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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY.
IT'S THE LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC, WHAT THE PUBLIC SEES, WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS WE SHOULD DO, ESPECIALLY FROM REVEREND JUNE.
UM, SO WITH THAT, LET'S HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC FIRST, BEFORE THE COUNSELOR DOES ANY DISCUSSION THAT OKAY.
AND ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IF THEY COULD PLEASE LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE HERE.
CAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS.
UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE'S SUPPORT.
I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE FACING THE CROWD FOR THIS ONE.
EVERYONE SUPPORT FOR US AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE OF CHIMNEY COVE.
IT HUMBLES ME HOW GENEROUS AND COMPASSIONATE THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HEAD ARE.
I WANT TO THANK SANDY GILLIS AND DEEP WELL FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO FOR THIS ISLAND AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SHARED THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS ON SUNDAY AND EVERY DAY TO HELP PEOPLE.
I DO THINK THAT IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL SHOW TO THE PEOPLE OF CHIMNEY COVE, THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS AND THAT PEOPLE DO CARE FOR THEM AND WANT THEM TO STAY HERE WITH US.
IT'S ALSO TO KNOW THAT WE ARE PEOPLE WHO BACK UP OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH CLEAR AND SOLID ACTIONS, BUT MOSTLY I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF CHIMNEY COVE WHO HAS SHOWN ENORMOUS GRACE FORGIVENESS AND STRENGTH THROUGH THIS UPHEAVAL IN THEIR LIVES.
SO RIGHT NOW I'M SPEAKING AS PART OF THE HILTON HEAD HOME COALITION HOME STANDS FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MUST EXIST.
UH, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO IS PART OF OUR COALITION.
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE CONCERNED, WHO ARE NOT BE ABLE, WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AS A PERSON OF FAITH.
I HAVE A VISION OF A TIME WHEN ALL PEOPLE LIVE IN HARMONY AS ONE WHERE PEOPLE WON'T BE LOOKED ON DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE, RELIGION, SKIN, COLOR, OR THEIR INCOME.
I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF HILTON HEAD STRENGTHS IS ITS DIVERSITY, BUT WITH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS DISAPPEARING, OUR DIVERSITY IS AT RISK.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE IN HARMONY AND HILTON, HEAD WEALTHY AND POOR LANDOWNERS WORKERS OF ALL INCOMES, RETIREES, NATIVE ISLANDERS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
WE GET ALL CO-EXIST AND MAKE A BEAUTIFUL, DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO WANT TO COME TO.
BUT ONLY IF WE ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ACT NOW, HILTON HEAD IS KIND OF PROUD OF ITS STATUS AS A FIRST PLANNED COMMUNITY THAT HAS SERVED US FOR DECADES.
BUT NOW WE NEED TO COLLECTIVELY MAKE A NEW PLAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE OF ALL INCOMES, WHERE WE RETAIN THE VALUABLE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE AND WHO HAVE MADE HILTON HEAD AND WONDERFUL AND WHERE WE CAN STILL WELCOME NEW PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT WE COULD PLAN THAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND DETERMINE WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT LEAVE THAT.
WE SHOULD NOT LEAVE THAT DETERMINATION BACK WHERE I WAS THOUGH.
THE ONLY THING SHOWING IS MY SECOND, SECOND TECHNOLOGY.
WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN OUR HOUSE.
I THINK THAT WE COULD PLAN THAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND DETERMINE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT LEAVE THAT DETERMINATION UP TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
WHEN WE MET WITH THE PEOPLE OF CHIMNEY COVE LAST WEEK, YOU COULD SEE THE FEAR AND WORRY IN THEIR FACES.
WE COULD OFFER THEM HELP AND AID, BUT WE CAN NOT OFFER THEM REAL PERMANENT SOLUTIONS.
THEY WERE FIGURING OUT HOW TO REORGANIZE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
HOUSING WORK, SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, EVERYTHING WAS BEING TORN AWAY FROM THEM.
SOME PEOPLE IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH SAY, DO NOT WASTE YOUR SUFFERING.
IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T LET SUFFERING HAPPEN AND NOT LEARN AND GROW FROM IT.
LET US NOT LET HILTON HEAD WASTE THE SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLE OF CHIMNEY COV.
LET'S NOT WASTE THE SUFFERING OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THIS ISLAND OVER THE YEARS.
LET'S NOT LET ANOTHER VERBAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX FALL TO DEVELOPMENT.
BEFORE WE DO SOMETHING, I'VE HEARD THAT OVER THE YEARS, THE TOPIC OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS COME UP OVER AND OVER AND HILTON HEAD.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT FOR US TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THE 4 MILLION TOURISTS THAT COME HERE ANNUALLY, WE NEED TO INCREASE IN FORDABLE HOUSING.
I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT CALL HAS NOT BEEN ACTED ON NOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SERIOUSLY PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE.
WE NEED TO COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION OF CURRENT CITIZENS OF HILTON, HEAD BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, SERVICE AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT WORKERS, OF ALL INCOME LEVELS,
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RETIREES DEVELOPERS, AND OTHERS.THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE HERE.
PEOPLE WHO KNOW THIS PLACE AND CARE ABOUT IT, NOT OUTSIDE DEVELOPERS OR CONSULTANTS, BUT US.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS.
THERE ARE SOLUTIONS WE CAN'T RELY ON.
IT WILL TAKE RISK AND COURAGE AND CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION.
AND WE KNOW IT WILL COST, BUT WHAT WILL BE THE COST LATER? IF WE DON'T ACT.
NOW, WE ASK YOU AS OUR ELECTED LEADERS TO INTERVENE AND TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE, TO PROVIDE A FEASIBLE SOLUTION TO THE WORKFORCE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM.
DO I CAN SPEAK PLEASE LINE UP AND BE READY.
I'M SANDY GELLIS WITH THE HILTON ISLAND DUL PROJECT.
AND I THINK PASTOR JUNE JUST LAID OUT A BEAUTIFUL VISION OF WHAT ALL OF US IN THE ROOM WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE.
BUT I KNOW THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO HOW DO WE GET DOWN THAT ROAD TO THAT VISION? AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF IDEAS AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU STRAIGHT UP.
SOME OF THEM ARE VERY PRACTICAL AND SOME OF THEM ARE PROBABLY CRAZY, BUT WE COME FROM A HISTORY ON HILTON, HEAD OF CRAZY WILD IDEAS COMING TO FRUITION, AND I'LL HELD UP TWO EXAMPLES.
CHARLOTTE, HEINRICH'S THE ORIGINAL DEEP, WELL FOUNDER 50 YEARS AGO REALIZED PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER ON THIS ISLAND.
THERE WAS NO TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TO COME AND APPEAR IN FRONT OF THAT WAS BEFORE OUR TOWN WAS INCORPORATED.
BUT MS. CHARLOTTE DIDN'T LET THAT LACK OF STRUCTURE STOP HER.
SHE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
JACK MCCONNELL, THE FOUNDER OF VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE, DR.
MCCONNELL HAD A GREAT IDEA OF ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS.
THESE RETIRED DOCTORS COULD DO TO HELP PEOPLE WITH NO HEALTHCARE.
BUT THE BIG STICKING POINT WAS A LAW THAT SAID DOCTORS HAVE TO HAVE MALPRACTICE INSURANCE.
JACK MCCONNELL FIGURED OUT A WAY TO CHANGE THAT LAW AT THE, AT THE, AT THE HIGHEST ECHELONS OF OUR STATE, BOOM VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE COULD BE BIRTHED.
AND NOW THERE'S, I THINK 80 VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
SO WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL TRACK RECORD OF MAKING CRAZY COME TRUE AND HAPPEN FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
SO A COUPLE OF IDEAS I HAVE TODAY, A BIG PRESSURE POINT THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW THAT WE SEE LONG BEFORE THE CHIMNEY COVE CRISIS.
WE'VE BEEN SEEING IT FOR A DECADE AT DEEP WELL IS SO MANY OF OUR HOUSING UNITS HERE SWITCH FROM LONG-TERM RENTAL TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
AND THAT HAS PUT SO MUCH PRESSURE ON WHAT LITTLE LONG-TERM RENTALS ARE OUT THERE THAT NOW THEY'RE NOT AFFORDABLE.
