LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

PARTICIPATION
June 21, 2016

Livable Communities Act

Investing in Community
Vitality

Livable Communities Act

The 1995 Livable Communities Act (LCA)
was created.
To fund community investment that revitalizes
economies, creates affordable housing, and
links different land uses and transportation.
Voluntary, incentive-based approach leverages
partnerships and shared resources to help
communities achieve their regional and local
goals

Livable Communities Act

These grants are funded by property taxes
and the Councils general fund.
Communities must negotiate long-term
affordable and lifecycle housing goals with
the Council and develop a Housing Action
Plan.

Livable Communities Act

Affordable housing is defined as housing that a lowor moderate-income household can occupy without
spending more than 30% of household income. Also
incorporates the idea of quality (safe and decent
dwelling), choice of location, and an adequate supply.

Life-cycle housing is defined by varied housing

options that meet peoples preferences and
circumstances at all of lifes providing a balance of
single-family homes, apartments, condominiums,
townhomes, and senior housing for independent
living or with a range of assisted-living services.

Four Type of Grants

1.Tax Base Revitalization Account
2. Livable Communities Demonstration
Account
3. Local Housing Incentives Account
4. Transit Oriented Development

1) Tax Base Revitalization

Account) (TBRA)
Clean up contaminated sites, increase local tax
base, create living wage jobs, affordable housing,
expand housing choices, use existing transit and
sewer services, use of parks and trails, poise for
redevelopment.
Investigate and clean up brownfields contaminated
land, ground water or buildings for redevelopment.
Provides key support for a wide range of projects from
affordable and market rate multi-family housing to
commercial and industrial redevelopment.

2) Livable Communities
Demonstration Account (LCDA)
Funded project elements include: street
improvement, plazas, parks, demolition, design,
development plans, implementation techniques,
market studies, storm water management,
zoning, land acquisition, master plans, utility
relocation, site assembly and reconstruction.
Supports development and redevelopment that links
housing, jobs, and services and demonstrates efficient
and cost-effective use of land and infrastructure.

3) Local Housing
Incentives Account (LHIA)
Produces and preserves affordable housing
choices for low to moderate incomes.
Funds cover gap financing costs including:
land/property/structure acquisition, demolition,
site preparation (utilities, roads), general
construction/structural additions, alterations
and rehabilitation, interior and exterior
finishing, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating
and ventilation.

4) Transit Oriented
Development (TOD)
Catalyzes development around light
rail, commuter rail and high frequency
bus stations.
Promote moderate to high density
development projects located within
mile walking distance of major transit and
typically include mix of uses (housing,
jobs, restaurants, shops, entertainment)

How to Participate
To compete for LCA funding, cities or
towns must negotiate long-term
affordable and lifecycle housing goals
with the Council and develop a Housing
Action Plan.
Housing Report finalized July, 2016
(Maxfield)
Plan is due June, 2017

How to Participate
A public resolution of support is
required. Developers are encouraged
to partner with eligible applicants.

QUESTIONS