Consider partnership between City and property owners to fund new lights.
Determine redevelopment potential of commercial properties along the edges of the neighborhood and consider tax increment financing boundaries that could raise revenue for infrastructure needs in the neighborhood.
Partners
City of Wichita, Public Works, Electric Company, Hilltop Neighborhood Association, Hilltop Improvement Alliance
Hilltop Neighborhood Goal Six: Remove Barriers to Homebuying
A number of inhibitors prevent homeownership in the Hilltop Neighborhood. Not the least of which is the difficulty that some potential buyers have encountered in trying to obtain financing. Some homeowners have invested tremendously in their homes (even to the extent of raising a house in order to retrofit it with a permanent foundation) yet acknowledge that they will never see a return on their investment. To some extent, these conditions only encourage a predominance of rental units because a property may be more economically successful if it generates rent that covers debt service rather than generating a mortgage on a property with steadily declining worth.
In addition, the City can improve the potential for homeownership by showing more support to the neighborhood in terms of code enforcement, appropriate revisions to the Zoning Code, and infrastructure improvements. These items must be addressed immediately in order to prevent further undermining of the Hilltop Neighborhood. Also, although alleyways are private property in Hilltop, a system for their maintenance, paving, and widening should involve City participation. In fact, it may be beneficial for a replotting to occur so that the alleyways are returned to public ownership.
Recommended Action
Request inspection from city engineers to reinforce the structural integrity of the homes.
Work with city to identify criteria for a special overlay Zoning or Building Code district that would factor in the unique conditions that exist in Hilltop (i.e. setbacks, access, etc.)
Solicit appraisals to determine the replacement value of homes in order to generate a loan pool for improvements to deteriorating homes.
Continue providing credit counseling to potential buyers.
Encourage landlords and tenants to participate in a lease-to-own program.
Foster entrepreneurship by encouraging homeowners within the neighborhood to acquire additional properties to rent; ideally a greater concentration of homeownership should be achieved, but a larger pool of landlords committed to improving the neighborhood would be a positive interim step.
Consider creating a non-profit community development corporation (CDC) that could acquire properties and provide friendly financing for homebuyers who will live in the neighborhood.
Prepare campaign about the Hilltop Neighborhood for promotion it to financial institutions and potential buyers.