The City of Auburn, New York, the County Seat of Cayuga County, is the primary urban center of a rural county located in the Finger Lakes Region of Central New York. With a population of approximately 32,000, Auburn is a dynamic small city. There are few communities that have the combination of environment, history and character that we enjoy. The economy of Auburn draws on Industry, Small Business, Finance, Tourism and Government. It is located on Owasco Lake and it's outlet and is centrally located along the State's regional transportation corridors.
During the Public Participation Process, the City of Auburn Office of Planning and Economic Development asked City residents for assistance with identifying common concepts arising out of specific community issues that would contribute to a Vision or Mission Statement. The Concepts cited by the community included: Diversity, Self Sufficiency, Support, Creating a Positive Self Image and Economic Opportunity. From these concepts, the City identified a Vision Statement:
We will work toward creating a Community that encourages diversity while striving for opportunity for all residents based upon respect and support that leads to self-sufficiency and empowerment.
The elements of the City of Auburn CPS Strategic Plan present specific opportunities identified by the City as catalysts for change which will help us reach this vision. The Strategic Plan includes a 1995-'96 Action Plan for allocating approximately $1.3 million of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. These funds will be spent in four primary community development areas: Housing, Public Improvements, Economic Development and Community Development Services. The majority of the program allocations are targeted for Housing / Community Livability Activities and Economic Development.
The City of Auburn Office of Planning and Economic Development prepared a Citizen Participation Plan (or "CP Plan") with the intent of soliciting the input and comments of City residents on the development of the 1995-1996 Consolidated Planning Strategy (CPS). The plan described the grass roots process the City employed in the development of CPS Strategic Plan and Action Plan programs and projects described in this summary. It detailed the City's intent to involve human service providers, neighborhood groups, and individuals in the process of identifying significant issues for the City, prioritizing these needs and developing strategies to address them in its five (5) year Strategic Plan and the one (1) year Action Plan. The Citizen Participation Plan also identified opportunities for Citizen input and comment following the distribution of the proposed CPS and indicated the process the City would take if it proposed to amend the CPS once it had been adopted. The City's outreach strategy for community participation consisted of neighborhood meetings and consultations with the Auburn Housing Authority, human service providers and economic development professionals. The goal of these meetings was to inform and educate the public and their representatives regarding the substance and scope of the CPS process and to gather factual and anecdotal information from the participants on the needs and opportunities facing the City.
The neighborhood meetings were held in the community at a variety of locations. The venues were chosen based upon size, accessibility and location. An effort was made to distribute the meetings geographically throughout the City so that four major neighborhood areas would be represented. Each of the meetings were held at 7:00 p.m. and were fully accessible. There were four (4) neighborhood meetings held:
All of the meetings were announced in the Citizen (the local daily newspaper of general circulation) and in the weekly Pennysaver, and the City announced its intention to hold the meetings in the Citizen Participation Plan ("CP Plan").
In addition, informational flyers were distributed throughout the City and the Office of Planning and Economic Development prepared a targeted mailing to residents and organizations. Public presentations on the Consolidated Planning Strategy process were made before City Council on December 29, 1994. This City Council meeting resulted in two articles in the local press ( in The Citizen and in the Syracuse Post Standard) on the CPS process and agenda. The City also held a Public Hearing, before the City Planning Board at City Hall, regarding the Citizen Participation Plan on January 3, 1995. Again, the CPS process was described and the proposed schedule of community meetings was presented. A summary of the CP Plan was published in the Citizen, and included a listing of locations throughout the City where full copies of the CP Plan were made available for review.
Three Public Hearings were held after being publicized in two local
newspapers. After the second, and before the third Public Hearing, there was a
thirty (30) day period during which time copies of the proposed Consolidated
Plan were available for public review and comment. The CPS Strategic Plan and
1995-1996 Action Plan was approved by the City through a City Council Resolution
on March 2, 1995.
