Supporting home ownership for the working poor
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Javier made his points exceedingly well [in yesterday's letter to the editor]. That said, he never gets to the key point, which is HOW do you keep poor minorities in their own historic neighborhoods (West Grove, Little Haiti, Allapattah, Overtown) under the overwhelming relentless development/money pressure? Government subsidies ("Free Money") mostly goes to apartment buildings and Section 8 housing, which only slightly slows the inevitable gentrification. Some cities (Boston, New York) have defaulted to rent control, which has never gotten support in our "Property Rights" state, much less our City and County.
To me, the answer is supporting home ownership for the WORKING poor. Help them first to inspire others. In other words, give a hand up instead of a hand out - to a greater extent than is being done now. It's a political decision, and not an easy one since helping some more means helping others less, at least in the short run. It also means allowing - after obtaining neighborhood support - limited amounts of increased density ("cluster" courtyard low rise units) into single family and duplex transects. This is illegal "spot zoning" unless done carefully using Land Trusts to hold the land in perpetuity. But it could be done using "Soft 2nd" mortgage financing, and could bring home ownership to those who are now paying $900/mo for rent, which corresponds to $36,000/yr Gross Family Income. You then restrict re-sale of the units for say, 10 years, and the at-risk neighborhoods are stabilized while allowing minority families to participate, if they so choose, in the prosperity they help to create in their own neighborhoods.
Andy Parrish
Coconut Grove
Javier made his points exceedingly well [in yesterday's letter to the editor]. That said, he never gets to the key point, which is HOW do you keep poor minorities in their own historic neighborhoods (West Grove, Little Haiti, Allapattah, Overtown) under the overwhelming relentless development/money pressure? Government subsidies ("Free Money") mostly goes to apartment buildings and Section 8 housing, which only slightly slows the inevitable gentrification. Some cities (Boston, New York) have defaulted to rent control, which has never gotten support in our "Property Rights" state, much less our City and County.
To me, the answer is supporting home ownership for the WORKING poor. Help them first to inspire others. In other words, give a hand up instead of a hand out - to a greater extent than is being done now. It's a political decision, and not an easy one since helping some more means helping others less, at least in the short run. It also means allowing - after obtaining neighborhood support - limited amounts of increased density ("cluster" courtyard low rise units) into single family and duplex transects. This is illegal "spot zoning" unless done carefully using Land Trusts to hold the land in perpetuity. But it could be done using "Soft 2nd" mortgage financing, and could bring home ownership to those who are now paying $900/mo for rent, which corresponds to $36,000/yr Gross Family Income. You then restrict re-sale of the units for say, 10 years, and the at-risk neighborhoods are stabilized while allowing minority families to participate, if they so choose, in the prosperity they help to create in their own neighborhoods.
Andy Parrish
Coconut Grove
posted by Tom Falco at 4:00 AM
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3 Comments:
I believe Mr. Parrish used the Grapevine to make this pitch a couple of months ago. I have been told that Mr. Parrish, through shell companies, owns a number of lots in the West Grove, including an assemblage of 7 near Virrick Park, that would appreciate in value astronomically if his proposal to allow increased density was ever approved. If that is true, readers should be warned of Mr. Parrish's own self-interest in this proposal so as to give the reader a fair opportunity to assess his proposal in view of the financial windfall he is trying to gain for himself. Thank you.
Hello Anonymous: I no longer own a single property In Village West Coconut Grove, not individually or through any company or LLC, or any relative, or as a silent partner, or any other way. FYI, I built 18 single family homes for 1st time low income homeowners back in 1994-2005. all of whom were previously renting. So assess away. All I am saying is that if the remaining historic residents want to stay in West Grove as homeowners instead of renters, AND they can get community support, this is one way to do it. No need for you to apologize for disseminating incorrect info, since I rarely if ever to respond to anyone who prefers Anonymity,
Yannow who else thought home ownership was important to raise up poor folk? E.W.F. Stirrup, whose legacy has been tarnished by the recreation of his house, as opposed to the renovation the developers actually promised before allowing itv to undergo nearly a decade of Demolition by Neglect.
Developers get what they want in Miami and history and poor folk be damned.
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