I. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 12:00 P.M.

II. ROLL CALL

Elliott, Crawford, Sherman, and Anderson were present. Hanratty, Handy, Ross, and Vogel represented staff.

III. AGENDA ADOPTION

Sherman moved adoption of the agenda as presented. Crawford seconded. The motion passed (4-0).

IV. APPROVAL OF JULY 3, 2008 MINUTES

Crawford moved approval of the July 3, 2008 minutes as corrected. Anderson seconded. The motion passed (4-0).

V. PUBLIC ADDRESS

None.

VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Ms. Elliott turned the agenda over to Mr. Hanratty.

A. Rehabilitation Status

i. 207 Wilson Ave.

The construction on this home will start in the next couple of days. The homeowner has moved into the temporary relocation residence to make way for the contractors, Maids and More, Inc., to begin work.

ii. 802 Progress St.

The work write up has been completed except for the drainage issue which is being looked at by an engineer.

B. Habitat for Humanity

Habitat has requested an additional amount of funding for this project. The newly requested funding would provide sidewalks and driveways for the homes. Staff has requested several documents from Habitat before the funding request can be brought to the Board. The Town attorney is in the final stages of looking over the documents presented for this project. The Town Attorney is working with Victor Bongard of Albright and Bongard Law Office to finalize these documents.

C. Potential Harding Avenue Development

Janaka Casper reported that Community Housing Partners Corporation is continuing to meet with elected officials and concerned citizens about the Harding Avenue Development. Casper stated that the objections seem to be remaining stable and are mostly about school overcrowding, density, karst terrain, and traffic issues. CHPC has suspended doing further refinement of the site plan until action on the boundary adjustment has been taken. All drawings and site plans are still at a very early conceptual stage. Casper stated that people seem to be opposed to development on the site in general. Staff reported that a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) will be going out to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors soon.

D. Commercial Rehabilitation

The Town Attorney is reviewing the program guidelines passed last month. Once these guidelines have been approved by Town Council, Matt will meet with the Downtown Merchants of Blacksburg to formally introduce the program.

E. 401 Wilson Avenue

Construction will begin soon on this project. The demolition is complete already. Construction should be complete by the end of the year. Crystal and Kamilia Lawson will be doing the marketing soon and a live drawing will be done at a future Board meeting. The local preference as discussed last month will be given to those households who have either worked or lived in the Town of Blacksburg for at least one (1) year prior to the application deadline.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

A. Market Square Park

Kathryn Albright and Jenny Schwanke from the Friends of the Farmers Market thanked the Board for the grant for the design of the Park and new Farmers Market. There were three responses to the RFP for site design and the selection panel will interview all three of them. A design workshop will be held on August 28, 2008 for Town personnel, Farmers Market representatives and sponsors of civic and community events. The RFP for timber frame contractors for the market pavilions will be issued next week. The Friends of the Farmers Market has submitted their 501(c)3 application to the IRS and will know soon whether they have been granted tax exempt status. Ms. Albright showed the Board a preliminary model of the new facility as well as some artist’s renderings that were developed with public input. Meetings have been held with the Historic and Design Review Board as well as Rotary and other civic organizations about this design. There has been great positive feedback about the designs so far. Staff noted that a funding request for CDBG funds for the construction costs will be coming to the Board early next year and that construction would start late Fall of 2009 if funding is provided.

B. Long Term Affordability and Wealth Building Strategies

This item has been tabled until next month.

VIII. OTHER BUSINESS

Hanratty reported that Mr. Cupp of 1503 Grissom Lane, one of the CDBG Rehab Program participants, had a large tree fall on his home. Staff is working with him to get the home fixed via his homeowner’s insurance.

Handy reported that 402 Progress was being sold by the current owners for $129,000.

Crawford reported that the Virginia President of AARP will be at Famous Anthony’s tomorrow morning at 10:00am if anyone would like to come out for a chat.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 1:09 PM.

The next Housing and Community Development Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 12:00 PM in the Town Council Conference Room.