the Executive Director of the Public Housing Authority and members of the local realtors associations. The City is not able to identify any impediments to enforcement of the Fair Housing Act existing within Lincoln Park. Any complaints relative to Fair Housing Act issues are submitted to the Lincoln Park Public Housing Authority for investigation and resolution. The City is not aware of any such need existing at this time. Non-residential historic preservation needs was ranked as a low need and the City estimates that it would require $150,000 to address this need and that insufficient funds will be available with which to do so. The City does not anticipate that it will be able to properly address this concern.
Commercial-industrial rehabilitation needs was ranked as a low priority need and the City estimates that it would require $4,000,000 to adequately address this concern. There are insufficient funds available to adequately address this concern but the City anticipates it will be able to partially address them through the operation of it's CDBG funded Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Interest Subsidy Program. Commercial-industrial infrastructure was ranked as no such need because the City is not aware of any such need existing at this point in time. Other commercial-industrial improvements was ranked as a low need and the City estimates that it would require $500,000 over the next five years to properly address this concern. The City anticipates that it will be able to adequately address this concern through the operation of the CDBG funded Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Interest Subsidy Program, the Economic Development Corporation and the Downtown Development Authority. Micro-businesses was ranked as no such need because the City is not aware of any such need existing at this time, Other-businesses was ranked as no such need because the City is not aware of any such need existing at this time, Technical assistance was ranked as a low need priority and the City estimates that it will require $500,000 to adequately address this concern over the next five years.
The City anticipates being able to meet this need through the operation of it's CDBG funded Commercial Loan Interest Subsidy Program, the Downtown Development Authority and the Economic Development Corporation. Other economic development needs was ranked as a medium priority need and the City estimates that it will require $500,000 over the next five years to adequately meet this need. Due to insufficient funds being available to the City, it is not anticipated that this need will be fully met.
Energy efficiency improvements was ranked as a low needs priority and the
City estimates that it would require $200,000 to properly address this concern
over the next five year period of time. The City anticipates being able to
adequately meet this need through the operation of it's CDBG funded Residential
Rehabilitation Loan Program, cooperative efforts with the Downriver Community
Conference, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and private lending
institutions. Lead-based paint/hazards was ranked as a low need priority and
the City is not aware that there is any large number of cases with this type of
concern. The City estimates that it will require $100,000 over the next five
year period of time to properly address this concern through education, testing
and the CDBG funded residential rehabilitation Loan Program. Code enforcement
was ranked as a low need and the City estimates that it will require $25,000 to
adequately address this concern. The City anticipates being able to adequately
address this concern through the operation of the City Department of Building
and Safety Engineering.
The City anticipates receiving $1,047,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for the year starting July 1, 1995. The City takes 20% of that funding for Administrative and Planning costs incurred in operating the CDBG Program through the Office of Community Improvement. That leaves $838,000 available to be allocated among all of the competing programs and projects.
| 1. | Administration and Planning | $217,800 |
| 2. | Housing Rehabilitation Loans | 520,000 |
| 3. | Fire Hydrant Replacement | 25,000 |
| 4. | Parking Lot Renovations | 23,208 |
| 5. | Park Improvements | 66,000 |
| 6. | Removal of Architectural Barriers | 50,000 |
| 7. | County Homeless Shelter | 2,000 |
| 8. | Sidewalk, Curbs & Catch Basin Repairs | 30,000 |
| 9. | Community Policing Program | 30,000 |
| 10. | D.A.R.E, Program | 20,000 |
| 11. | Fire Station Door Replacement | 25,000 |
| 12. | Fire Station Heating System | 10,000 |
| 13. | Fire Station Decontamination Room | 10,000 |
| 14. | Tree Planting Program | 5,000 |
| 15. | Youth Assistance Program | 30,000 |
| 16. | The Senior Alliance | 2,092 |
| 17. | Head Start | 900 |
| 18. | Crime Patrol Watch | 4,357 |
| 19. | Historical Museum Renovation | 10,000 |
| 20. | Site Clearance | 20,000 |
| 21. | Fire Fighting Equipment | 8,000 |
| TOTAL BUDGETED | $1,109,357 |
|---|
Administration & Planning ($217,800)
These funds will be used to pay the costs associated with the operation of the Office of Community Improvement. The Office has three full-time employees currently, down from five full-time employees just a couple of years ago. The Office operates out of the second floor of City Hall located at 1355 Southfield Road. In addition to paying the salary and fringe benefits for the three full-time employees, these funds may be used to pay for all office supplies, utilities and office equipment such as computers, copy machines, etcetera. One of the three employees is also partially funded from out of the Residential Rehabilitation Program because of work performed for that Program. These funds may also be used to pay fees to outside professionals such as auditors, accountants and engineers. These funds may also be used to pay for the retained services of professional planners, attorneys and environmental consultants.
