HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittaltask force makes the following recommendations:
Report of Chairman's Task Force
on Veterans Homeownership
Presented to the City of Miami City Commission
November 3, 2005
Introduction:
This task force of local citizens was convened by Commissioner Joe Sanchez in
an attempt to identify possible housing solutions for U.S. military veterans. The
task force met four times in caucus, in addition to individual meetings held by
members of the task force with various developers, active military service
personnel and veterans, banks, and other related institutions. The task force
commenced its work on August 29, 2005, and terminates its work with the
production of this report and associated recommendations. The task force
consisted of 5 volunteers, all of whom are identified by profession but acted as
individuals and not on behalf of their employers: David Marko (Attorney,
chairman of the task force), COL Lettie Bien (President of the Coral Gables
Chamber of Commerce/US Army Reservist), Raul Mas (Vice President of
Gibraltar Bank), Anthony Williams (District Director for Congressman Kendrick
Meek --member of the House Armed Services Committee), and Gary Reshefsky
(Attorney/Insurance Broker).
Background:
There are approximately 8,500 men and women currently serving in our armed
forces from Miami. Since late 2002 local military personnel, most being
reservists and National Guardsmen, have been rotating to and from deployments
in Iraq and Afghanistan. VA Centers are already identifying the first iteration of
homeless veterans that served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation
Enduring Freedom. The housing situation for our veterans returning back or
moving to Miami is challenging. While our community must resolve the greater
issues of affordable housing and home ownership for all of its citizens, we owe a
special obligation to our military service personnel, particularly those who
responded to the call of duty to serve our nation at war. The task force agreed
that those who accepted the call to military service since September 11, 2001
have returned to a City (Miami) where real estate prices have increased so
dramatically that many of those brave men and women are unable to afford to
live in a community they left to defend.
Recommendations:
In anticipation of addressing the greater issue of affordable home ownership, the
SUBMITTED INTO THE
PUBLIC RECORD FOPS
ITEM D3.9,ON ii--3 -05:
Veterans Homeownership Task Force Report
November 3, 2005
Page 2 of 3
1. In granting development permits for construction of residential
developments that include not less than 50 residential units, 1 percent (but not
less than one unit) should be made available for purchase by qualified military
service personnel who are identified through the City Community Development
Office for purchase. Developers who reserve a minimum of five (5) units or 5%,
whichever is greater, for this program should receive a development bonus of .25
FAR.
2. The units sold under this program shall be sold at a pre -construction
price not to exceed the City's First Time Home Buyer's program guidelines for
maximum sales price (currently below $236,000.00). The units shall be no
smaller than one -bedroom units as defined in the City Zoning Ordinance.
3. Eligibility in this program shall be for first time homebuyers only and
require that the property purchased will be the legal residence/homestead of the
buyer. The units should be offered preferentially in such a way that the priority is
given to:
A. Disabled US military veterans; and
B. US military veterans who work, in their civilian occupations, in
City of Miami government service, then to all formally retired or
current US military service personnel (Active, Reserve or
National Guard).
For purposes of our recommendations, the surviving spouse of any of the
above -qualified personnel shall be counted as part of the qualified group.
4. The program should be administered on a pilot basis with an initial
term of twelve months and results reviewed by the City Commission thereafter to
determine the program's effectiveness, as applied.
5. The City Department of Community Development is best suited to
administer the program as part of its current affordable home ownership
initiatives, with support from Zoning and Economic Development. The
Departments should assist the programs' constituency in identifying additional
monies available from all available governmental and charitable sources to assist
with down payment, purchase price reduction, construction funds available for
persons with disabilities, and any other available assistance available through the
Department's ordinary efforts.
6. A small community board should be created (or a current board
utilized) to assist with encouraging and assisting participation by developers,
lending institutions, and qualified military personnel. The board should include
Submitted Into the public
record in connection with
item T3.A on //-3-Ds-
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk
Veterans Homeownership Task Force Report
November 3, 2005
Page 3 of 3
veterans or their advocates, developers, lending institutions, as well as other
citizens. The board should serve as the liaison with the Department of
Community Development.
Conclusion:
The task force concludes that the City Commission should incorporate these
recommendations in the Miami 21 process, and consider early implementation
through the appropriate legislation in order to create immediate opportunities in
the near term to accommodate the first generation of returning war veterans now
coming home.
Respectfully Submitted,
Task Force on Veterans
Homeownership
David Everett Marko
Chairman (on behalf of all members)
Submitted into the public
record in connection with
item D3. a ors r-63-os
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk