GEORGIA PLANNING ASSOCIATION2013 FALL CONFERENCE

JEKYLL ISLAND, GEORGIAOCTOBER 9 , 2013

ALISON SOUTHER GOLDEYE X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

Macon-Bibb CountyLAND BANK AUTHORITY,

INC.

The City of Macon, Bibb County, Georgia

Population of the City of Macon: 91,000

Population of City and Bibb Co: 156,500

Housing Units (2010-11): 42,794/69,272

Vacant Housing Units (Macon):9,135

A large inventory of vacant, dilapidated and tax delinquent properties in the inner city

Increasing Blight

Strong Partnerships

City of Macon: Economic & Community Development Department/Code Enforcement

Bibb County

Macon Housing Authority/In-Fill Inc.

Mercer University

Non Profit Developers: Habitat for Humanity & Others

Tax Commissioner

Where Do We Start?

The Partners evaluated five (5) different areas in the inner city that were designated as target areas

Each area contained large inventories of abandoned/vacant property with little market value

SWOT Analysis- Identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in each neighborhood

Redevelopment Plans for Neighborhoods funded by City

Focused on the areas where we could make a huge impact and develop a model to continue in other neighborhoods

Unique Challenges in Inner City Neighborhoods

Disinvestment has occurred over decades

Code enforcement can’t keep up

Crime/drugs, etc., or. . . .

The image of crime/drugs, etc.

The erosion of the middle class

The preponderance of renters

The breakdown of institutions

Properties aren’t always easily obtainable

Owners can’t be found, or

Owners can be found but don’t have clear title, or

Owners can be found and they have clear title, but they want to hold on to property

Neighborhood redevelopment fails when we just get the properties that no one else wants

The importance of critical mass

Hard lessons learned the hard way

Land Bank Mission

Our mission is to acquire properties that are underutilized, blighted, tax delinquent and return them to a productive use status

Concentrate on properties that can be turned over and redeveloped in a relatively short period of time, not on holding properties with little redevelopment potential

Land Bank Role

Acquisition Agency for developersManage all aspects of acquisition process

Title Reports Appraisals Surveys Relocation Negotiations Requesting foreclosures on tax delinquent properties Forgiving property taxes Transfer properties with clear title Monitoring redevelopment

Accomplishments

Acquired over 430 properties

Hold around 100 properties at any given time

80% of the properties have been put back into a productive use status

Partner resource for over $20 million in inner-city revitalization

Prince Street Before

Prince Street Before

Prince Street- After

Critical Mass is important in neighborhood revitalization

We worked Street by Street and 40 new homes were constructed in this neighborhood

Prince Street-After

Bowman Street Before

Bowman Street Before

• Thirteen Properties Acquired• Partnership with River Edge Behavioral Health Center & City of

Macon• Permanent Supportive Housing for persons with disabilities • Funding: NSP 1 and NSP 3• $1.1 Million HUD Section 811 Housing Grant

Bowman Street After

Bowman Street After

Attract Private Developers

Neighborhood Gardens & Tree Nursery

Executive DirectorAlison Souther Goldey

asouther@maconhousing.com

Board of DirectorsBert Bivins, IIITom Ellington

Charles O’Neal, Jr.Jeffery Monroe

682 Cherry Street, Suite 300P.O. Box 6116

Macon, GA 31208478-741-9005

1-877-293-4714

Macon-Bibb CountyLand Bank Authority, Inc.