Below is a high-level overview of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 that will provide you with some context on what to expect as a result of the new legislation.
Increased Down payment requirements:
Minimum contribution will increase from 3.0% to 3.5% of the appraised value. Seller funded Down Payment Assistant Programs (“DAPs”) or funds from any other interested party to the transaction will be prohibited on all loans where final credit approval has not been established by September 30, 2008.
Risk Based Premiums:
Up Front and Monthly Mortgage Insurance Premiums implemented on July 14, 2008 will change on October 1, 2008.
Condominiums:
Guidelines for project approval will be relaxed, likely by year end.
Reverse Mortgages (HECM):
Changes to loan limits and origination fees.
HOPE for Homeowners:
Program designed to assist eligible at risk borrowers through refinancing into a new FHA insured loan. Program guidelines yet to be defined by HUD.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Park and Recreation Update
Ø Volunteers in the Park: For Fiscal Year 2008, Mecklenburg Park and Recreation received community support from more than 14,500 volunteers. They contributed 114,188 hours of help for our department. The value of their donation of time was more than $2.1 million.
The department is now looking for volunteers to help with the Hearts and Hands playground construction. This is a fully accessible playground in Nevin Park where children of all abilities will be able to play side by side.
COMMUNITY AND RECREATION CENTER SERVICES
Ø Neighborhood Crime Prevention Plan: First Ward Recreation Center will host a Community Meeting focusing on crime prevention as part of National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5. Representatives from the different various neighborhood associations and citizens in the community will meet with community police officers to discuss ways to cut crime in the area. They will begin working on an overall Neighborhood Crime Prevention Plan. We are excited about uniting the community against rising crime in the area.
Ø 2008 National Night Out: Arbor Glen Outreach Center will host the 2008 National Night Out for the West Boulevard Corridor on Tuesday, Aug 5 from 6:00-9:00pm. The event will be free to the community with food, music, prizes, and a dance contest. Event is designed to raise community awareness and as a demonstration against crime and drugs. Southview, Amay James and Arbor Glen Outreach Center staff will team up with the Stratford Richardson YMCA, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, City Dive, Vision Charlotte, and community leaders of 17 neighborhoods along the West Boulevard Corridor to make this a great community event.
Ø International Clown Week: On Monday, August 4, Tuckaseegee Recreation Center will celebrate International Clown Week with a day that honors clowning! Carolina Clowns will perform and teach us tricks of the trade. The YWCA Summer Camp will provide face painting, while the MADE Summer Camp will perform some clown routines! Rubber chickens, snow cones, RAY, and free lunch for those under 18 will also help make this event special!
Ø Constitution Day- Puerto Rico: Marion Diehl Recreation Center partnered with the Puerto Rican Cultural Society of Charlotte and the Latin American Coalition to celebrate "Constitution Day of Puerto Rico" on Saturday, July 26. The event was a great drew more than 300 patrons. They enjoyed traditional songs, food, music, art and dances of Puerto Rico.
Ø Mecklenburg 4-H Teens Attend NC 4-H Congress: Nine Mecklenburg County 4-H teens attended the annual NC 4-H Congress the week of July 21-25. These teens participate in 4-H through recreation center programs, YWCA programs and community clubs. This leadership and citizenship conference was held on the campus of NC State University. Throughout the week, the teens participated in workshops covering topics such as careers, electric, healthy choices, and government involvement. The Mecklenburg delegation was a part of more than 800 teen 4-H’ers from across North Carolina.
Ø 4-H’ers Ready for Summer Camp: Mecklenburg County 4-H is taking a delegation of 40 campers, ages 8-13, to a week-long residential summer camp at Millstone 4-H Center in Ellerbe, NC. They will depart Sunday, August 3 and return on Friday, August 8. While at camp, the youth will enjoy swimming, canoeing, archery, riflery, horseback riding, crafts and many other traditional camp experiences.
Ø 4-H Volunteer Workshop: Calling anyone interested in volunteering with a 4-H club throughout 2009! Mecklenburg County 4-H is offering an Introduction to 4-H Clubs workshop on Monday, August 4th from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for anyone interested in volunteering. The workshop will be held at the 4-H Office (1418 Armory Drive). Participants will learn the basics of 4-H, including how to start and manage a 4-H club.