Housing Rehabilitation Loans ($520,000)
These funds may be used to make no interest or low interest loans to residents to facilitate the renovation of single family dwellings and also rental dwellings. These funds may be used on a City-Wide basis and the Mayor and City Council may designate one or more "target" areas for the concentration of funds. Some funds may be used for providing assistance on an "emergency" basis in appropriate circumstances. Generally, such no interest or low interest loans must be paid back over a one to ten year period of time. Very low to low income person(s) may borrow funds at no interest and moderate income person(s) may borrow funds at a rate of annual interest about one-half of that charged at area lending institutions.
Fire Hydrant Replacement ($25,000)
These funds will be used to purchase new fire hydrant s, hydrant repair kits and other equipment which will be used and / or installed in the low- to moderate- income quartile areas of the City. Many of the hydrants in the City are quite old and in need of replacement in order to maintain top efficiency of operations for our Fire Department. These hydrants will be installed by personnel of the City DPS, more particularly the Water and Sewer Department of the DPS. The City anticipates being able to install approximately 20 to 25 new fire hydrants with this funding.
Parking Lot Renovations ($ 23,208)
These funds will be used to make necessary repairs and renovation work on the municipal parking lot located on the east and west sides of Fort Street, north of Southfield Road. These repairs may be made by the City DPS and / or private contractors. The work will consist of resurfacing the parking areas, installing bumper stops and removing cement islands. These funds may also be used to make curb cuts and renovate sidewalks in order to make the area business establishments more accessible to the physically impaired members of the community.
Park Improvements ($66,000)
These funds may be used to install fencing at Council Point Park which is located along River Drive between Emmons Blvd. and Southfield Road. These funds may be used to construct a rest room facility at Council Point Park and / or make necessary renovations at the Community Center on Dix Road and the Kennedy Memorial Bldg./Lincoln Senior Center on Ferris Street in order to make that facility more accessible to the physically impaired members of the community.
Removal of Architectural Barriers ($50,000)
These funds may be used to complete renovations to the lobby / entrance area of the City Police Station-Jail Facility. Funds may also be used to make renovations to the shower, rest room and locker space areas of the Community Center on Dix Road. These funds may also be used to make renovations to the Kennedy Memorial Building and the Lincoln Senior Center located on Ferris Street between London and Merrill Streets, in order to make those facilities more accessible to the physically impaired members of the community. These funds may also be used, if feasible, to install an elevator in the City owned Historical Museum located at 1335 Southfield Road. These funds may also be used to make renovations to the City Hall located at 1355 Southfield Road in order to make it more accessible to the handicapped members of the community.
County Homeless Shelter ($2,000)
These funds will be allocated to Wayne County for the operation of the family shelter located on Michigan Avenue and Henry Ruff Road in Westland, Michigan. These funds will be used to support the ongoing efforts to provide a temporary shelter primarily for woman and young children. This facility also provides limited medical assistance and also counseling relative to housing and employment issues.
Sidewalks, Curbs, Catch Basin Repair/Replacement ($30,000)
These funds will be used to make needed repairs and replace when necessary sidewalks and catch basins in the low to moderate income quartile areas of the City. These funds will also be used to make needed curb cuts in the low to moderate income quartile areas of the City in order to make those areas more accessible to the physically impaired members of the community.