IF WE COULD HAVE A TARGET OF MOVING 10% OF OUR SHORT-TERM RENTALS BACK TO LONGTERM, BOOM, WE COULD INSTANTLY HOUSE SO MANY PEOPLE.
NOW, THE TRICK IS HOW TO DO THAT.
I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE WAYS.
I MEAN, I WOULD HOLD UP ALREADY.
IF IT'S NOT A PRIMARY RESIDENCE, PEOPLE ARE TAXED AT 6% OF THE VALUE VERSUS 4%.
WHAT IF PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO SWITCH FROM THAT SHORT TO LONGTERM AND RENT IT AT SAY 80% OF MEDIAN COST? WHAT IF THEY COULD GET THAT 4% RATE? BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE'S A PRIMARY RESIDENT LIVING IN THAT HOME.
JUST NOT OWNED BY THEM AGAIN, CRAZY.
WHAT IF INSTEAD OF INVESTING TOWN DOLLARS IN BUILDING HOUSING, AGAIN, IF WE COULD PUT SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS, PROBABLY A LOT SMALLER FRACTION INTO HELPING WITH THAT CONVERSION, OFFERING A SUBSIDY, PERHAPS FOR PEOPLE WHO RIGHT NOW ARE RENTING SHORT TERM TO SHIFT TO LONG-TERM.
WE'VE GOT BUFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY RIGHT HERE IN OUR COUNTY, YOU KNOW, EVERY MONTH FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FLOW IN TO BUFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY, TOTALING $325,000 EVERY MONTH TO SUBSIDIZE HUNDREDS OF UNITS ACROSS OUR COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF THOSE UNITS ARE ON HILTON HEAD EIGHT? SO AGAIN, THAT COULD BE ANOTHER AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, GET MORE OF THOSE SUBSIDIZED UNITS ON HILTON HEAD.
IT'S A WIN-WIN BECAUSE THOSE UNITS SUBSIDIZED THE PERSON LIVING IN IT.
SO THEY MAX OUT AT 30% OF THEIR INCOME, BUT THEN THE FEDERAL SUBSIDY GETS THEM TO MEDIAN RENT.
SO THE LANDLORD WINS, THE TENANT WINS CAN'T WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN ON A WIDER
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SCALE HERE ON HILTON HEAD.AND THEN I THINK WHATEVER WE CAN COME UP WITH TO GET THIS SWITCH TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE WE HAVE HOUSING HERE.
IT'S JUST NOT ALLOCATED THE WAY OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS IT.
SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE THAT SWITCH HAPPEN INSTANTLY CREATES HOUSING.
WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE DON'T HAVE TO BUILD ANYTHING.
HOW DID WE BUY THAT LAND KENNEDY EVEN BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE? BECAUSE I KNOW SO MUCH OF THE LAND THAT OUR TOWN OWNS DOES HAVE VERY STRICT COVENANTS ON IT.
IF WE COULD JUST GET EXISTING HOUSING TO SWITCH TO WHAT WE NEED IT TO, IT SOLVES SO MANY PROBLEMS IN A MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF THOSE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, IF WE COULD GET SOME OF THAT SHIFT TO HAPPEN, SUDDENLY THOSE SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE, GUESS WHAT? THEY'RE MORE VALUABLE.
THEY'RE MORE LUCRATIVE FOR THEIR PROPERTY OWNER BECAUSE INSTEAD OF SHRINKING OUR LONG-TERM RENTAL INVENTORY, WE'RE SHRINKING THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, WHICH WILL MAKE THE EXISTING ONES GO UP AND IT GIVES US THE HOUSING WE NEED FOR OUR PEOPLE.
UM, AGAIN, WE ALL SIT HERE KNOWING WE WILL NEVER EVER HAVE ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON HILTON HEAD.
SO I DO THINK TRANSPORTATION STILL HAS TO BE PART OF THAT EQUATION, UM, PARK AND RIDE LOTS MAYBE IN BLUFFTON.
AND
YOU KNOW, IF THEY CAN AFFORD TO COME SPEND A WEEK HERE, I'M PRETTY SURE THEY CAN AFFORD AN UBER.
IF WE CAN CONVERT THAT BUS TO HELPING PEOPLE GET TO THEIR JOBS ON THE ISLAND OR FROM OFF THE ISLAND, FROM THOSE PARK AND RIDE, I THINK A MUCH BETTER USE OF BUSES ON HILTON HEAD AGAIN, A FEW CRAZY IDEAS.
I JUST KEEP THINKING IF WE CAN THINK ABOUT CHARLOTTE HEINRICHS AND DR.
JACK MCCONNELL, WHO DIDN'T LET, WHAT WAS EXPECTED AND WHAT WAS THE NORM GET BETWEEN WHAT WAS RIGHT.
I TOTALLY THINK WE CAN DO THIS.
WE HAVE SO MANY SMART, SMART PEOPLE HERE ON THIS ISLAND WHO ARE SO GENEROUS AND SO CARING.
WE JUST NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP TO KIND OF BUILD THE GROUND RULES.
UM, BUT I THINK THERE'S A WAY WE HAVE HOUSING HERE.
WE JUST NEED TO FLIP THE SWITCH AND MAKE SURE IT'S HOUSING THAT WE NEED TODAY.
I'M BLIND LOTS, A MEMBER OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, UH, AND ALSO A, A PARTICIPANT IN FIRST PRESSES SOCIAL WITNESS TEAM.
AND I'M ALSO HERE AS PART OF PASTOR JUNE'S LEADERSHIP ON THE NEW HILTON HEAD HOME COALITION.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOU, UH, TODAY, AND, UM, I'LL JUST LIST THEM.
ONE OF THEM IS, UH, FOR THE TOWN TO PURCHASE AVAILABLE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, SUCH AS CHIMNEY COVE AND REHAB IT TO MAKE IT SUITABLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO DO THIS, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU CREATE A HILTON HEAD ISLAND HOUSING AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER AND IMPLEMENT, UH, THESE KINDS OF PURCHASES ALSO PURCHASE AVAILABLE, EMPTY BUILDING SPACE AND REHAB IT WITH HELP, POSSIBLY FROM HILTON HEAD AFFILIATE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OR ALTERNATIVELY USE HILTON HEAD HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S BUSINESS MODEL.
FOR INSTANCE, THE OLD SAM SPACE AT PORT ROYAL AND AVAILABLE SPACE AT NORTH SIDE, TURN THESE INTO STUDIO APARTMENTS FOR SINGLE PERHAPS SEASONAL WORKERS, WAIT, STAFF AND SO FORTH.
UH, NOT ALL HOUSING REQUIREMENT AS YOU WELL KNOW IS THE SAME.
SOME ARE WITH FAMILIES, SOME ARE SINGLES AND SO FORTH.
AND BECAUSE WE NEED THE VIEWS OF OTHERS IN HOW TO DO THIS, UH, FACING SIMILAR SITUATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
I THINK WE SHOULD CONDUCT RESEARCH ON HOW OTHER COMMUNITIES, SIMILAR TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES.
AND WE DON'T NEED EXPENSIVE CONSULTANTS, UH, HEATHER WRATH, NOT WITHSTANDING, UH, AND I TAKE AWAY THE WORD EXPENSIVE ON THAT.
UM, WE HAVE OUR OWN SMART CITIZENS FOR INSTANCE, WHO CAN DO RESEARCH AND TELL US
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HOW, WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING.AND THEY CAN REPORT THAT BACK TO YOU AS RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND AS A FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN FOUND, WE EVEN NEED TO LOOK AT HOW COMMUNITIES SUCH AS HONOLULU, WHERE LOCALS AND VISITORS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE UNHOUSED PEOPLE HERE AND WE ALL KNOW THIS WHO LIVE IN THE WOODS AND THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND, AND, UH, LIVE IN THEIR CARS, UH, AND SPEND THE NIGHT IN COMMERCIAL PARKING LOTS TOWN COUNCIL, I BELIEVE NEEDS THE COURAGE AND INNOVATIVE THINKING TO LEAD ON CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
SO THAT OUR WAY OF LIFE HERE FOR LOCALS AND TOURISTS MAY CONTINUE TO THRIVE.