The City of Auburn is centrally located in the County of Cayuga, New York in the eastern portion of the Finger Lakes region of Central New York State. It is the County Seat and urban center of a predominately rural county. According to the 1990 Census, the population of Auburn is approximately 32,250. The City had grown progressively through the early years of this century. Changes in the regional and national economy, however, have had an impact on local employment opportunities over the past forty (40) years. This is reflected in a significant change in population over that period, from a high point of 36,722 in 1950 to 32,258 in 1990. This translates to a population decrease of 14.9% in the past 40 years.
During this same time period, the City and Cayuga County have experienced a significant reduction in local employment opportunities in the manufacturing sector. In the last 20 years, the City lost the major facilities operated by General Electric, Auburn Plastics, and Columbian Rope. The Auburn Technology plant has been reduced from 1,200 persons to approximately 50, and is now being partially dismantled.
The fastest growing population group in the City is the elderly. According to the 1990 Census data, the majority of the City's population were white (91.7 percent), 3.5 percent were African American and 4.8 percent were divided among other minorities.
In 1990 the median family income (MFI) was $28,932. Approximately fifty
percent of households in the City (49.3%) were low- and moderate-income (with
incomes below 80% of MFI) in 1990. In addition, 15 of the 31 Census Tract Block
Groups within the City had higher than 51% of low- and moderate-income
households. The majority of these block groups are located in the northwest and
central quadrants of the City.
The major employment sectors in the City of Auburn are the Manufacturing, Government, Retail and Health Industries. Since 1990, the unemployment rate for Cayuga County has closely paralleled the unemployment rate for New York State. Between September 1990 to September 1995, the State unemployment rate had risen from 5.5 percent to 6.4 percent. Cayuga County's unemployment rate paralleled this trend during this same period, moving from 5.2 percent in 1990 to 6.4 percent in 1995. For the most part, local unemployment levels remain below the State average. Over the past forty years, a loss of manufacturing employment opportunities, a drop in population and a rise in the elderly population of the City has resulted in an increased number of households which rely on a fixed income source. While this has decreased the relative number of residents able to purchase a home and caused the prices of homes on the market to remain relatively low, it has also led to a period of deferred maintenance on the housing stock in general. In some cases, this has led to a deterioration of neighborhood housing and livability conditions.
There is a demonstrated need for housing rehabilitation options which are affordable and available to low- and moderate-income homeowners and also for investor-owners. Within the City of Auburn 67.6% of the housing units were built before 1950, which typically require significant effort and expense to maintain and repair. In addition, another 16.5% were built between 1950 and 1970, and have begun to experience significant mechanical systems failures. Combined, over 80% of the housing units are of an age that requires continued investment.
The City began a comprehensive housing conditions survey during the summer of 1994. Although not complete, the City can begin to identify specific housing characteristics of some neighborhoods. The surveying completed to date indicates that in the Census Block Groups with a majority of the residents low or moderate income, approximately 29% of the units may be categorized as substandard.
Local housing market trends over the past several years indicate that the demand for rental units was sufficient to maintain higher rental prices and requests for conversions. While this helps to offset the trend toward deferred maintenance of these units, it is not a guarantee of ongoing improvements. During the past year (1994-1995) rental demand seemed to wane slightly. There is an impression among some investor-owners that the demand trend has peaked. An increase in the vacancy rate for rental apartments might contribute to the trend of deferred maintenance for these housing units.
There is a need to promote first time homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate- income persons. The City of Auburn is beginning to recover from a depressed period of housing sales. Nationwide economic conditions and insecurity about local employment opportunities, combined with a downturn in the prices in the housing market, resulted in a stagnant market for over two years. During 1993 and part of 1994, house sales increased due to the low interest rates and moderating prices. The increase in mortgage interest rates during 1994 precluded some formerly eligible residents with marginal incomes from purchasing a home. The potential to own a home can lead to community reinvestment and the stabilization of residential neighborhoods.
