The City of Marietta, Ohio part of the Wood Washington Wirt SMSA, is the seat of government and commerce and largest city in Washington County. The county is part of Appalachian Ohio and is predominately rural. The economy is diverse with petro-chemical/plastics comprising the major industry in combination with ever expanding service sector jobs. Agri-business continues to be an important segment of the economy as well. The area is rich in natural resources, timber, coal, oil and natural gas. The city is a viable recreation and visitor destination with its history as Ohio's first permanent settlement, and its location at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers.
The City of Marietta anticipates expending approximately $550,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and approximately $200,000 in HOME Investment Partnership funds (HOME) in FY '96. These funds will be predominantly utilized for creating or preserving decent and affordable housing, slum and blight removal, revitalization of targeted neighborhoods, economic development, and community service programming for low-moderate populations.
The City of Marietta Community Development Department in conjunction with the Marietta Housing Council an ad hoc committee designated by Marietta City Council, and made up of local housing, development, and social service providers worked to involve a broad cross-section of the populace in the consolidated planning process. Representatives of public, private and non- profit groups were involved with citizens in prioritizing the city's housing and community development needs.
Two public hearings were held after being publicized in local newspapers.
Before the second hearing the draft consolidated plan was available for 30 days
for public review and comment.
In 1990 the population for the city was 15,026 persons in 5,935 households. This figure represents a loss from 1980 census data, which indicates 16,467 persons in 6,204 households. These population losses generally reflect declining economic conditions of the late 1980's.
Recent data indicates that this trend has been arrested, with some 15,220 persons projected as of September 1995. This is attributable to an expanding economy, with the predominance of job growth in the service sector. The 1992 unemployment rate averaged 8.2%, as compared to October 1995 rate of 5.5%.
Marietta and Washington County has an aging population with 15.1% over age 65, 1980 census figures reflect 14.8% elderly population. With this the only segment of the population showing a percentage increase, makes elderly housing issues a focal point.
According to 1990 census data, the majority of Marietta's population is
white, 14,734 (97.6%) with racial/ethnic population making up only 2.4%. In
1990 the median family income in the jurisdiction was $30,290 as compared to
National Median Family Income of $35,939. While the overall percentage of
African-Americans is low, census data suggests that 84% of this group is in a
low-moderate income bracket. There are no areas of disproportionate
concentration of racial/ethnic minorities in the jurisdiction.
As the county seat, and largest city in Washington County, Marietta has a solid service-based economy. Troubling though is the loss of industrial/manufacturing jobs over the last ten years due to downsizing and migration to the sunbelt and right to work states. As previously noted unemployment levels are currently dropping, but unfortunately so are the income levels of many in the work force.
Current population figures indicate that the trend of population loss over the last census period (1980 - 1990) has stabilized. This is likely reflective of the economic upturn that we are experiencing.
The Consolidated Plan identified a variety of housing needs. Chief among the priorities is increasing the quality of affordable housing and maintaining and/or increasing the quality of Marietta's existing aging housing stock.
In assessing the needs of low and moderate income households the data indicates that 3320 of 5919 (total households) are occupied by persons of low and moderate income levels. Of these 873 households have a cost burden of greater than 30%.
Of the 5919 total households, 819 households are renters. Of these renters, 36% have housing with problems, as opposed to 14% of owners with housing problems.
With some 400 applicants on our Section 8 voucher and certificate waiting list, rental assistance to reduce cost burdens and address the heed for a affordable housing is a priority. An additional focus will be rehabilitating existing housing stock as 49.9% of existing units were built before 1940. Decent, safe and affordable housing for elderly citizens will also be a priority, as this segment of the populace is increasing according to census data.
As reported in 1990 census data, the City of Marietta has 6,481 year round housing units, of these 5935 were occupied. Of those 2,398 were renter occupied and 3,537 were owner occupied. Of vacant units 7.45% were rentals and 2.80% were for sale. Only 1.3% of total units were classified as substandard according to 1990 data. With flood plain restrictions, finite municipal boundaries, and steep hillside terrain, little new residential construction is occurring. This gives added impetus to the rehab of existing units.
As previously noted, the large number of applicants on the waiting list for Section 8 vouchers and certificates indicates a distinct need for affordable housing and rental assistance. With little new construction and only 2.8% of total units in the City of Marietta for sale, this generally makes for a sellers market. Thus the tendency to inflate housing prices higher than previous norms in Marietta. The result is higher purchase and rental figures and thus beyond the price range of many lower income households.