AND HILTON HEAD ISLAND MAY RETAIN ITS POSITION AS A NUMBER ONE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, IN CLOSING, I WOULD ADD THAT OUR HILTON HEAD HOME COALITION HOPES TO HOST A TOWN FORUM WHERE CANDIDATES FOR TOWN COUNCIL MAY EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION AND BRING IN A HALF A DOZEN ADDITIONAL CHAIRS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO STAY IN.
GOOD MORNING, PATSY BRYSON FOR THE RECORD, I BELIEVE WE MUST WORK TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS IN CRISIS IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND EVERY DAY, BECAUSE WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF CARING, THANKS TO THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR CALLING FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING IN LIGHT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS FOR RESIDENTS OF CHIMNEY CO VILLAGE APARTMENTS AND FOR ALLOWING PUBLIC COMMENTS AND INPUT.
THANKS, ESPECIALLY REVEREND UNION WILKINS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, SANDY GILLIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEEP BALL PROJECT, REVEREND ROBIN DCE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH, AND SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR THEIR RESPONSIVE LEADERSHIP AND IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS.
WE SHOULD ALL FOLLOW THEIR BOTTLES OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.
WE ALL KNOW WHERE WE STAND WE'RE IN A HOUSING CRISIS MODE.
NOW, AFTER HAVING SET ASIDE THIS ISSUE FOR TOO MANY YEARS, WHILE SOME MAY THINK THAT THE CURRENT CRISIS HAS BEEN AVERTED, I BELIEVE THAT IGNORES THE EVER-PRESENT REALITY FOR THESE NEIGHBORS OF OURS AND THE REST OF OUR WORKFORCE AS THEY FACE THE CONSTANT THREAT OF A HOUSING CHALLENGE EVERY DAY, I BELIEVE THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING.
THE TOWN HAS A DUTY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS AN INCREASING NEED FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, TEACHERS, LOCAL BUSINESS EMPLOYEES, AND EMERGENCY SERVICE EMPLOYEES.
THE TOWN CANNOT HOWEVER, ADDRESS THE HOUSING ISSUES ALONE, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, SUCH AS THE TOWN'S CURRENT NORTH POINT MODEL.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE TOWN MANAGER AND HIS STAFF FOR THAT MODEL.
BUT THAT MODEL IS A PROVEN TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO ADDRESS HOUSING NEEDS, CONTINUING TO EMPLOY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IS A GREAT WAY TO GO.
HOW DO I KNOW I WAS AN ATTORNEY FOR A HOUSING AUTHORITY IN A MAJOR CITY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
I SAW THEM WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NONPROFITS AND WITH, FOR PROFIT ENTITIES IN FINDING FUNDING FOR HOUSING IN THAT CITY.
SO I UNDERSTAND LANDLORD TENANT RELATIONSHIPS CONTINUING TO EMPLOY THESE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD AND SUCCESSFUL HOUSING WHILE INCORPORATING THE INTEREST
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OF OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND MY COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL NON-PROFITS WE'LL BUILD THE COALITIONS NECESSARY TO WORK TOGETHER, TO FIND SOLUTIONS WHICH WORK FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND WHILE THE TOWN CANNOT ACT ALONE, THE TOWN COUNCIL CAN AND SHOULD PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP SEEKING OUT AND SECURING FEDERAL STATE AND REGIONAL FUNDING AS WELL AS GRANTS FROM FOUNDATIONS OR NONPROFIT FUNDING CAN HAPPEN.NOW AS A PARTNER WITH DEVELOPERS AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, THE TOWN CAN SEEK LAND, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AND IS CURRENTLY USED FOR HOUSING BEFORE IT IS CONVERTED TO USAGE, WHICH CLOSED OUT EXISTING HOMES FOR OUR ISLAND WORKFORCE FAMILIES.
IN ADDITION, THE TOWN COULD CONSIDER ASSISTING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
IT WORKS REASONABLE PERMITTING SYSTEMS. I'VE SEEN THAT DONE BEFORE IT WORKS AND SENSIBLE LAND USE REGULATIONS.
YES, I'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE AND IT WORKS.
IF WE ARE TO MEET A CRISIS OR BETTER YET TO OFFSET A CRISIS, THE KEY FACTORS ARE LEADERSHIP AND TAKING ACTION.
THE TRAITS OF LEADERSHIP INCLUDE PREVENTIVE ACTION REACTING ONLY TO CRUCIAL ISSUES IN THE FACE OF A CRISIS IS NOT THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE.
TAKING ACTION TO PREVENT A CRISIS IS A HALLMARK OF EXCELLENCE.
LET US WORK TOGETHER NOW AND ALWAYS IN PARTNERSHIP TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
LET US ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK.
NEXT UM, MY NAME IS HENRY BROWN.
I'M A MEMBER OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND, UH, I W I APPEAR THIS MORNING AS ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE HILTON HEAD HOME COALITION.
UH, MY PRESENTATION'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND, UH, NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT IT'S A SERIES OF SIX QUESTIONS, WHICH COULD PERHAPS BE A, UH, UH, AN AGENDA FOR YOUR MEETING TO DISCUSS THESE VERY ISSUES THAT, UH, MAYBE SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADDRESS DURING YOUR DISCUSSIONS TODAY.
UH, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM PASTOR JUNE, OUR HOME COALITION SEEKS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL IN THE TOWN TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME WORKERS.
WE'RE NOT EXPERTS, BUT IF WE CAN HELP IN ANY WAY TO FIND RESOURCES, WHICH LEAD TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME WORKERS, WE WILL ALL BE VERY HAPPY.
SO I'LL START OUT WITH THESE QUESTIONS, WHICH SOUNDS SOMEWHAT BASIC.
AND, UH, BUT, BUT IF WE START FROM THE BEGINNING AND GET SOME ARE AGREED ON THE ANSWER TO THOSE, WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE LATER ONES.
NUMBER ONE, DOES THE TOWN AGREE THAT HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR LOW-INCOME WORKERS, SUCH AS WORKERS IN RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, AND TIMESHARES AND OTHER SERVICE INDUSTRIES IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND ECONOMY.
DOES THE TOWN AGREE THAT THIS ISSUE IS AN URGENT ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY? DOES THE TOWN AGREE THAT THE TOWN HAS A ROLE IN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME WORKERS? AND WHAT IS THAT ROLE? WHAT IMPEDIMENTS EXIST TO THE TOWN, PLAYING A ROLE IN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME WORKERS, WHO IN THE TOWN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO WORK ON REMOVING ANY OF THOSE IMPEDIMENTS.
AND WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO IN THE TOWN GOVERNMENT IS WORKING DISCOVERING AND EVALUATING MODELS, WHICH HAVE WORKED ON HILTON HEAD AND OTHER AREAS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME WORKERS.
WHAT MODELS HAVE THEY FOUND? COULD THEY WORK ON HILTON HEAD? AND WE LOVE TO WORK WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
HOW DOES THE TOWNS, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, MAYBE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THE OTHER FOLKS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, SOMETHING THAT MIGHT WORK.
HOW DOES THE LAND TOWNS LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM WORK AND CAN THAT MODEL WORK FOR ACQUIRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME WORKERS? WHERE DOES THAT REVENUE STREAM COME IN? AND DO WE ALL AGREE THAT HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME WORKERS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN INQUIRING MORE LAND? AND MY LAST ONE, UH, WHICH IS THE CRISIS OF THE MOMENT, BUT IMPEDIMENTS PREVENT THE TOWN FROM MAKING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE THE CHIMNEY COVE APARTMENTS THIS WEEK.
BRANDON DUALLY WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, HABITAT HAS A MODEL THAT WORKS.
