Transit & Affordability Taskforce
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Transit & Affordability Taskforce Recommendations to Mayor Barry January 10, 2018 1 This page intentionally left blank 2 Contents Letter from the Co-Chairs 4 Transit and Affordability Taskforce Members: 5 Background 6 Process 10 Taskforce Findings & Recommendations 13 Appendix A: Glossary Of Terms 17 Appendix B: Individual Subcommittee Reports 21 Neighborhoods And Preservation Of Housing Subcommittee 22 Development And Finance Subcommittee Recommendations 30 Small Business Subcommittee Recommendations 34 Appendix C: Case Studies (presented by Metro Staff) 37 Appendix D: Metro & Government Staff List 38 Appendix E: Resources 39 3 Letter from the Co-Chairs January 10, 2018 In discussing the future of transit in Nashville, Mayor Megan Barry has been clear in her commitment to equity as foundational to all processes and outcomes that result from an expansion of the city’s transportation network. “Equity…has to be the lens through which we look at transit” (April 26, 2017 – Mayor Megan Barry, State of Metro Address). In announcing “Let’s Move Nashville – Metro’s Transportation Solution,” the Mayor underscored her belief that communities along high-capacity transit corridors should be safe and inclusive of everyone; improve the economic prospects and equity of these areas; and provide new opportunities for housing and commerce— all while preventing displacement of longtime residents and businesses. In November 2017, the Mayor asked us to co-chair a Task Force that would offer policy, project, and programmatic recommendations to ensure a long-term affordability strategy that preserves and creates opportunities for all Nashvillians to live and work in close proximity to transit. For the past two months, our task force of dedicated community leaders approached this charge from a variety of public, private and non-profit perspectives. We came together to listen, learn, and share with each other — Task Force members and citizens alike. What follows is the culmination of our efforts to meet the Mayor’s charge and lay a foundation for the future. The commitment of the members of our Task Force to our people and our neighborhoods, like that of our Mayor, is unquestioned. There was broad consensus as to the procedural and substantive proposals which we are making. The discussion and debate at the subcommittee level is reflected in their reports. While there was not unanimous agreement on funding, the Task Force believes that by the time this transit program is fully implemented, the need for affordable housing in our city must be fully met. This will not be accomplished by new transit oriented development or our transit plan alone, but we all agree these recommendations are an essential component of the overall solution. On behalf of our members, we are pleased to offer this report to the Mayor. These are incredibly exciting and critical times in the life of our city. Working together in the spirit of this Task Force, we have every reason to believe that Nashville will meet these needs for all of our citizens and all who will follow us here. Bill Purcell Brenda Wynn Transit & Affordability Taskforce Co-chair Transit & Affordability Taskforce Co-chair Farmer Purcell White & Lassiter, PLLC Davidson County Clerk 4 Transit and Affordability Taskforce Members: Hal Cato Patrick Green Heather Powell CEO of Thistle Farms President, the Amalgamated CEO, Tennessee Kidney Small Business Subcommittee Transit Union Local 1235 Foundation Member of the PATHE Coalition Neighborhoods and Preservation Paulette Coleman Neighborhoods and Preservation of Housing Subcommittee Chair, Affordable Housing Task of Housing Subcommittee Force of Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) Nate Harris Phil Ryan Neighborhoods and Preservation Owner Vice President, Cherry & of Housing Subcommittee Woodcuts Gallery and Framing Associates Small Business Subcommittee Marshall Crawford Development and Finance President and CEO, Nawzad Hawrami Subcommittee The Housing Fund Director, Salahadeen Center Pearl Sims, PhD Development and Finance Small Business Subcommittee Metro Planning Commission Subcommittee Hank Helton Member, Edgehill Coalition Mark Deutschmann Senior Vice President, Development and Finance Village Real Estate Services, Pathway Lending Subcommittee 2017 Chair, the Urban Land Development and Finance Pete Wooten Institute of Nashville Subcommittee Financial Advisor, Pinnacle Development and Finance State Representative Financial Partners Subcommittee Harold M. Love Jr., District 58 Development and Finance Brent Elrod Subcommittee Councilmember Bob Mendes Director of Planning and Chair, Metro Council Ad Hoc Lilian Yepez Development, Affordable Housing Committee Co-owner, La Hacienda Urban Housing Solutions