Ø Annual Eastside Back to School Festival: Partnership team consisting of Weed & Seed (East side), MeckCares and Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department completed plans to provide the 1st Annual Eastside Back to School Festival, scheduled for August 2 from 11am – 3pm at Eastland Mall. This is the first Eastside Back to School Festival hosted by above partners. Moe than 20 service agencies will be on hand to provide students and families in east Charlotte information and resources to help prepare them for academic success during the school year. Entertainment and educational sessions will be provided during the event for children and adults. Prizes will be given to participants who complete the Passport to Academic Success!
NATURE PRESERVES AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Ø Academic Research: Both the herbarium and zoological collections housed in the newly named "Dr. James F. Matthews Center for Biodiversity Studies" in Reedy Creek Nature Preserve are being used by researchers involved in 4 different research projects this month. These partners are from: the University of South Carolina - Columbia, UNC-Chapel Hill, Belmont Abbey College, and the Schiele Museum of Natural History.
ENTERPRISE SERVICES
Ø Track & Field: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the Charlotte Flights Track and Field Club sponsored twenty-two local youth who participated in the 2008 Junior Olympics in Omaha, Nebraska from July 22-27. Khayla Dawson placed first and brought home a gold medal in the shot put with a heave of 28’8”. The 4 X 100 meter relay team consisting of Calvin Haines, Jalen Porter, Aaron Tindall and Jacquece placed third and brought home bronze medals. Chanin Scott placed fifth in the 800 meter run. “Well done!” to all of local athletes who advanced from regional and state events to participate.
Ø Memorial Stadium: Staff met with City Council Member James Mitchell, Charlotte Department of Transportation, City Special Events staff, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and the Athletic Director and staff of North Carolina Central University to start the strategic planning process for the NC Central vs. NC A & T football game. The game is scheduled for October 4 at Memorial Stadium. Discussions focused on the estimated attendance, marketing, traffic plan and facility logistics.
CAPITAL PLANNING AND ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT
Ø Romare Bearden Park: Planning staff conducted the final stakeholder design meeting for the Park. The stakeholder group, made up of representatives from the surrounding neighborhood, adjacent business owners and the City, has provided meaningful feedback and direction as the design has progressed. The department will now begin preparing construction documents with an anticipated late spring 2009 construction start. (See artist’s conception of park, next page.)
Ø Pearle Street Park: The Urban Land Institute conducted a design charette for the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. The one day design exercise looked at the possibilities and opportunities for the site directly adjacent to the park. As the area around the park redevelops, Park Planning staff is working with the City and adjoining property owners to plan a much needed face lift to the Park.
Ø Berewick Park/Rec. Center Plans Review: The review period for the 50% Berewick construction documents concluded this week. Staff compiled a lot of good comments and will be discussing them with the consultant next week. Project bidding is expected this Fall, 2008.
Ø Greenprinting: Planning staff attended Green Printing Training with County GIS. The Trust for Public Land developed this program for Park & Recreation as part of the recently completed 2008 Parks Master Plan. Planning staff will be able to use this powerful model for objective, detailed site analysis and needs assessment in regards to all future land acquisitions.
Ø Nevin Accessible Playground Organization Day: Plans are currently being finalized for this special event set for Thursday, August 7 from 11am - 6pm. This important event will allow individual committees to meet with representatives from Leathers & Associates to check on progress and map out a strategy for the final stages of the project. The day will be spent reviewing the site, the final design, meeting with individual committees, and clarifying schedules, plans, responsibilities and other details for construction. There will be multiple meetings throughout the day, such as: a site review, stakeout review, individual committees update reviews, construction captains informational, and an overall summary meeting.
GREENWAY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Ø Little Sugar Creek Greenway - Belmont Ave. to Alexander St. Park: The contractor has paved a portion of the greenway trail from Belmont Ave. to the top of bank of Belmont Branch. Shoring system design plans are still under review by CSX's engineering consultant, and should be approved soon. Contractor has also cleared and graded on the Alexander Street Park side of the railroad. Once shoring system is installed, the contractor will spend the next month installing the pedestrian underpass structure, and installing the bridge across Belmont Branch.