WE HAVE A MODEL THAT'S WORKING
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HERE NOW, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE GLEN FOR A FEW YEARS NOW OFF OF MARSHLAND ROAD, WHERE WE'RE BUILDING 32 HOMES FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE LOW INCOME AND, UM, NEED A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THEIR HOUSING SITUATION.WE PROVIDE THEM A 25 TO 30 YEAR MORTGAGE WHERE THEY DON'T PAY MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.
OUR AVERAGE PAYMENTS RIGHT NOW FOR OUR MORTGAGES OVER AT THE GLEN ARE ABOUT $500 PER MONTH.
WE DON'T CHARGE THEM INTEREST ON THEIR MORTGAGE.
WE ALSO EDUCATE THEM SO THAT PRIOR TO GETTING INTO THEIR HOME, THEY ARE PREPARED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL HOMEOWNER.
AND WE PROVIDE THEM WITH A PROGRAM THAT IS SUCCESSFUL AND IMPACTS THEM FOR GENERATIONS TO COME AND PACKS THAT FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS.
OUR FORECLOSURE RATE SINCE 1990, SINCE WE'VE BEEN BUILDING IS ONLY ABOUT 2% BECAUSE WE DO THAT TRAINING WITH OUR FAMILIES AND WE PREPARE THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE DONORS, WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE FAMILIES.
WHAT WE NEED IS LAND RIGHT NOW.
WE KNOW THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE TOWN.
WE HAVE THAT SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP.
NOW, IF THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH US TO PROVIDE LAMB, WE CAN BE THAT DEVELOPER PARTNER FOR YOU AND MAKE THAT LONG TERM IMPACT ON THESE FAMILIES.
I'M THE CEO OF BLUFFTON SELF-HELP.
SO I CAME ACROSS THE BRIDGE THIS MORNING, WHICH I DON'T RARELY DO, BUT THAT MEANS I DROVE 2 78 FROM ROSE HILL TO HERE.
AND I PASSED GATED COMMUNITY AFTER GATED COMMUNITY.
AFTER GATED COMMUNITY, MOST HAD A GUARD GATE, SOME SETUP HAD A FOUNTAIN.
ALL OF THEM HAD BEAUTIFUL NEW LANDSCAPING.
WHAT I DIDN'T SEE ON MY WAY HERE WAS THE 60% OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BUFORD COUNTY WITHOUT A LIVABLE WAGE.
I ALSO DIDN'T SEE THE 36% OF HOMES IN BUFORD COUNTY THAT ARE SUBOPTIMAL.
THE PEOPLE LIVING, NOT MAKING A LIVABLE WAGE ARE OUR LANDSCAPERS.
SINCE THE FOLKS WHO MOWED YOUR LAWN THIS WEEKEND, IT'S DAMIEN, THE GENTLEMEN WHO WILL COME AND CLEAN MY POOL TODAY.
WE HAVE TO PUT A FACE TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE FACING THIS CRISIS.
IT'S MELISSA, THE WOMAN WHO WORKS AT THE WESTIN ON HILTON HEAD, WHO HAS BEEN PAINTING MY TOES AND DOING MY PEDICURES FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.
SO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS ON HILTON HEAD, IT'S IN BLUFFTON TOO.
UM, WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS MONTHS AWAY FROM HAPPENING IN BLUFFTON.
IT JUST HASN'T HIT THE NEWSPAPERS YET, BUT WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.
OUR CASE MANAGERS ARE WORKING WITH 60 FAMILIES ON AVERAGE A MONTH.
AND EVERY CONVERSATION HAS TO DO WITH HOUSING.
IT'S THE SUBOPTIMAL SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN.
AND WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH LANDLORDS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO IT'S ONLY EXACERBATING ITSELF.
SO I AM HERE BECAUSE BLUFFTON SOUTH START AT 35 YEARS AGO WITH ONE NEIGHBOR HELPING ONE NEIGHBOR.
SO I'M HERE AS A NEIGHBOR TO HELP HILTON HEAD.
BUT ALSO BECAUSE I KNOW IF WE DON'T DO THIS TOGETHER, CHANGE DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT EVERY VOICE AND ADVOCACY DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT EVERY VOICE.
SO THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME OVER THE BRIDGE TODAY.
UH, MY NAME'S COOPER MOONEY, AND I ACTUALLY WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT SO I APOLOGIZE KIND OF NERVOUS, BUT, UM, I, I WANT IT TO BE ONE OF THOSE FACES THAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
AND I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF RELEGATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO JUST LOW INCOME, BECAUSE I THINK I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
UM, I AM PART OF THE WORKFORCE ON THE ISLAND.
I AM PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE WORTH COMING TO AND VISITING AND MOVING TO I'M A PART OF THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.
MY INTENTION IS TO STAY HERE AND BUILD A CAREER, BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT I WORRY EVERY MONTH ABOUT CAN I MAKE MY RENT? I LIVE IN A ONE BEDROOM UN-RENOVATED OLDER UNIT AND ONE OF THE LAST QUOTE UNQUOTE, UM, WORKING CLASS RENTAL COMPLEXES ON THE ISLAND.
UN-RENOVATED AN OLDER COMPLEX.
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I WAS TOLD THAT BEGINNING NEXT MONTH IT WILL BE A HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE A MONTH FOR NEXT YEAR.I LIVE IN FEAR OF WHAT IF IT JUST KEEPS GOING UP? WHEN WILL I BE PUSHED OFF THE ISLAND? AND I JUST, I REALLY FEEL LIKE PEOPLE SHOULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY AFFORDABLE AND LOW-INCOME LOW.
IT DOESN'T MEAN SOMEBODY WHO'S LIKE PRACTICALLY HOMELESS.
IT'S IT'S THE TEACHERS VERSUS FUNDERS AS THE SERVICE PIECE.
THAT IS NOT IN AN UPPER ECHELON ENVIRONMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, JUST BE THAT FACE FOR YOU GUYS.
AND THANKS FOR CALLING THIS MEETING TODAY.
I'M A CITIZEN OF HILTON HEAD AND I HAVE LIVED HERE FIVE YEARS.
I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND I'VE OWNED PROPERTIES SINCE 2008.
AND WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE FOUR YEARS AGO IN COUNTY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10, I WENT TO ABOUT 3000 HOUSEHOLDS.
I KNOCKED ON DOORS IN EVERY PART OF THIS, UM, ON EVERY PART OF THIS ISLAND.
AND I WALKED DOWN THE STREETS, PAY UNPAVED ROADS, DIRT ROADS.
I CAME HOME FILTHY HALF THE TIME I WENT TO HOMES OF PEOPLE.
I JUST, I WASN'T GONNA SPEAK TODAY, BUT IT JUST HAD TO SAY THAT I WENT TO HOMES INTO THE HOMES OF PEOPLE LIKE THE GENTLEMAN, THAT THE PERSON THAT JUST SPOKE.
UM, AND, AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE HOW SOME PEOPLE LIVE ON THIS ISLAND.
AND THE THING THAT BOTHERED ME SO MUCH IS THAT COMING HERE ALL THOSE YEARS, I NEVER SAW IT.
HILTON HAD HIDES IT VERY WELL.
UM, IT'S BEHIND VERY FAR BACK.
AND I WENT INTO, I I'VE GONE INTO HILTON HEAD GARDENS IN SANDALWOOD, AND I'VE BEEN INVITED INTO THESE PEOPLE'S HOMES AND I'VE SEEN THE WAY THEY LIVE AND THEY PAY THE KIND OF MONEY THAT THE PERSON WHO JUST SPOKE, TALKED ABOUT.
WHEN I TOLD MY HUSBAND HOW MUCH THEY WERE PAYING A TIMOTHY COVE, HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
AND IT'S JUST, I THINK THAT THERE IS, THERE IS INCENTIVE HERE, BUT THERE'S ALSO, THERE'S ALSO THE, WILL THE PEOPLE HERE, THE BUSINESSES HERE, THEY WANT TO SEE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE ISLAND.
YOU CAN BUILD A REALLY ROBUST PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP IF YOU WANT TO.
SO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.
SO PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT EVERYBODY SAID.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE AND WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT.
WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ANYMORE.
WE SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING AND WE SHOULD BE HELPING THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.
WE LIVE IN PLACES THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL AND, AND WE'RE LUCKY TO LIVE HERE, BUT LET'S HELP THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED IT.
LET'S HELP TO PEOPLE THAT THAT REALLY WANT TO BE, WANT TO GET WHAT WE HAVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO CHANGE THE SITUATION.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.
I'M BARBARA EDWARDS, ALSO FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
WE HAVE AT THE CHURCH CALLED PIN PEOPLE IN NEED THE PEOPLE IN NEED MINISTRY.
AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WE'RE HAVE AN OFFICE THAT IS OPEN, UH, THREE MORNINGS A WEEK, MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY FROM NINE TO 12.
AND WE TAKE WALK IN CLIENTS, ISLAND RESIDENTS WHO NEED HELP WITH, UM, UTILITIES OR RENT IF THEY'RE EXPERIENCING HEALTH ISSUES.
IF, IF WE'VE HAD A HURRICANE DURING COVID, UH, SEASONAL WORKERS, UH, PEOPLE ON DISABILITY, UH, ELDERLY ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
WE SEE SO MANY OF THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE EVERY WEEK.
AND WE TRY TO ASSIST THEM IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES PEOPLE COME IN AND, YOU KNOW, WE HELP THEM WITH AN ELECTRIC BILL OR A WATER BILL.
AND YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY TO THEM IS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN YOUR SITUATION IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM? WHY IS THIS BILL? COULDN'T YOU PAY THIS BILL THIS MONTH? AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THEY SAY, WELL, I HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE.
I PAY MY WATER, OR I PAY MY CHILDCARE.
I FEED MY, OR, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, UM, I, I LOST A TIRE LAST WEEK.
WHEN, ON MY CAR, I HAD TO BUY A TIRE.
[00:35:02]
I WANT TO THANK YOU.I'VE BEEN ALSO TOLD THAT, UH, I'VE ONLY BEEN A RESIDENT SINCE 2006, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT YOU'VE BEEN, THE TOWN HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAVE A 48 YEAR OLD SON WHO IS A CHEF IN ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS HERE ON THE ISLAND, STILL LIVING WITH ME BECAUSE HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN HIS OWN APARTMENT.
AND IF I COULD GET HIM OUT OF MY HOUSE, GOOD MORNING.
I SERVE AS THE PASTOR CENTRAL OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.
I'M NOT QUITE CERTAIN HOW TO FOLLOW HER, BUT I WILL GIVE IT A, A TAN, I HAD NOT PLANNED TO SPEAK THIS MORNING, BUT I COULD NOT SIT IDLY BY THERE'S A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE WORDS IN THE BIBLE SAYS, WRITE THE MESSAGE AND MAKE IT PLAIN, MAKE IT CLEAR SO THAT EVERYONE WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON NOW IS OUR MESSAGES THAT ARE NOT CLEAR.
EVERYONE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK IN ORDER FOR US TO GET BEYOND WHERE WE ARE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE JUST, IT'S NOT ISOLATED TO ME COLD.
IT'S NOT A CHIMNEY CODE PROBLEM.
I ALSO LIVE IN BLUFFTON AND HAD TO COME ACROSS THAT BRIDGE THIS MORNING, PASTEL AND HILTON HEAD, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
AND SO I TOO, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER PASTORS ARE LIVING IN BLUFFTON, BUT MY QUESTION, IF WE ARE TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THERE ARE NATIVE ISLANDERS WHO ARE ASKING QUESTIONS.
WHY ARE THEY BEING APPROACH FOR SALES OF THEIR PROPERTY? THAT'S NOT FOR SALE WHEN THERE'S LAND, THAT'S SITTING AT CHIMNEY CODE THAT IS FOR SALE.
IT'S NOT CLEAR I'VE BEEN ATTENDING THE MEETINGS.
UM, UM, PAST THE JUNE, UH, INVITING ME IN.
WHO'S THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T BE COLD.
I'M NOT CERTAIN WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN IN THE MEETINGS.
IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN IN THE MEETINGS, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHY YOU HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU INTEND TO ATTEND THE MEETING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PUT YOU IN OFFICE? I THINK IF WE ARE TO RESOLVE AN ISSUE, IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HILTON, HEAD BEING THE BELOVED COMMUNITY.
IF WE ARE TRULY TO BE THE BELOVED COMMUNITY, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE THE MESSAGE CLEAR.
EVERYONE HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN HOW THIS TURNS OUT BECAUSE IT'S CHIMNEY COVE NOW, BUT PEOPLE ARE IN FEAR.
YOU DON'T HEAR THE VOICES, BUT THEY'RE WONDERING, AM I NEXT? WHO IS NEXT? AND I NEED TO MAKE, WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT'S WORKED BECAUSE NOTHING NOT.
EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED THIS MORNING, BUT I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO INPUT FROM YOU MEETINGS WITH YOU SO THAT COLLECTIVELY WE CAN WRITE THE MESSAGE, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WILL BE BUYING IT BECAUSE UNTIL, AND UNLESS WE GET BUY IN FROM THE TOTAL COMMUNITY, THAT WILL, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS. I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, ALAN PERRY, FOR THE RECORD HILTON PLANTATION.
WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT NUMBERS.
UM, I'M IN THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY, IN THE AIR AREA.
MEDIAN INCOME INCOME FOR A SINGLE PERSON IS 96,000.
THAT'S FOR ONE PERSON THAT'S FOR THIS AREA.
THAT'S A DUTY TO SERVE, TO BE ABLE TO PAY YOUR MORTGAGE BACK ON A LOW-INCOME SIDE, YOU'RE DOWN TO $74,000, VERY LOW INCOME, $54,000.
I DO HAVE A SON THAT LIVES AT HOME.
HE'S BELOW POVERTY, BASICALLY OFF OF THESE NUMBERS.
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT'S GOING ON IN HIS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF AN INCOME LEVEL.
THAT'S NOT ABLE TO PAY RENT BECAUSE THE PRICES HAVE GONE.
OUR HOUSING IS, IS WAY OFF THE CHARTS.
IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR A LOT, BUT IT'S STARTING TO AFFECT US LOCALLY.
AND THAT'S WHEN IT BECOMES A REAL ISSUE.
IT AFFECTS OUR FUTURE AND OUR SUSTAINABILITY DEPENDS UPON WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A SOLUTION, NOT TALK, BUT A SOLUTION THAT PUTS US IN THE FOREFRONT OF HOUSING OF ISLANDER HOUSING, NOT JUST LOW INCOME, NOT JUST WORKFORCE, BUT ISLANDER HOUSING ACROSS THE BOARD.
GOOD MORNING, KEN LICHENS WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF RE ITERATE A LOT OF WHAT SANDY SAID ABOUT THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
[00:40:01]
WE ALL KNOW WE NEED ADDITIONAL HOUSING AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO HELP THESE FAMILIES.ONE GREAT EXAMPLE IS LOW COST CHILDCARE.
UM, I THINK I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ALL BEFORE IN THE PAST THAT AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, OUR CHILDCARE AVERAGES ABOUT 71 CENTS AN HOUR.
THIS PAST SUMMER, WE WERE OPERATING AT 10 AND A HALF HOURS A DAY, AND MOST OF OUR FAMILIES WERE PAYING ABOUT $50 A MONTH FOR TWO, SOMETIMES EVEN THREE CHILDREN TO BE AT OUR FACILITY.
WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE FULL DAY ACADEMIC AND CHILDCARE ON SATURDAYS FOR FREE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO AGAIN, THOSE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
UM, SO THINK IN TERMS OF, UM, THE BROAD STROKES OF THE BRUSH, CLEARLY WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOUSING.
TRANSPORTATION IS ALSO A PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT CHILDCARE AND THE SUPPORTIVE THAT CAN ALSO HELP AS WELL.
YOU'RE A SPORTS FAN, RIGHT? YES, I AM SIR.