To address these issues a down payment assistance program was initiated by the City of Marietta and additional HOME funds were sought for rehab programs for very low income homeowners.
The majority of homelessness in this jurisdiction is attributable to endemic poverty of the Appalachian Region, with 47.9% of the population of the City of Marietta living below 50% median income. Consequently homelessness generally manifests in overcrowding and substandard living conditions. Itinerants are served by Cornerstone Ministries, a sectarian mission. The most recent data available notes that 225 individuals are served annually by the Cornerstone shelter.
The City of Marietta anticipates much greater need in this area with substantial cuts in public housing, caps on Section 8, and welfare reform.
The City of Marietta is a public housing agency, with no housing authority. Consequently, Section 8 rent vouchers and certificates are the key element of our assisted housing program. The Section 8 program is operated through a subrecipent, the Washington/Morgan County Community Action Program. There are currently 285 Section 8 housing vouchers and certificates available through this program. With over 400 families on the Section 8 waiting list, demand for assisted housing significantly exceeds supply. The City of Marietta is currently working with a local non-profit, the Marietta Jaycee Housing Corporation to construct 56 units of affordable housing, with construction scheduled to commence in 1996.
The City of Marietta has reviewed standard zoning, subdivision, health and building codes and found these practices pose no significant barriers to affordable housing. However, with some 40% of the city in flood-prone areas, federal flood plain regulations do pose significant impediments, which are exacerbated by hilly terrain (city located in Ohio & Muskingum River Valleys) that yield limited sites for new construction of residential units.
The City of Marietta is currently assessing impediments to fair housing through its sub-recipient Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD). It was determined that the city as the county seat, principal Ohio city in the SMSA, and hub of housing activity, that a regional/county wide approach to fairhousing outreach was most beneficial to the community. This can best be accomplished through an affiliation with BHHVRDD.
According to census data, of the 5935 total occupied units in Marietta 1586 renter occupied households and 2097 owner occupied households are estimated to have potential lead-based paint hazards. Of these units 2244 were built prior to 1940, 621 are occupied by very low income renters, and 809 are occupied by very low income owners, making these units the highest risk for lead-based paint hazard.
Jobs are the bottom line community development need. While the City of Marietta is currently enjoying relatively low unemployment (approx 5.6%) as compared to other adjacent counties that have double digit unemployment, it is unlikely that the economy will sustain current growth trends. Furthermore, we are experiencing a great deal of job switching from high wage industrial/manufacturing jobs to lower wage service related employment. Consequently, jobs and the necessity of adult, vocational education and retraining programs are the issues identified as the greatest community development need.
Additionally, with impending HUD restructuring, welfare reform and tightening of federal budgets creating community-based resource network for low-moderate clientele will be paramount in future community development activities.
Many of the inter-governmental and allied service provider networks will be coordinated through consolidated planning efforts of the City Community Development Department, and the affiliated Marietta Housing Council.
The Marietta Housing Council and Consolidated Plan Coordination Committee prioritize our needs to include; economic development and job opportunities and training; developing affordable housing; and coordinating community resource networks.
Creating and maintaining decent, safe and affordable housing is the underlying premise of our housing efforts. These priorities include, generating new affordable units through public/private partnerships; rehabilitation of existing low-moderate occupied housing units; and encouraging homeownership through downpayment assistance and homebuyer counseling.
These priorities include, targeted low-moderate neighborhood revitalization to upgrade deteriorated public facilities; to foster neighborhood support groups and community policing initiatives; and central business district revitalization to mitigate slum and blight and encourage development of jobs and commerce.
By aggressively pursuing the tenants of our consolidated plan, progress in reducing poverty will be realized. These efforts must include concerted communication with related housing and social service providers (public and Private); pro-active economic development; and support for educational and training programs.
As a small entitlement community the City of Marietta facilitates communication and coordination of housing and community development resources. A broad cross-section of the city's housing and social service providers participate in the Marietta Housing Council, a forum to help meet long term consolidated plan goals.
Coordination of consolidated and strategic planning is accomplished by the
Community Development Department staff, a liaison with the Mayor, City Council,
state, county and federal programs. The Marietta Housing Council also
encourages participation in the planning process by involving low-moderate and
special needs populations.
These programs will be utilized by income eligible residents citywide and in specified redevelopment neighborhoods.
The City of Marietta Community Development Department, 304 Putnam Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750 is the lead agency in the consolidated plan process.
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 within one neighborhood.
Mr. Michael Mullen
Development Administrator
Community Development Department
304 Putnam Street
Marietta, OH 45750
PH: (614) 373-9354
