DATE: February 25, 2020
TO: Members of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Janine Atchison, Housing Coordinator
Title
Comprehensive Housing Study 2020
Body
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
The Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to consider increasing funding for a 2020 comprehensive housing study for the City of Northfield
BACKGROUND:
The HRA Board approved up to $25,000 for a comprehensive housing study and needs analysis for the City of Northfield at their regular meeting on October 22, 2019.
The results of the Housing Study should provide the Housing & Redevelopment Authority, elected officials, City staff, stakeholders and community members an understanding of key housing issues and how they impact the City of Northfield and housing market opportunities. Study results will also inform strategy and policy decisions, community-specific housing and funding priorities and will convey market opportunities to the private investment market.
ANALYSIS:
Staff, working together with the City Attorney's office, created a Request for Proposals (RFP), which was sent out to multiple firms in Minnesota and surrounding states. Staff received multiple inquiries from different firms regarding the RFP. However, the City did not receive a single proposal.
Staff made numerous attempts to interview members of the research firms to determine the reasons they had not submitted a proposal. They were all very reluctant to talk about their reasons. However, after persistently requesting the information, Staff learned the problem had not been in the scope of the work or the City's contract requirements, but in the dollar amount capped by the HRA. Although no one would actually say the dollar amount that would be acceptable, it was clear that $25,000 would not cover the costs.
After speaking to staff members of several Minnesota Housing Authorities, staff learned that costs for housing studies has risen dramatically over the past few years. There are sever...
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