YOU KNOW, ERNIE BEAT DEBARTOLO, YOU KNOW, THE REPUTATION I'M SUGGESTING TO YOU, UH, SOME OF THE IDEAS ARE GREAT.
THEY'RE LONG-TERM YOU GUYS BUYING CHIMNEY COVE LONG SHOT.
I WOULD GO BACK TO THE DEBARTOLO IS NOW I DON'T, YOU HAVE ME AT A DISADVANTAGE.
THEY EITHER DELAYED THE DEAL UNTIL THIS DISSIPATES OR THEY'RE BACKED OUT OF THE DEAL.
BUT THE DEEP BARTOW WAS, DO NOT WANT BAD PUBLICITY AND THEY HAVE A GREAT FOUNDATION IN TAMPA BAY THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES.
THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT COULD BE DONE, LIKE OFFERING THE DEBARTOLO SOME INCENTIVE TO TAKE THE PROPERTY, BUT KEEP IT IN PLACE FOR THE, FOR THE COMMUNITY TO RESIDENTS AND IMPROVE IT.
MY NAME IS SALLY ZUNIGA, OWNER OF TIOS LATIN AMERICAN KITCHEN.
UM, I AM HERE REPRESENTING MY HUSBAND, LINDEN, AN IMMIGRANT FROM HONDURAS AND NOW RECENT CITIZEN AND OUR FOUR CHILDREN, NOLI, MALIA, RORY AND BECKER.
I AM ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR HARDWORKING TOS EMPLOYEES ON HILTON HEAD AND IN BLUFFTON AND OUR EXTENDED ZUNIGA FAMILY WHO ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL WORKFORCE.
I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK THIS COUNCIL TO ACT.
WE'VE BEEN BATTLING HOUSING AND LOSS OF HOUSING PRODUCTS FOR 20 YEARS.
AND WE AS A TOWN HAVE TO HAVE INVESTED DOLLARS AND TO PLANS AND PLANNING THAT WE HAVE NOT EXECUTED WHILE MANY BUSINESSES CAN AFFORD TO BUILD THEIR OWN HOUSING.
MANY OF US, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CAN NOT AFFORD TO INVEST IN HOUSING AT THIS TIME WITH THE CURRENT MARKET RATES, BUT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE STILL VALUABLE AND ESSENTIAL TO THE FABRIC OF THE SILENT.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE LAST PLAN FROM THE HOUSING CONSULTANT, WHICH SPEAKS TO A HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR HILTON HEAD AS A START, PLEASE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE PROPERTIES LIKE CHIMNEY COVE AND A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT ARE CURRENTLY FOR SALE.
AS OPPOSED TO SOLICITATION FOR PRIVATE RESIDENCES, PLEASE REACH OUT TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PURCHASE HOUSING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT WE CAN, AND WE WILL HELP PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS IMPACTS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY FROM SPORTS TO SCHOOLS TO WORK FORCE.
AND PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT THE BRAND OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS IN JEOPARDY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE JOIN? LIKE I SAY, A FEW WORDS, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MERITON MANAGER, CO COUNSEL, I'M SEAN COLIN AND MISSES THE TOWN MANAGER.
UM, AND I HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
[00:45:01]
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD CROWD HERE AND, UH, RIGHT ON TOPIC, UH, TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THE, THE EFFORTS THE TOWN HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS RELATED, RELATED TO HOUSING.THIS HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
WE'VE HAD, UM, HOUSING PROGRAMS AND A PLAN IN PLACE THAT HAVE BEEN REPEALED AND REALLY FOR THE LAST FIVE, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE TAKEN A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.
WE HAVE A HOUSING STRATEGIC HOUSING, UH, REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE'VE BEEN MOVING THROUGH, UM, AND, AND STRATEGICALLY ADDING TOOLS TO THE TOOL KIT.
UM, SO I WANT TO COVER A FEW TODAY.
UM, LAST MONTH OUR, UH, FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, UM, THAT THE IDEA OF A REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND, THAT CONCEPT GO TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND JOINING, UM, OUR, OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, UH, WITH BUFORD COUNTY JASPER COUNTY AND A LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.
AND THAT'LL BE ON THE SEPTEMBER 20TH TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA.
UM, THERE WAS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND, UH, BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS A REGIONAL ISSUE.
UM, ON A SIDE NOTE, I WAS IN COLUMBUS OHIO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO GO TO A, A LUNCHEON WITH A COLUMBIA, OUR COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN COMMISSION, UM, AND THEIR MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT THE HOUSING ISSUE IN COLUMBUS, UM, AND CALLED FOR DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF UNITS FROM 50,000 TO 100,000 HOUSING UNITS, NOT, NOT AFFORDABLE OR WORKFORCE, BUT HOUSING UNITS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A NEED AT ALL INCOME LEVELS, UH, IN SUPPORT OF, OF COMMUNITIES.
UM, SO IT'S INTERESTING HERE TO LOOK AT IT REGIONALLY.
UH, TRANSPORTATION IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE I'VE WORKED FOR THE TOWN FOR 16 YEARS AND I'VE COMMUTED ALL 16 YEARS.
UM, AND I KNOW A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF TOWN EMPLOYEES DO THAT AS WELL.
UH, NOT JUST IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, BUT, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, THE REGIONAL TRUST FUND IS ONE OPTION, UM, TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH OUR, WITH OUR, UH, REGIONAL PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE MONEY, TO LOOK AT GRANTS, UH, TO, TO POOL FUNDS.
I KNOW THAT THERE'LL BE DISCUSSION AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A BOARD FOR THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS OF HILTON ISLAND ARE CONSIDERED AND INCORPORATED THE END OF THE PROGRAM GOALS.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD AS THAT MOVES FORWARD.
AND WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD A COUPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE IN THE HOUSING, STRATEGIC, UH, HOUSING, UH, REPORT.
UH, WE DID ADD AN COUNCIL ADOPTED A COMMERCIAL CONVERSION.
AND SO I KNOW THERE WAS SOME COMMENT EARLIER TODAY ABOUT, UM, TRANSITIONING LIKE THE OLD SAM'S CLUB OR OTHER UNDERPERFORMING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
WE DO HAVE A COMMERCIAL CONVERSION, UM, PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS BOTH MARKET RATE, UM, AND THEN A REDUCED, UH, UNIT SIZE FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONVERT, CONVERT THAT SPACE.
UM, WE ALSO ADOPTED A, A DENSITY BONUS AND THE RM FOUR DISTRICT, WHICH ALLOWED UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT DENSITY BONUS, AND 50% OF THE UNITS, UH, OF THE ENTIRE UNITS WERE AFFORDABLE IN THE 80 TO 180 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT AMI RANGE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
MORE RECENTLY, WE'VE ADDED A STRATEGIC ELEMENTS TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT CURRENTLY LIVE ON HILTON HAD TO LIVE IN SAFE AND DRY CONDITIONS.
UM, TOWN COUNCIL THROUGH AN ALLOCATION THROUGH THE ARPA, UH, FUNDS, UH, WITH MARCH, UM, WITH MARK'S DIRECTION, UM, UH, BROUGHT FORTH A HOME SAFE AND REPAIR PROGRAM.
UH, THE PROGRAM OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ON JULY 5TH, UH, TO, TO DATE.
WE'VE HAD 60 APPLICATIONS FOR THAT PROGRAM AND WE HAVE 32 THAT ARE CURRENTLY APPROVED, AND WE'LL BE IDENTIFYING CONTRACTORS, LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO HELP FOLKS, UM, IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
UM, YOU, GOSH, WE'RE NOT EVEN TO ONE OR TWO MONTHS IN 60 APPLICATIONS, 32 CURRENTLY APPROVED.
I ANTICIPATE COMING BACK THROUGH MARK TO COUNCIL TO, TO REQUEST SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS AS THAT, AS THAT PROGRAM MOVES FORWARD.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN THE LATERAL SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM, UH, TRIBAL COUNCIL IN THE PAST, ACCELERATED THE SEWER MASTER PLAN ON HILTON HEAD, UM, TO PROVIDE SEWER ACCESS FOR ALL THAT WANTED, UH, WANTED IT.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THE NEXT PIECE IS THE ACTUAL CONNECTIONS INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM.