In 1994, approximately 1,731 homes sold for an average price of $64,544. The average sale price for a single family house in 1993 was $67,000 for a three bedroom home. The City-wide range in sale prices was from less than $20,000 to more than $150,000. According to the 1990 Census, the median rent was $386 for a standard condition apartment. According to the 1990 Census, there are 12,682 year round units in the City of Auburn. Of these, 90.8% (11,936) are occupied. Of the occupied units 52.0% (6,201) are owner-occupied and 48.0% (5,735) are occupied by tenants. Of the 1,200 vacant units (9.2% of all units), 404 (33.7% of vacant units, 3.1% of all units) are for rent, 50 (4.1% of vacant units, 0.4% of all units) are for sale and 746 (62.2% of vacant units, 5.7% of all units) are under rehabilitation or abandoned.
There is a need for comprehensive affordable rehabilitation options for very low-income homeowners and the rehabilitation of rental housing units. An additional affordable housing need is the potential for low- and moderate-income renters to become first time homeowners. Of the 11,918 households in the City of Auburn, 30.2 percent (3,599) are considered very low-income according to the 1990 Census. Of these households, 47.6 percent (1,713) are below 30% of Median Family Income and 52.4 percent (1,886) are between 30% and 50 % of Median Family Income. The elderly constitute 50.4% of the households in this category. Of the households within this income category, 72.4 percent are renters and 27.6% are owners. Of the 2604 Very-low income households renting their homes, approximately 46 percent are spending greater than 50% of their income for housing costs (considered a severe cost burden) In addition, the City estimates that approximately half of the units rented by very low-income households (exclusive of publicly subsidized units) have significant physical deficiencies and code violations.
The immediate need of all very low-income households in privately held rental properties is a stabilization of the units to prevent further deterioration. Based on the Census data, code violations and other conditions, the City estimates that approximately 2,000 units occupied by very low-income renters require deferred maintenance or more comprehensive rehabilitation.
The primary group of 995 very low-income homeowners is the elderly population (77.2% of the very low-income homeowners) that have paid the mortgage on their property. The census data indicates that the non-elderly residents in the lowest income category (<30% MFI) are more likely to have housing problems than the elderly (94.7% and 76.3% respectively). The opposite is true for the next highest category calculated (31% to 50% MFI) as the elderly were more likely to have housing problems than the balance of the population (68.6% and 56.3% respectively), which may be related to the younger families' ability to personally make repairs. The census information, supplemented by additional data gathered locally, indicates that 70% (699 units) of very-low or low-income, owner occupied homes are substandard. This data substantiates the need for comprehensive rehabilitation options for rental units and for owner occupied units.
The elderly residents identified as living at this level typically do not have a mortgage. The income of the very low-income homeowner, however, is not sufficient to maintain the taxes, insurance, utilities and the physical needs of the property. The primary need for owners are the stabilization of the home's condition for the short term and comprehensive rehabilitation as soon as possible.
Many very low income elderly homeowners have significant equity invested in their homes. They could make the needed improvements if they had a method for accessing their equity through affordable methods, such as reverse mortgages. The housing agencies and elderly housing complexes also cite a need for housing alternatives to single family homeownership into which the elderly very low-income homeowner may move.
Although 1990 U.S. Census Date indicates that the City of Auburn does not have a large number of chronically homeless persons, all human service providers who serve the homeless and homeless vulnerable in Auburn and the City staff agree the Census data was incorrect in its reported number of homeless individuals (one in shelter and two unsheltered). The agencies in Auburn who serve this population maintain there is a growing number of homeless individuals in the City of Auburn, especially among teens. To date, no agency or governmental body in Auburn has undertaken a point-in-time count of the homeless individuals in the City. The City staff has had difficulty gathering the exact number of homeless and homeless vulnerable individuals in the City while preparing the CPS document. The need for a well coordinated, well documented point-in-time count is evident.
