Covenant between Working in Neighborhoods and the College Hill Housing Development Team

September 2006

I. Covenant Intention

This is a ‘good faith’ agreement between Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) and the College Hill Housing Development Team (CHHDT).

II. Objective

The objective of this covenant is to express, agree and commit to honor our mutual expectations for how we will work together for housing development in the College Hill area. These expectations derive from the desire of both parties to see significant improvement in the housing stock of the College Hill NRSA area.

III. Background and Vision

The neighborhood of College Hill has been dealing with many issues for a number of years, as have all the neighborhoods of Cincinnati. Among these issues is the noticeable deterioration of housing, rising from a variety of factors, such as an increase in rentals, a decline in home ownership, a lack of proper maintenance, and an increase in crime. The focus of CHHDT and WIN is on housing, but in doing so, the hope is for an overall improvement in the neighborhood, as expressed in CHHDT’s Vision Statement:

Housing Improvement will help improve the overall quality of life in College Hill by catalyzing action on multiple issues. Housing improvement will focus on increasing home ownership and eliminating abandoned and ‘blighted’ homes. In partnership with residents and other community groups, the following will also happen:

· Physical improvements are made to currently owned homes.

· City infrastructure—streets, sidewalks, lighting— is improved.

· More people actually own their homes vs. renting.

· Neighborhoods and churches organize to help one another.

· Drug and gang activity is eliminated.

· Trash and litter is reduced and removed.

· Residents are empowered to guide their destiny.

IV. Communication

This document outlines a working relationship between CHHDT and WIN which includes many references to communication. However, it is recognized that to be successful this relationship will require frequent, proactive, and personal verbal communication above and beyond what can realistically be outlined in this document. Therefore, this agreement is not intended to limit or replace in any way the ongoing communication between CHHDT and WIN.

V. When Revisions Are Needed

When issues and topics arise that have not been previously discussed, it is the expectation of both WIN and the College Hill Housing Development Team that these will be reviewed at a regular meeting of the joint parties and that this document will be revised when appropriate.

VI. We, the undersigned, commit to the following:

A. In Property Acquisition…

WIN will:

• Buy on Cedar or immediately adjacent to Cedar (at least for the next 1-3 years).
• Whenever appropriate and possible, Email or phone designated members of the CH Housing Team when an appointment is made to view a prospective property.

CHHDT will:

• Tell WIN of available or about to be available properties. It is especially advantageous to acquire properties before they go into receivership or even before they go on the market.

B. In PreConstruction…

WIN will:

• Seek to employ local contractors (thru the General Contractor).
• Share specs, sketches or drawings, and estimates prior to start of construction with the Housing Team.
• Plan to match neighborhood architecture.
• Upgrade the housing whenever possible.

CHHDT will:

• Provide list of recommended local contractors.
• Commit to quick turnaround (within one week) of review of specs, sketches/drawings, and estimates.

C. In Financing…

WIN will:

• Negotiate a new contract with the city to include funding for work in College Hill.

CHHDT will:

• Support WIN in obtaining funds from the city.
• Be present in discussions with the city.
• Lobby, if necessary and appropriate.
• Letters of support from community organizations.

D. In Rehab…

WIN will:

• Ensure work is architecturally similar neighborhood.
• Make first rehabbed houses extra attractive, to stand out and attract attention in the neighborhood.
• Solicit input from the Housing Team on landscaping plant and flower selections.
• Schedule periodic walk-thru opportunities for the Housing Team.
• Use local suppliers whenever possible.

CHHDT will:

• Watch over the property to prevent theft and vandalism.
• Yard/landscape maintenance, including grass cutting and watering.
• Help remove junk or clutter from houses, if necessary. (organize volunteers)
• Help in demolition, if needed and appropriate. (organize volunteers) Decide on house-by-house basis.
• Help get donations in-kind from local suppliers.

E. In Marketing and Sales…

WIN will:

• Schedule open house for newly rehabbed houses.
• If possible, schedule closing at the houses to enable creation of an “event” in the neighborhood.
• Use local realtors when needed only as needed (realtors need to understand 2nd mortgage concept).

CHHDT will:

• Make open house an “event” in the neighborhood.
• Make closing an “event” in the neighborhood.
• Help find prospective buyers for rehabbed properties.

F. In New House Construction (vs Rehab)…

WIN will:

• Partner with Housing Team to develop mutually agreeable design prior to building.

CHHDT will:

• Help with research on architectural styles and designs appropriate for the neighborhood.

VII. We have reviewed the above and fully commit to covenant together to approach the improvement in housing in the College Hill community in mutual parthership and shared vision:

Signatories to the Covenant were the following:

For the Housing Team:

• Rev. Dan Weyand-Geise, College Hill Ministerium, Christ’s Community in College Hill
• Phyllis Schoenberger, College Hill Forum Quality of Life, College Hill Business Association 
• Joe Poole, Concerned Citizens of SE College Hill
• Ed Wells, College Hill Forum Quality of Life Committee
• Rev. Harold “Chappie” Chapman, Christ's Community in College Hill, College Hill Presbyterian Church
• Rev. Sil Watkins, Golden Leaf Baptist Church
• Valerie Hershberger, Summit Co-Facilitator, College Hill Presbyterian Church 
• Ron Cowgill, Summit Co-Facilitator, College Hill Presbyterian Church

For WIN:

• Sister Barbara Busch, Executive Director. WIN
• Dave Scharfenberger, Director of Training, WIN
• Dyah Kartikawening, Housing Development & Home Buyer Counseling, WIN