Ø Little Sugar Creek Greenway - Baxter St to Morehead St: Precast walls are now being installed for the central large fountain.
Ø Little Sugar Creek Greenway - Charlottetowne Ave to Pearle St Bridge (Metropolitan): Next week, this section of greenway will be advertised for bids.
Ø Clark's Creek - Tributary #2: Staff from Greenways and Natural Resources met with City of Charlotte Storm Water services this week regarding a stream restoration planned along a tributary of Clark's Creek that runs through the northern half of the Huck's Road Nature Preserve property, which is also a future greenway corridor.
The department is now looking for volunteers to help with the Hearts and Hands playground construction. This is a fully accessible playground in Nevin Park where children of all abilities will be able to play side by side.
COMMUNITY AND RECREATION CENTER SERVICES
Ø Neighborhood Crime Prevention Plan: First Ward Recreation Center will host a Community Meeting focusing on crime prevention as part of National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5. Representatives from the different various neighborhood associations and citizens in the community will meet with community police officers to discuss ways to cut crime in the area. They will begin working on an overall Neighborhood Crime Prevention Plan. We are excited about uniting the community against rising crime in the area.
Ø 2008 National Night Out: Arbor Glen Outreach Center will host the 2008 National Night Out for the West Boulevard Corridor on Tuesday, Aug 5 from 6:00-9:00pm. The event will be free to the community with food, music, prizes, and a dance contest. Event is designed to raise community awareness and as a demonstration against crime and drugs. Southview, Amay James and Arbor Glen Outreach Center staff will team up with the Stratford Richardson YMCA, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, City Dive, Vision Charlotte, and community leaders of 17 neighborhoods along the West Boulevard Corridor to make this a great community event.
Ø International Clown Week: On Monday, August 4, Tuckaseegee Recreation Center will celebrate International Clown Week with a day that honors clowning! Carolina Clowns will perform and teach us tricks of the trade. The YWCA Summer Camp will provide face painting, while the MADE Summer Camp will perform some clown routines! Rubber chickens, snow cones, RAY, and free lunch for those under 18 will also help make this event special!
Ø Constitution Day- Puerto Rico: Marion Diehl Recreation Center partnered with the Puerto Rican Cultural Society of Charlotte and the Latin American Coalition to celebrate "Constitution Day of Puerto Rico" on Saturday, July 26. The event was a great drew more than 300 patrons. They enjoyed traditional songs, food, music, art and dances of Puerto Rico.
Ø Mecklenburg 4-H Teens Attend NC 4-H Congress: Nine Mecklenburg County 4-H teens attended the annual NC 4-H Congress the week of July 21-25. These teens participate in 4-H through recreation center programs, YWCA programs and community clubs. This leadership and citizenship conference was held on the campus of NC State University. Throughout the week, the teens participated in workshops covering topics such as careers, electric, healthy choices, and government involvement. The Mecklenburg delegation was a part of more than 800 teen 4-H’ers from across North Carolina.
Ø 4-H’ers Ready for Summer Camp: Mecklenburg County 4-H is taking a delegation of 40 campers, ages 8-13, to a week-long residential summer camp at Millstone 4-H Center in Ellerbe, NC. They will depart Sunday, August 3 and return on Friday, August 8. While at camp, the youth will enjoy swimming, canoeing, archery, riflery, horseback riding, crafts and many other traditional camp experiences.
Ø 4-H Volunteer Workshop: Calling anyone interested in volunteering with a 4-H club throughout 2009! Mecklenburg County 4-H is offering an Introduction to 4-H Clubs workshop on Monday, August 4th from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for anyone interested in volunteering. The workshop will be held at the 4-H Office (1418 Armory Drive). Participants will learn the basics of 4-H, including how to start and manage a 4-H club.
Ø Annual Eastside Back to School Festival: Partnership team consisting of Weed & Seed (East side), MeckCares and Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department completed plans to provide the 1st Annual Eastside Back to School Festival, scheduled for August 2 from 11am – 3pm at Eastland Mall. This is the first Eastside Back to School Festival hosted by above partners. Moe than 20 service agencies will be on hand to provide students and families in east Charlotte information and resources to help prepare them for academic success during the school year. Entertainment and educational sessions will be provided during the event for children and adults. Prizes will be given to participants who complete the Passport to Academic Success!