The human service providers who serve the homeless and the homeless vulnerable in Auburn were able to provide data, but not in a format appropriate for the HUD Homeless Population Priority Needs Table. The Cayuga County Action Program (CCAP) reported the number of homeless individuals they served from August 1993 through July 1994. The Salvation Army, Unity House of Cayuga County, and the Cayuga County Department of Social Services reported the number of homeless and homeless vulnerable they served in 1994. According to the data provided, 224 persons were homeless, and 575 were homeless vulnerable at some point between August 1993 and December 1994 in the City of Auburn. This is not an unduplicated number of homeless or homeless vulnerable in the City of Auburn, but it is the best documentation the City has to date of the City's homeless and homeless vulnerable population.
Collectively, the agencies list substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence and other family problems, lack of affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, and inadequate benefit levels in public assistance programs as issues which contribute to the homelessness of individuals in the City of Auburn. These agencies deal with the homeless and homeless vulnerable on three levels: prevention, emergency shelter and transitional housing.
The City of Auburn will work to coordinate a comprehensive point-in-time count for homelessness in the City and will continue to monitor the activity of established agencies serving this population.
The Auburn Public Housing Authority (AHA) administers three (3) major Housing Projects in the City of Auburn: Melone Village (188 Units); Brogan Manor (88) and Olympia Terrace (50 Units). Olympia Terrace is subsidized through Federal funds, while Brogan Manor and Melone Village are subsidized through New York State funds.
Melone Village is the oldest of the three housing projects. The complex consists of 31 buildings and an administration building. Each building has from four to ten apartments. The physical condition of Melone Village is fair. The most critical needs at the complex are the structural deterioration of the brick veneer exteriors and poor site drainage resulting in water damage. Window replacement and kitchen overhauls also need to be addressed.
Brogan Manor was built in 1974. The entire complex consists of 10 apartment buildings and 1 administration building/garage. The physical condition of Brogan Manor is good. Current renovation concerns at the project are replacement of bent and peeling aluminum siding and improvements to the vehicular and pedestrian circulation system.Olympia Village, built in 1981, is the newest of the three housing projects. The complex consists of 15 buildings. Currently the project is in good condition.
There are a number of issues which may be interpreted as representing "Barriers to Affordable Housing". While some may be characterized as having a direct cause and effect relationship, other issues are not as well defined. In either case, effective solutions to these "barriers" will require additional research before corrective measures are proposed and undertaken.
The Office of Planning and Economic Development has studied City and County tax policies, zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations, building codes, building fees, and affordable housing subsidies and identified six issues with respect to the availability of affordable housing. Our Consolidated Plan notes the following barriers:
The City of Auburn Office of Planning and Economic Development and the Office of Human Rights are completing an evaluation and update of the City's existing Fair Housing Compliance Study. While existing documentation does not point toward a high number of fair housing complaints, the identification of barriers to fair housing and the demographic profile of buyers and renters needs to be updated. There are currently no HUD-imposed sanctions, court orders or consent decrees that effect the provision of fair housing in the City of Auburn.
Within the City of Auburn, 67.6% of the housing units were built before 1950 and are likely to have some lead content present in paint or other building components. In addition, another 16.5% were built between 1950 and 1970 and have the potential for lead content. The Cayuga County Health Department estimates that nearly 80% of the units in the City have some lead content in the form of paint or other materials.
The percentages provided above are estimates and specific numbers for the total household units in the City of Auburn containing lead-based paint hazards are not available. Using the percentages shown above as a relative guide, a calculation of the potential number of housing units in the City may be made.
According to the 1990 U.S. Census, there are 12,682 housing units in the City of Auburn. If 80% of these units have the potential for lead content in the form of paint or other materials, then nearly 10,145 units may be considered to have potential lead paint hazards. According to the 1990 census data, there are 5,807 families in the City of Auburn who are below 80% of the HUD adjusted Median Family Income (MFI). Using this figure, approximately 4,645 low/mod income families in the City may be living in units with potential lead paint hazards.
