The City of North Charleston's 1995 Consolidated Plan acts as a blueprint for housing and community development within the City until the year 2000. This summary provides an overview of housing and community development needs; long term goals and short term objectives to achieve those goals; and specific projects proposed for 1995.
The City of North Charleston has placed neighborhood revitalization as its main priority. Promoting neighborhoods energizes citizens and gives the community a strong base of people who work together for the good of their entire City. Viable communities, in turn, bring economic development which offers employment, promotes education and skills, and improves the financial stability of the City and its citizens.
The Consolidated Plan outlines an action plan constituting an application for funds under two HUD formula programs (including reallocations from prior years) for a total of $1,732,000. This total is a combination of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. It includes a five-year strategy and a one-year action plan that addresses housing and community development issues in North Charleston.
North Charleston consulted with other public and private agencies that
provide assisted housing, health services, and social services during
preparation of the plan. Two public hearings were conducted at North
Charleston City Hall to allow citizens, businesses, and organizations to express
their ideas and concerns for the plan. The meetings were advertised in the Post
& Courier, The North Charleston News, and The Charleston
Chronicle. A draft of the plan was placed in local branch libraries for
public review and comment on April 30, 1995.
The Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area is the fastest growing in the State of South Carolina. According to the 1980 Census, the City of North Charleston was the third most populous city in the State. Combining that figure with annexations and an increasing net immigration, the City's population is estimated to be just over 80,000 which makes North Charleston the third largest city in South Carolina.
Population trends vary dramatically throughout sections of the City of North Charleston. The population is young in comparison with other cities in South Carolina of comparable size and population. Since 1980 the population has increased from 62,600 residents to 70,200 residents. Although there have been increases in all groups, the most prominent growth is found in the 65 years or older age bracket. The racial mixture shifted from 28% minority population in 1980 to 40% in 1990. The white population actually decreased by 2% while the minority population grew 48% in that same time span.
According to 1990 Census statistics the highest concentration of low and moderate income people (83.10%) reside within Census Tract 37. Census Tract 37 also has the highest concentration of minority population (83.10%) and the highest percent of female headed households (33.5%). It would be reasonable to attribute these concentrations to the number of public housing units located within North Park Village. This is the largest public housing complex in the state of South Carolina.
North Charleston has suffered the blow of a U.S. Naval Base closure expected
to be complete by 1996. It is estimated that a total of 21,902 direct jobs will
be lost when the planned closure is complete with an estimated loss to the
community payroll of $644 million.
According to U.S. Census statistics for 1990, seven census tracts within the city limits have median incomes below the very low income limit ($17,800 or less) for the metropolitan statistical area. Most of these tracts contain a high percentage of rental households.
In 1993 the City of North Charleston reported 2800 deteriorating housing and/or substandard houses. In 1992, a study for the tri-county area (including North Charleston) reported over 2,000 houses without sanitary waste disposal and over 1,800 houses without indoor plumbing.
North Charleston is the location of the largest public housing community within the State of South Carolina which carries a waiting list of approximately 255.
Among the needy groups are first time home buyers who cannot meet down payment requirements and have a poor credit rating, elderly households, persons with developmental disabilities, and rental households.
The City of North Charleston does not currently maintain a homeless shelter for overnight stay within the city limits but supports the efforts of all transitional housing, emergency shelters, and soup kitchens that are located within the city limits. Experts estimate there are 600 to 1000 homeless persons each night.
The Public Housing Program for North Charleston has 687 units and generally maintains an occupancy rate of at least 97%, but this number also varies from month to month. The 3% vacancy is usually attributed to a continuous turnover of residents.
The waiting period for housing can last up to three years. The lack of transitional housing poses a serious problem for those who cannot be housed at the present due to the cost of deposit, utilities, and other necessities. Transitional housing (from assisted renting to renting without assistance or to ownership) would give these applicants an opportunity to cut these costs and save the money needed to occupy low-income or private housing.
Needs and strategies for public housing are outlined in the Comprehensive Grant Plan Program which is contained in the Appendix. Needs include additional rental housing to accommodate the waiting list, upgraded existing public housing communities, better security, and more resident counseling programs.
The City of North Charleston's Housing Authority received a grant for $1,945,850 for placing scattered site assisted housing within the city limits. The Housing Authority is currently working on a proposal for twenty-four units of assisted rental housing and plans to take over seventeen existing units from the County of Charleston. The remaining seven units will be new or rehabilitated two bedroom structures. Should the Housing Authority decide to construct larger units with three or more bedrooms, the number of new units would decrease.
Poor credit is the number one obstacle which prevents many potential home buyers from purchasing a new home. Coupled with the absence of a down payment, home ownership is out of reach of many North Charleston residents. North Charleston plans to increase the amount of training and counseling available to residents interested in becoming home owners.
Many current and potential home owners are also disqualified from repair programs offered by the City, because of the lack of clear title to the property. Citizens who have never purchased a home or have little experience with legal matters often do not probate estates or change the owner's name on a title when a family member dies. More education and affordable legal assistance is needed to combat this problem.