NATURE PRESERVES AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Ø Academic Research: Both the herbarium and zoological collections housed in the newly named "Dr. James F. Matthews Center for Biodiversity Studies" in Reedy Creek Nature Preserve are being used by researchers involved in 4 different research projects this month. These partners are from: the University of South Carolina - Columbia, UNC-Chapel Hill, Belmont Abbey College, and the Schiele Museum of Natural History.
ENTERPRISE SERVICES
Ø Track & Field: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the Charlotte Flights Track and Field Club sponsored twenty-two local youth who participated in the 2008 Junior Olympics in Omaha, Nebraska from July 22-27. Khayla Dawson placed first and brought home a gold medal in the shot put with a heave of 28’8”. The 4 X 100 meter relay team consisting of Calvin Haines, Jalen Porter, Aaron Tindall and Jacquece placed third and brought home bronze medals. Chanin Scott placed fifth in the 800 meter run. “Well done!” to all of local athletes who advanced from regional and state events to participate.
Ø Memorial Stadium: Staff met with City Council Member James Mitchell, Charlotte Department of Transportation, City Special Events staff, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and the Athletic Director and staff of North Carolina Central University to start the strategic planning process for the NC Central vs. NC A & T football game. The game is scheduled for October 4 at Memorial Stadium. Discussions focused on the estimated attendance, marketing, traffic plan and facility logistics.
CAPITAL PLANNING AND ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT
Ø Romare Bearden Park: Planning staff conducted the final stakeholder design meeting for the Park. The stakeholder group, made up of representatives from the surrounding neighborhood, adjacent business owners and the City, has provided meaningful feedback and direction as the design has progressed. The department will now begin preparing construction documents with an anticipated late spring 2009 construction start. (See artist’s conception of park, next page.)
Ø Pearle Street Park: The Urban Land Institute conducted a design charette for the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. The one day design exercise looked at the possibilities and opportunities for the site directly adjacent to the park. As the area around the park redevelops, Park Planning staff is working with the City and adjoining property owners to plan a much needed face lift to the Park.
Ø Berewick Park/Rec. Center Plans Review: The review period for the 50% Berewick construction documents concluded this week. Staff compiled a lot of good comments and will be discussing them with the consultant next week. Project bidding is expected this Fall, 2008.
Ø Greenprinting: Planning staff attended Green Printing Training with County GIS. The Trust for Public Land developed this program for Park & Recreation as part of the recently completed 2008 Parks Master Plan. Planning staff will be able to use this powerful model for objective, detailed site analysis and needs assessment in regards to all future land acquisitions.
Ø Nevin Accessible Playground Organization Day: Plans are currently being finalized for this special event set for Thursday, August 7 from 11am - 6pm. This important event will allow individual committees to meet with representatives from Leathers & Associates to check on progress and map out a strategy for the final stages of the project. The day will be spent reviewing the site, the final design, meeting with individual committees, and clarifying schedules, plans, responsibilities and other details for construction. There will be multiple meetings throughout the day, such as: a site review, stakeout review, individual committees update reviews, construction captains informational, and an overall summary meeting.
GREENWAY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Ø Little Sugar Creek Greenway - Belmont Ave. to Alexander St. Park: The contractor has paved a portion of the greenway trail from Belmont Ave. to the top of bank of Belmont Branch. Shoring system design plans are still under review by CSX's engineering consultant, and should be approved soon. Contractor has also cleared and graded on the Alexander Street Park side of the railroad. Once shoring system is installed, the contractor will spend the next month installing the pedestrian underpass structure, and installing the bridge across Belmont Branch.
Ø Little Sugar Creek Greenway - Baxter St to Morehead St: Precast walls are now being installed for the central large fountain.
Ø Little Sugar Creek Greenway - Charlottetowne Ave to Pearle St Bridge (Metropolitan): Next week, this section of greenway will be advertised for bids.
Ø Clark's Creek - Tributary #2: Staff from Greenways and Natural Resources met with City of Charlotte Storm Water services this week regarding a stream restoration planned along a tributary of Clark's Creek that runs through the northern half of the Huck's Road Nature Preserve property, which is also a future greenway corridor.
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