Steps have been taken to further identify and address the problem of lead-based paint hazards in the City of Auburn and Cayuga County. Because of the high percentage of units throughout the City and County with the potentialof lead hazards, the Cayuga County Department of Health, through its Division of Nursing, created the Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee. The Committee is charged with developing a protocol for identifying and handling lead hazards within Cayuga County. The Committee has made significant progress in establishing a procedure for identifying, measuring, tracking and abating lead-based paint hazards.
In addition, the City is developing a protocol for mapping locations of known lead paint hazards throughout the City on a its own computer-mapping software supplied by HUD, using Cayuga County lead testing data as an information source. Using this map as a guide, all housing units participating in housing programs under the proposed Consolidated Plan will be referenced against the City-wide database. Where a project matches a known, active lead-based hazard location, the project proposal will call for an abatement strategy as part of the project. While the Housing Rehabilitation Programs include lead hazard assessment, this program would assist the City in confirming any potential hazards in a unit. In addition, educational material on lead poisoning prevention will be made available for all persons applying for funding through the proposed CPS Housing Programs.
The City of Auburn is fortunate in consistently holding a relatively low unemployment rate (in relation to the local region and New York State averages). Still, there is a demonstrated need to continue the City's efforts at retaining and attracting employment opportunities and to provide low- and moderate-income persons with expanded employment opportunities which produce a living wage.
Housing stock rehabilitation and the stabilization of the City's older residential neighborhoods is also a primary community development need. Public improvements and rehabilitation of existing neighborhood facilities, the provision of youth services and child care are also critical community development initiatives which support the City's economic development efforts and improve the quality of life for all community members.
The City of Auburn Office of Planning and Economic Development coordinates
the City's housing activities and Capital Improvement Program as well as other
activities funded through the CDBG, HOME, ESG and other federal and state
programs. The Office staff coordinate with other City Departments and the
Cayuga County Planning Board, Department of Social Services and Health
Department. The City relies upon the expertise of the local housing development
agency (HOMSITE) for implementation of the Home Repair Assistance Program and
participation in other projects. The City has and will continue to work with
local service agencies interested in developing housing or services for all
segments of the population. As the City's CDBG Program becomes more
sophisticated, funded subrecipient activities will focus and expand on the
coordination of services. The OPED also cooperates with local and regional
economic development agencies, such as the Central New York Regional Planning
Board and the New York State Department of Economic Development, to ensure local
businesses are offered the most appropriate financial and technical assistance
available.
The Office of Planning and Economic Development sought significant community input in the development of the Consolidated Plan and the preparation of the 1995-'96 Action Plan. Through it's efforts and the participation of community residents, the business community and community development professionals throughout the City, the City identified key concepts supporting a Vision for Change. The Concepts cited by the community included: Diversity, Self Sufficiency, Support, Creating a Positive Self Image and Economic Opportunity. From these concepts, the City identified a Vision Statement:
We will work toward creating a Community that encourages diversity while striving for opportunity for all residents based upon respect and support that leads to self-sufficiency and empowerment.
The elements of the City of Auburn CPS Strategic Plan represents opportunities the City identified as enhancements or changes which will help us reach this vision. It includes a 1995-'96 Action Plan for allocating approximately $1.3 million of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. These funds will be spent in four primary community development areas: Housing, Public Improvements, Economic Development and Community Development Services. The majority of the program allocations are targeted for Housing / Community Livability Activities and Economic Development.
The City of Auburn has identified nine (9) major goals in the CPS Five Year Strategic Plan which outline the essential actions and activities for reaching the City's Vision for Change. Each of these goals is enumerated in the Strategic Plan and each of the activities or programs of the 1995-'96 Action Plan support one or more of these goals.