UM, AGAIN, UH, WITH MARK'S DIRECTION AND COUNCIL SUPPORT, THE LATERAL SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM, UH, WAS APPROVED AT LAUNCHED THE SAME DAY.
UM, JULY 5TH, WE'VE HAD SIX APPLICATIONS AND WE HAVE ONE PROJECT READY TO GO.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, I THINK WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND, AND, AND AT LEAST, UM, MAINTAINING HOUSING,
[00:50:01]
UH, FOR THOSE, UM, THAT CURRENTLY LIVE HERE THAT NEEDS SOME HELP, UM, AND THEN HELPING OUR COMMUNITY WITH SEWER CONNECTIONS AS WE MOVE, AS WE MOVE AHEAD.UM, BACK IN FEBRUARY, UH, THERE WAS, UH, A WORKSHOP ON HOUSING AND, UH, THE TOWN MANAGER OUTLINED A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE TOWN OWNS PROPERTY, A PROPERTY THAT COULD BE USED FOR HOUSING AND THE PROPERTY, UH, NEAR THE, UM, THE NORTH END POST OFFICES IDENTIFIED.
WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL IT THE NORTH POINT PROPERTY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE NAME OF THE ROAD THAT RUNS THROUGH IT.
AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE AN E ON THE END OF POINT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, BUT WE'RE ACTIVELY MOVING THROUGH THAT PROJECT.
BEN BROWN AND MARK ARE LEADING THAT, UH, THERE'S BEEN A COMMITTEE, A NORTH POINT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HOUSING COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN FORMED.
UM, WE SOLICITED BIDS, UH, FOR QUALIFICATIONS FROM, UM, FOR A PARTNER, UH, RECEIVED 10.
UH, THOSE WERE VETTED DOWN TO SEVEN AND WE'VE ASKED SEVEN TO, TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS AND THAT'S CURRENTLY OUT AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE SOME, UH, RE UH, RESPONSES LATER THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A PARTNER, UM, LATE THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR.
UH, BUT THAT WILL DELIVER, UM, A NUMBER OF HOMES.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT LET'S SAY 80 TO 120 ISH.
WE'LL SEE, UH, MS. A BALLPARK, MAYBE MORE THAN THAT.
UM, AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WOULD MIXED INCOME, UH, TO PROVIDE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.
UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T JUST AN AFFORDABLE OR WORKFORCE ISSUE.
IT'S A HOUSING ISSUE THAT WE NEED, UM, TO CONSIDERED, UH, WE'RE DEEP IN OUR MID ISLAND REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, UM, AND THE M MID ISLAND, UH, TRACT.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO COME FORWARD FOR A WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK ON THE 14TH.
UM, AND WE'RE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE, WE, WE HAD OUR, OUR VISION, WE HAVE OUR, OUR PLAN EXPECTATIONS, REINVENTING SUSTAINABILITY, UM, ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS TO MAKE US, UM, HELP US ROUND INTO A FULL, A FULL COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS THE NEXT STEP, RIGHT? SO YOU GO THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS, AND THEN YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS, UH, NAMELY YOUR ZONING ORDINANCE, YOUR LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, WHICH WE CALL OUR LMO, MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND DELIVER OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, OUR MID ISLAND REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, UM, HAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THAT WILL BE, UM, SHARED AT THE WORKSHOP, UH, TO HELP WITH SOME HOUSING OPTIONS, UH, IN THAT AREA.
THAT'S THE FIRST DISTRICT THAT WILL BE EVALUATED, UM, AS OTHERS WILL COME ON BOARD, AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO A, UM, A GROWTH FRAMEWORK AND ALLAH WIDE MASTER PLAN, AND HOUSING IS CERTAINLY AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DISCUSSION, UM, AT ALL LEVELS WITH WITHOUT EFFORT.
AND SO WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT OTHER, OTHER, UM, ELEMENTS RELATED TO HOUSING.
THE TOWN'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH, WITH, I KNOW BRENDA WAS HERE, SHE MENTIONED HABITAT.
THAT IS A MODEL, UM, THAT HAS WORKED, UH, THEY'RE DELIVERING 32 UNITS UP OFF MAHERSHALA ROAD.
UM, MANY TOWN STAFF HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND WORK, UH, ON THOSE HOMES.
AND IT'S VERY GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND HELPING, HELPING FOLKS, UM, BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEIR LIFE HERE, UH, AND FIND HOUSING.
UH, WE HAVE PURSUED AS, UM, AS PART OF THE CHIMNEY COVE DISCUSSION, UH, STAFF RESEARCH IDENTIFIED, UM, WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, UM, VOUCHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE COULD REQUEST SPECIAL VOUCHERS FROM THE, UH, US, UH, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE INCOME BASED ASSISTANCE, UH, FOR THOSE, UM, THAT MAY BE DISPLACED, UH, BY A MAN IN A MANAGED PROPERTY, UH, TO, UH, HAVE A SUBSIDY BETWEEN THE, UM, THE ABILITY TO PAY AND THE MARKET RATE, UM, THAT WOULD BE CHARGED DURING THAT, UH, RE UH, DISLOCATION RELOCATION.
UM, AND SO WE WERE READY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
UM, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PART OF OUR, UM, QUICK ACTION OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS SAME SITUATION, BUT WE DO.
WE, WE DO HAVE OPTIONS IN THAT, IN THAT CASE.
UM, WE HAVE, AS I MENTIONED, THIS, UH, MID ISLAND REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, UH, WE'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, UH, FIREPOWER WITH SOME CODE WRITERS THAT WILL HELP US IDENTIFY CREATIVE WAYS TO LOOK AT OUR LAND USE OR FUTURE LAND USE AND OUR ZONING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CALIBRATING TO DELIVER A HOUSING, LOOKING AT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, UM, THAT MEET THE ISLAND CHARACTER, UM, BUT ARE, UH, WE CAN ELIMINATE SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS THAT I THINK WERE IDENTIFIED
[00:55:01]
TODAY THROUGH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT PORTION OF IT.UM, AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE ON WITH THAT.
WE WILL LOOK BACK THROUGH, UM, UM, OUR, THE, THE HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING ANY OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I KNOW THAT THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST, UH, ITEM HAS BEEN BEFORE COMMITTEE, IT WILL BE BEFORE COUNCIL.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL HOUSING TRUST.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN THAT WITH COUNCIL AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS WELL.
UM, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH, WITH THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM AND COUNCIL, AND, UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FOR ME, I HAVE QUESTIONS.
I CAN MAYBE JUST HEAR WHAT TOWN COUNCIL THINKS I'VE BEEN COVERED.
A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
I GOT NO WATER HERE, JUST AIMS. I DO.
I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
UM, FIRST I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PIVOTAL ROLE CHIMNEY COV RESIDENTS IN CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH HAVE PLAYED IN GETTING THE COMMUNITY TO FOCUS ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
THERE'S A SILVER LINING IN WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF CHIMNEY COVE HAD HAD TO ENDURE.
WE MUST SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY BY CONTINUING OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AND BY ESTABLISHING REALISTIC AND PRAGMATIC STRATEGIES FOR ISLAND HOUSING, THERE ARE MANY PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS, BUT COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ARE AT THE CORE OF ALL OF THEM.
SOME WILL SAY, LET THE PRIVATE SECTOR SOLVE ITS OWN PROBLEMS. I SAY THAT WON'T HAPPEN ON HILTON, HEAD IN SUFFICIENT NUMBERS FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
AND THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THE HIGH COST OF LAND, EVEN THE AVAILABILITY OF LAND COMMUNITY AS PATHETIC STANDARDS, CONSTRUCTION COSTS, ZONING CORE CODES, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMICS.
YES, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTING IN HOUSING C PINES RESORT OUT OFF OF PALMETTO BAY ROAD.
I J G A GOLF AND STAN SMITH TENNIS HILTON HEAD INSTITUTE.
THAT WAS JUST IN THE NEWSPAPER.
