Comments on: Ann Arbor Dems Primary: Ward 1 Council

By: Joan Lowenstein

Joan Lowenstein — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:27:43 +0000

The affordable housing in-lieu payments are based on a formula that was developed with the input of people who provide housing services and represents the approximate cost of providing an affordable unit. They are not taxes. A tax is a percentage payment that does not have to be related to or based on the cost of services.

By: Jack F

Jack F — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:19:46 +0000

“In a sense these housing contributions are more of a fee for special treatment than a tax.”

So I guess bribe, kickback or protection money would be better terms than a ‘tax’.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:39:02 +0000

Regarding #3: the Ann Arbor Housing Trust Fund is not a "tax". It is where developers pay in-lieu contributions after being approved for a PUD. The payments are in lieu of actually providing affordable housing in their developments. (Some do actually incorporate the housing in their own development.) The requirements of a PUD are that a public benefit must be provided in order to be given a benefit to the developer of bypassing the established zoning on a parcel, which usually involves a number of variances. In a sense these housing contributions are more of a fee for special treatment than a tax. It is nearly out of money because the accumulation was spent on Burton Commons (not built yet) and because so many PUD projects have failed and never gotten to the stage of making the payment. So CM Smith says we do environmentalism to put Ann Arbor on the map? A revealing statement. Regarding that PACE program: it has run into snags. See [link] (a New York Times report that says PACE loans may impede other forms of financing and property sales).

By: Jack F

Jack F — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:58:29 +0000

“Developers pay into the fund, and it’s held until there’s enough money in it to use for something. Having served on the Housing and Human Services Advisory Board (HHSAB), Smith said that there was not enough money in the trust fund to build a single unit – there’s no construction happening at the moment.”

So this is yet another ‘feel good’, meaningless tax on developers that doesn’t work in creating affordable housing. Got it.

By: John Floyd

John Floyd — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:28:16 +0000

I was not able to attend either the mayoral debate, or this council candidate debate, and appreciate the Chron’s workman-like coverage of both.

By: David Cahill

David Cahill — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:29:07 +0000

Someone using the name “W. Cooper” claims on AnnArbor.com that s/he saw Smith roll her eyes as Kailasapathy was speaking.

Did anyone her happen to witness this?