Each of the nine goals identified is related to the findings of the City's extensive Needs Assessment Process conducted during the CPS process. The City identified a number of specific objectives for each of the Strategic Plan goals and for each objective developed strategic actions, plans or programs which will support one or more objective and/or goal.
The goals are:
The City identified the needs related to it's Housing Priorities through research of existing Census and local data and through the public input during the Needs Assessment Process meetings. As an issue, all housing objectives and strategies were considered High Priority items. The activities to meet this goal will take place throughout the City.
The Objectives supporting the goal of Affordable Housing are:
The following actions, activities and programs are included in the Strategic Plan, supporting the goal of Affordable Housing:
The City of Auburn has identified a range of activities to undertake during the five year term of the Strategic Plan including the 1995-'96 Action Plan. These activities are integral components of community development efforts to make physical and economic improvements for our residents and the City. These community development activities include public facilities improvements, community development support services and economic development activities.
Economic Opportunity and Economic Development was a high priority in the Strategic Plan and supports all of the community development strategies the City will undertake. The specific objectives of the City's proposed Economic Development Strategy are:
Public Facilities Improvements support the goal of creating safe and stable neighborhood communities through the improved quality of life in the community and also supports the overall economic development strategy of the City.
The specific objectives of the City's proposed Public Facilities Improvements Strategy are:
Finally, the City has targeted the provision of community development support services as a component of it's non-housing community development priorities. During the Needs Assessment Process of the Strategic Plan initiative, the City identified a number of key areas for the provision of support service activities. The City will continue to monitor the need for ongoing support of human service type activities and the provision of funding for identified needs. For the 1995-'96 Action Plan, the following categories of service were targeted:
The major goals the Office of Planning and Economic Development have included creating employment opportunities for City and area residents as well as ensuring safe, affordable housing. The City of Auburn has had an ongoing active economic development strategy to encourage the development of new employment opportunities utilizing local, state and federal resources.
The City Office of Planning and Economic Development works with a local network of development professionals to provide the assistance local businesses need to expand and new businesses need to locate in the area. Developing new employment opportunities and providing the opportunities for job training are the key to the City's efforts in providing an improved quality of life to the community. Without these employment opportunities, residents would not have the opportunity to rise above the poverty level.
Local counseling and service agencies have expressed the need and the intent to create a comprehensive counseling service for homeless, housing vulnerable and very low-income families. The housing activities indicated in this document would provide a component of this comprehensive counseling and service. Low-income residents would have the support and services required to progress toward self sufficiency. In support of this effort, the City assisted the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services with the development of a skills training facility and day care center in Technology Park. The City will continue to facilitate such projects for supporting economic opportunities. The City's goal is to reduce the number of persons at poverty levels in City of Auburn by providing the supports and employment opportunities described above.
It should be noted that the City of Auburn is eligible as an Entitlement Community for only one of the four Programs which HUD is combining into the Consolidated Planning Strategy (the CDBG Program). While the process of developing the CPS was informative and worthwhile, it does not eliminate the need for the City of Auburn to prepare new applications for alternative funding sources, such as HOME or ESG. The City of Auburn has received notice that the 1995 Community Development Block Grant allocation is $1,318,000. These are the only funds for which the City is an Entitlement Community under the Programs included in the Consolidated Plan. In FY ?92 and FY ?93, the City received funding allocations totaling $550,000, from the Home Investment Partnership Program administered by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. We expect to apply for an additional competitive grant for $300,000 during 1995 to be used in support of Affordable Housing Initiatives. The City anticipates access, through successful competitive applications, to approximately $900,000 in competitive HOME Program funds during the period of the Strategic Plan. The City has coordinated with and provided support to the Auburn Housing Authority in their efforts to provide a safe and stable public housing environment and will support the Authority's efforts to secure funding for improvements to it's housing facilities.