NOTABLY, THESE COMPANIES HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL, THEIR SCALE OF OPERATIONS AND A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE ISLAND.
THEY ARE THE EXCEPTIONS GIVEN THE ISLAND'S LIMITED SUPPLY OF LAND AND HIGH COST OF CONSTRUCTION, REAL ESTATE PRICES AND RENTS WILL INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY FASTER THAN WORKERS ABILITY TO AFFORD THEM.
THEREFORE, THE TOWN MUST USE ITS GOVERNMENTAL POWERS TO ASSIST IN BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE LONGTERM.
SO WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN? THESE ARE MY OPINIONS.
I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL NOW FOR SIX YEARS, UH, ON THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, WORKING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I DO HAVE THOUGHTFUL OPINIONS IN THIS REGARD, THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS TO LEAD TO PLAN AND TO INVEST.
IT HAS THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF ITS CITIZENS.
AND THAT INCLUDES WORKERS, WORKERS LIKE THOSE AND CHIMNEY COVE COUNCIL NEEDS TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS FOR PLANNING, FUNDING, AND MANAGEMENT, AMONG TOWN DEVELOPERS, FAITH, COMMUNITY, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND NONPROFITS.
AND TWO TOGETHER, THEY REPRESENT SOLUTIONS.
COUNCIL NEEDS PLAN, THE MID ISLAND AND PALMETTO BAY DISTRICTS WITH EMPLOYEE HOUSING.
THESE ARE IDEAL LOCATIONS BECAUSE OF NEARBY JOBS, SHOPPING, RECREATION, AND RESTAURANTS, BUT THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY POSSIBILITIES AND COUNCIL NEEDS TO ESTABLISH INNOVATIVE FUNDING STRATEGIES TO BRIDGE THE FINANCIAL GAP BETWEEN THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION ON HILTON HEAD AND THE EXPECTED REVENUES FROM A PROJECT, REALISTICALLY FUNDING SOURCES WILL NEED TO INCLUDE A BLEND OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR, INVESTMENT NON-PROFIT
[01:00:01]
AND FAITH-BASED PARTICIPATION, TIF REVENUES, A TAX REVENUES, HOSPITALITY, TAX REVENUES, AND FOUNDATION, AND HOUSING TRUST GRANTS.BUT IT IS THE ISLAND VOTER WHO PLAYS THE MOST CRITICAL ROLE GOING FORWARD.
VOTERS NEED TO SPEAK UP TO COUNSEL'S CURRENT MEMBERS AND MEMBERS AND CANDIDATES PLUS MAYORALTY CANDIDATES IN ORDER TO SEIZE ON THIS COMMUNITY AWARENESS COMING OUT OF CHIMNEY COVE AND TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR ISLAND WORKERS AND THE ISLAND AS A WHOLE, NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE WITHOUT STRONG VOTER ADVOCACY.
IT IS TIME TO STOP THINKING THAT HOUSING FOR WORKERS IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM.
REAL PROGRESS REQUIRES POLITICAL WILL AND PASSIONATE CITIZENS.
THE SAME KIND THAT WERE IN EVIDENCE DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS AT CHIMNEY COVE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU, PASTOR WILKINS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I DO HOPE THE CHIMNEY COVE EXPERIENCE WILL BE LEVERAGED FOR THE GOOD OF CHINON CODE RESIDENTS, AND THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL INSPIRE CITIZENS TO ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS AND COUNCIL TO LEAD PLAN AND INVEST IN HOUSING.
THANK YOU, MS. BECKER THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO WAS IN THE ROOM BACK ON SUNDAY.
WHEN WE GATHERED AT CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH AND LISTENED, UM, TO PASTOR JUNE AND TO SANDY, AND A NUMBER OF GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE ON THE ISLAND HILTON HEAD ISLAND PROVED THAT EVENING THAT THEY CAME FORTH TO DO WHAT THIS ISLAND IS KNOWN FOR AND WHAT IT DOES BEST.
WE RALLIED AND WE FOUND SOLUTIONS THAT EVENING, THE RESIDENTS OF CHIMNEY WE'RE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITIES TO FEEL AS THEY LEFT A LITTLE BIT OF SENSE OF HOPE.
THEY HAD SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD LOOK FORWARD TO AND HAD OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE NEXT STAGE OF WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN TO COME.
WE'RE GRATEFUL AT THIS POINT THAT WE ARE NO LONGER IN THAT IMMEDIATE SITUATION.
WE'RE ALSO AS COLON OUT THAT I DID IT TO SEAN, SORRY, AS SEAN OUTLINED, UM, HALF DOZEN MORE STEPS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN HILTON HEAD WITH REGARD TO WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I REALIZED THAT IN THE PAST THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS AND THE PROGRESS IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN, AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, UM, I AM A CANDIDATE FOR REELECTION.
AND SO I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PLACE FOR ANYONE'S POLITICAL SPEECH.
SO I'M GOING TO REFRAIN FROM MUCH MORE TO SAY THIS THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS, MY YEAR HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND AND IN TOUCH, I COME TO THIS WITH DEEP EMPATHY, FOR THOSE WHO KNOW ME IN MY HISTORY, YOU KNOW THAT I'VE LIVED THROUGH MANY OF THESE SITUATIONS NOW THAT ARE AFFORDABLE HOME, UM, AND WORKFORCE ARE FACED WITH THERE'S HOPE AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THINGS DO GET BETTER.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL'S WORK HERE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THIS GROUP IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS HERE ON HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, BROWN, ANYBODY IN HERE, UH, CURRENTLY LIVING IN JIMMY.
IF YOU DON'T MIND COOPER MY HERO.
IT COME SIT IN A ROOM FULL OF FOLKS THAT ARE NOT LIVING YOUR LIFE.
[01:05:03]
THEN YOU FOUND THE COURAGE TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF US AND TELL US ABOUT IT.Y'ALL COULD, UH, JUST BEAR WITH ME.
MAYBE AROUND APPLAUSE IS NECESSARY, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
WE'RE PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA, BUT IN MY MIND, THIS IS NOT JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GATHER, LISTEN, AND THEN WALK AWAY AND DO NOTHING.
BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING IS IT, THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR COURAGE FROM HIS LEADERSHIP.
THE QUESTION BEING ASKED, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I APPRECIATE MR. COLEMAN GIVING US THE REPORT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE IF IT WAS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF US THIS MORNING, ROLLERS TRAILER PARK CAME BEFORE US.
AND MRS. MAY, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE DIALOGUE HERE AS WE GO ALONG, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SAY SOME THINGS THAT MAY RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS, BUT I'M BEING INTENTIONAL WITH THAT.
I ASKED THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER BY AND THIS TRAILER PARK, SO THAT THAT THREAT WOULD NOT COME BEFORE US AGAIN, THAT NEVER MADE US WAIT TO AN AGENDA.
WE'VE TALKED QUIETLY ABOUT ACQUIRING CHIMNEY COVE THAT HAS NEVER MADE HIS WAY TO AN AGENDA.
HE, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE DO FIND OURSELVES TALKING ABOUT OTHER PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT FOR SALE.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP TO COME OUT OF THIS MEETING.
I HAVE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING ON COUNCIL, AS LONG AS ANYONE ELSE UP HERE.
I LOOK BACK AT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF THIS TO YOU, BUT IT TALKS ABOUT EQUITY.
IT TALKS ABOUT HAVING A MONO MULTI-DIMENSIONAL INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT TO INCLUDE INCOME, CULTURE, AGE, RAINS, RACE, GENDER, ETHNICITY.
THOSE ARE JUST WORDS ON PAPER.
IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, WE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY INTO THINGS THAT MAY AFFECT US PERSONALLY, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND CHOSEN TO REPRESENT PEOPLE LIKE COOPER.
BUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHEN IT'S PUT IN FRONT OF US, WE CHOOSE NOT TO, WELL, SOME WILL SAY, WHY ARE WE GOING TO BUY PROPERTIES WHEN WE'RE NOT IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUSINESS? I'LL BEACHES ON HILTON