Community Policing Programs ($30,000)
These funds may be used to train and partially pay the salaries and fringe benefits for police officers selected by the Chief of Police to participate in these programs. These programs are designed to reach out to various groups of citizens, predominantly in the low to moderate income quartile areas of the City, in an effort to prevent criminal activities and foster better understanding and cooperation between the Police Department and the community. These funds may be used to operate the Neighborhood Watch Program, the D.A.R.E. Program, the G.R.E.A.T. Program and others in an effort to accomplish the objectives of community policing.
D.A.R.E. Program ($20,000)
These funds will be used to partially fund the operation of a traditional D.A,R.E. Program in the elementary schools servicing the low to moderate income quartile areas of the City, D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse & Resistance Education) is operated in cooperation with and also partially funded by, the Lincoln Park School System.
Fire Station Overhead Door Replacement ($25,000)
These funds will be used to purchase and install new, insulated overhead doors which will open and close automatically. The current doors are not at all energy efficient and are often jamming up and causing a dangerous situation during emergency operations. These doors will be purchased from and installed by a private contractor.
Fire Station Heating System ($10,000)
These funds will be used to purchase and install a new heating system for the first floor area of the City Fire Station. The present system is a hot water boiler and steam heating type which is very old and inefficient. This new system will reduce energy consumption considerably and also allow the removal of the old boiler. The boiler room will then be converted for use as a decontamination room and laundry facility for the new washer- extractor unit the City is in the process of obtaining for the Fire Department.
Fire Station Decontamination Room ($10,000)
These funds will be used to construct and equip a new decontamination room for use by personnel of the City Fire Department. This equipment will be installed in the basement level room that the boiler is currently in and will. be--used in conjunction with the new washer-extractor laundry unit the City is in the process of obtaining for the Fire Department. This decontamination room will feature equipment necessary to protect the health and safety of the fire fighting personnel who may have been exposed to hazards in the line of duty.
Tree Planting Program ($5,000)
These funds will be used to plant trees in the low to moderate income quartile areas of the City. These funds may also be used to purchase and install trees in the public parks which service the low to moderate income quartile areas of the City.
Youth Assistance Program ($30,000)
These funds will be used to facilitate the operation of the Lincoln Park Youth Assistance Program. This Program has one full-time employee and also works with a non-paid group of volunteer adult mentors. This Program is designed to act as an early intervention source in the lives of troubled teen aged residents of the City. These funds will be used predominantly to assist low to moderate income person(s) even though it is run on a City- Wide basis.
The Senior Alliance ($2,092)
These funds will be used to help defray the costs of operating The Senior Alliance which works as a clearinghouse for federal, state and local programs designed to assist the elderly members of the community. This Program assists senior citizens predominantly and they are of course, presumptively low to moderate income persons. This Program is operated on a City-Wide basis but qualifies as a limited clientele direct benefit type activity.
Head Start ($900)
These funds will be used to purchase instructional materials for use in the Lincoln Park Head Start Program operating out of the Crowley Center for Early Childhood Development located at 2000 Pagel Street. These materials will include several kits containing written material, puppets and other items for use by the teaching and assistant staff working with the preschool aged children at this facility. Children who participate in Head Start are predominantly low to moderate income persons.
Crime Patrol Watch ($4,357)
These funds will be used to assist in the operation of the Crime Patrol Watch which is a volunteer group of citizens who operate a C.B. Radio based "Neighborhood Watch" and graffiti reward program.
Historical Museum Renovation ($10,000)
These funds will be used to make needed renovations at the City Historical Museum in order to make it ADA compliant and more accessible to the handicapped members of the community.
Site Clearance ($20,000)
These funds will be used to remove lead contaminated soil at the corner of Cicotte and Electric streets in order to facilitate the building of a senior housing apartment complex at that site.
Fire Fighting Equipment ($8,000)
These funds will be used to purchase power ventilating saws and fire hose for use by the City Fire Department.
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.
MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and proposed HUD funded projects.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
William D. Hatley
Director of Community Improvement
1355 Southfield Road
Lincoln Park, Michigan 48146
Phone: (313) 386-1800 Ext. #289