In the past, the City of Auburn has not participated in the Emergency Shelter Grant program. Agencies in the City have submitted applications to the New York State Department of Social Services, with some success. The City assumes access to $100,000 in competitive ESG funds during the period of the Strategic Plan. The City will coordinate any efforts to access these funds with interested agencies, if requested.
The City may attempt a new home construction program during the five years covered under this strategy through funds distributed competitively by the New York State Affordable Housing Program. While the construction of new homes was not identified by the community as a particular need, it is one of the strategies for providing affordable housing for moderate income residents. If the City opts to initiate such a program, it would be with a grant of approximately $300,000.
The City of Auburn has compiled a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the next five years and is working with the City Council on its implementation. The CIP schedules the major investments the City makes in infrastructure, facilities and equipment. The plan describes a total investment of $71.7 million during the period. Projects include transportation improvements, park improvements, sewer upgrades under a DEC Consent Order and Downtown enhancement, as well as land acquisition and improvements to Technology Park. The CIP represents a major commitment from the City to improve the facilities and infrastructure for the residents.
Funding received from Federal sources will attempt to leverage private investment wherever possible. In all major housing or economic development projects, the City requires an equity investment and private financing. A total amount for the period cannot be estimated at this time.
In the area of Human Services, there are over forty (40) agencies located within the City addressing the needs of low- and moderate-income persons in the City and throughout the County. The City has worked in the past to facilitate and support the efforts of these organizations and will continue to do so during the term of the Strategic Plan. In addition, the City is renewing its efforts to address barriers to Fair and Affordable Housing Choice.
The City of Auburn Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED)
coordinates the City's CPS Strategic Plan, the New York State Auburn Economic
Development Zone and the City's Capital Improvement Program as well as other
activities funded through HOME, ESG and other federal and state programs. The
Office staff coordinate with other City Departments and the Cayuga County
Planning Board, Department of Social Services and Health Department. The City
relies upon the expertise of the local housing development agency (HOMSITE) for
implementation of the Home Repair Assistance Program and participation in other
projects. The City has and will continue to work with local service agencies
interested in developing housing or services for all segments of the population.
As the City's CDBG Program becomes more sophisticated, funded subrecipient
activities will focus and expand on the coordination of services. The Office
also cooperates with local and regional economic development agencies, such as
the Central New York Regional Planning Board and the New York State Department
of Economic Development, to ensure local businesses are offered the most
appropriate financial and technical assistance available.
The majority of the City's targeted Community Development activities are located within the City's Revitalization Neighborhoods. These are Census Tract Block Groups (CTBG) where more than 51% of the population is below 80% of the HUD Adjusted Median Family Income level. These CTBG's are primarily located in the City's northwest and west sides (sites of former industrial and commercial neighborhoods) and also in the City's central core of older neighborhoods.
A number of the Community Development programs are targeted at low- and moderate- income individuals or families. In such cases, the individuals or families, or providers of services to these population groups, may be located anywhere throughout the City.
As indicated in the section on Coordination, the City of Auburn Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) is the lead agency in the implementation of the Strategic Plan and most of the Community Development initiatives supported through the CDBG Program. The Auburn City Council provides final approval and authority to submit the Strategic Plan and the One Year Action Plan(s) to HUD for their consideration and approval. In addition to these oversight bodies, the OPED relies on the input and consideration of the City of Auburn Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) which is currently comprised of citizen members of the City of Auburn Planning Board.
The City of Auburn's Housing Goals for the 1995-1996 CPS Action Plan are:
The City of Auburn CPS Strategic Plan and the 1995-1996 Action Plan initiated a valuable planning process, requiring a great deal of staff time and effort and the assistance of community members, local agencies, service providers, local elected officials and the New York State Buffalo Region HUD Offices. It represents a thoughtful summary of the City's circumstances and a range of opportunities for significant programs and activities. Taken as a whole it presents a Vision of Change for the City of Auburn and an opportunity to transform human potential to community promise.
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, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