Neighborhoods and Preservation Restaurant Development and Finance of Housing Subcommittee Small Business Subcommittee Subcommittee Ashley Northington James C. Fraser, PhD Agency Director & Chief Brand Associate Professor, Vanderbilt Officer, Denor Brands & Public University and Independent Relations Housing Consultant Small Business Subcommittee Neighborhoods and Preservation of Housing Subcommittee Bill Phillips Partner, Windrow Phillips Group John Geist Small Business Subcommittee General Manager, Operations and Festivals Monell’s Dining and Catering Small Business Subcommittee 5 Background On October 17, 2017, Mayor Megan Barry with transportation (most households’ second- announced Let’s Move Nashville: Metro’s largest expenditure), Nashville comes in only Transportation Solution, a bold and slightly more affordable than those cities.1 On comprehensive program to fund transit capital average, Davidson County households are and operations in Davidson County. Let’s Move spending approximately 23 percent of their Nashville is the culmination of multiple strategic income on transportation costs, putting an plans intended to guide the city’s mass transit additional burden on individuals and families improvements over the next two decades— who are already burdened by housing prices including the countywide comprehensive alone. Moderate-income families in Davidson General Plan NashvilleNext, which emphasizes County are likely spending 57 percent of equity and calls for greater land-use density their earnings on housing and transportation and a Complete Streets approach to major combined. Among those making $20,000 pikes and corridors, as well as MTA’s nMotion or year or less, 86 percent were housing Master Plan, which recommends a multi-modal burdened, up from 82% in 2012. Mayor Barry regional system that resulted from more than is therefore committed to funding, building, 20,000 community engagements. preserving, and maintaining Nashville’s supply of affordable housing in close proximity to Let’s Move Nashville represents Metro’s both existing and planned transit lines, so collective resolve to invest in a better city, that working families can make more of their an easier lifestyle, and a more prosperous income go further. tomorrow by turning growth into opportunity through access, affordable housing, jobs, mobility, quality-of-life, and safety. It includes 28 miles of Nashville’s first-ever light rail system, four rapid bus routes, a dramatic increase in the service and frequency of the bus system, and Average Housing + Transportation Costs other service and infrastructure improvements. 80% 70% Growth has brought many exciting opportunities to our city, but it’s also made 60% 25% it difficult for some residents to maintain or 50% 21% 25% 25% 21% remain in their homes. Many are spending 40% 23% 17% more than 30 percent of their income on just 30% housing. Nearly one out of four Nashville 36% 37% 20% 33% 28% 30% homeowners is considered cost-burdened, as 27% 28% well as almost half of our renters and over 70 10% percent of low-income renters. 0% Atlanta Affordability in Nashville is about more than Nashville Raleigh Charlotte Louisville just housing prices. While our area housing Indianapolis Minneapolis costs are lower than those of Atlanta, GA and Housing Transportation Charlotte, NC, when combining this expense 1 H+T Affordability Index, Center for Neighborhood Technology 6 There is growing consensus that communities While providing for a mix of incomes in with housing for a mix of incomes produce communities is generally positive, providing for better economic, social and environmental a mix of incomes in walkable neighborhoods outcomes for all residents. Mixed-income near transit is even better. In addition to savings housing –whether provided within a single realized when housing is affordably priced, project or a neighborhood– makes it possible families living near transit can also own fewer for more people to live in safe neighborhoods cars –or no cars– and drive them less, which near well-funded schools and good city can add up to thousands of dollars in annual services, with better access to a wider variety of savings. Changing demographics and concern jobs and opportunities. Providing housing for a about traffic congestion, however, have mix of incomes also allows people to continue boosted demand for housing near transit, and living in their chosen “home” community, the supply is not keeping up with this demand. even as children grow up and move out, or as As a result, and because developing in these parents begin to age and consider downsizing. locations is more time-consuming, difficult and Mixed-income communities are associated expensive, much of the new housing on transit with better educational outcomes, as well as lines could end up being