Education and counseling are the main objectives in achieving fair housing. Mandatory programs and free literature are among the strategies to reach the fair housing goals set for the City of North Charleston.
The City of North Charleston is concerned with lead based paint poisoning and all construction advisors are required to keep abreast on the subject. The City has a large number of housing structures that have the potential for containing lead based paint. Under the guidance of Title 10 of HUD regulations for lead based paint, the City of North Charleston will include on every application for housing rehabilitation the question of whether young children living within the household have ever tested positive for lead. It will be recommended that all children below six (6) years of age who have not been tested, do so.
Infrastructure improvements (drainage, sidewalks, fire protection, lighting)
are strong needs throughout the City, but especially in low to moderate income
neighborhoods.
This Consolidated Plan acts as a comprehensive strategy to revitalize neighborhoods and rebuild them physically, economically, socially, and spiritually. All projects unless otherwise indicated are funded through CDBG, HOME, and the City of North Charleston's General Fund. Long term goals are expected be obtained by the year 2000. Short term objectives are expected to be complete within twelve to twenty-four months.
The City of North Charleston will utilize HOME funds for the 1995-96 fiscal year to improve and provide more rental housing within the City. The Rental Rehabilitation Program is offered to property owners city-wide on a first-come, first-served basis. Loans up to $10,000 will be issued per project at a zero percent (0%) interest rate. The program provides for as many as ten units, but is predicted to rehabilitate approximately six units.
The City of North Charleston will take advantage of two funding sources for the improvement of homeowner households during the fiscal year 1995-96. CDBG funding is allocated for the Emergency Repair Program that makes limited repairs to homeowner households who meet low income and program guidelines. This program targets the elderly and handicapped. North Charleston plans to rehabilitate eight homes through this program.
HOME funds will also be used in improving homeowner households. Two different programs will be available to home owners who meet program guidelines. Homeowner Rehabilitation will offer a low or no interest loan for the correction of code deficiencies in low to moderate income owned households. Approximately eight homes will be rehabilitated through this program.
The Reconstruction Program will provide total rehabilitation of a structure beginning with demolition of the existing home and rebuilding on the lot. A portion of these funds are expected be recaptured based on the owner's ability to repay. North Charleston plans to rehabilitate three homes under this program.
The City of North Charleston will continue to support and carrying out the strategies and plans included in the Enterprise Community Application for those specified areas. Community Development plans for other areas of the City are outlined in neighborhood plans produced by the City of North Charleston's Planning Department and various grant programs. While supporting these existing plans, North Charleston also intends to carry out the following short term objectives within the next five years to reach the long term goals identified previously.
The City of North Charleston has twenty-one percent (21%) of its population living in poverty with most of the concentration in and around the Enterprise Community Target Area. North Charleston does not have health or social agencies within its governmental structure that traditionally address poverty, but the City addresses poverty and the prevention of poverty through CDBG, HOME, and other grant programs. The City also works in conjunction with various agencies and organizations to create jobs and to address poverty.
The City of North Charleston's Enterprise Community Application provided several strategies for revitalization within an area determined to be the most impoverished within the City. The application outlined many strategies for revitalization and cited employment and education as facilitators for the improvement. Although the application was not funded, North Charleston intends to carry out many of the strategies for reducing poverty. One strategy included an EDA Grant program that assesses the skills and abilities of residents within the Enterprise Community and aids with job placement and technical training.
The City of North Charleston Community Development Office is responsible for the coordination of the Consolidated Plan strategies and plans. Implementation of the plan requires a variety of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private organizations.
North Charleston is represented on several service provider coalitions throughout the tri-county area. Through these meetings, the services offered by the agencies and the needs assessments noted by the various agencies will aid in the coordination and implementation of the plan. The coalitions are listed below:
The Consolidated Plan describes Federal, State, and local programs available
to carry out the plan. North Charleston facilitates most of its programs and
projects for the 1995-96 fiscal year through CDBG and HOME funds.
Most projects provide services city-wide. Projects specific to one area (drainage, fire hydrants) target low and moderate income neighborhoods and are decided by City Council.
The following activities included on the Listing of Proposed Projects are all part of the holistic plan to achieve the three main goals of North Charleston's Consolidated Plan. These activities are funded under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for the fiscal year 1995-96 and are expected to be completed in one to three years. Other projects are funded under the HOME Program and various grants. Each project is a means to achieve at least one of the City's designated goals.
Goal 1 - Neighborhood Revitalization:
North Charleston residents and leaders are proud of their city and believe in the potential it possesses. This Consolidated Plan is the starting point for all areas of the community to work together to create and rebuild a solid, viable community. All proposals contained in the Planning Document are subject to modification or removal by the direction of the Mayor and City Council.
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).
MAP 6 depicts Neighborhood Segments and proposed HUD funded projects.
