1.A Housing Improvement Areas Concept Discussion

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Arden Hills North Homes Association 1341-1481 Arden View Drive Arden Hills, MN 55112 April 3, 2009 James Lehnhoff, Community Development Director City of Arden Hills 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 Dear James: A Housing Improvement Area is a defined area in a city in which housing improvements in condominium or townhouse complexes may be financed with the assistance of the city, or the city’s economic development authority (EDA) or housing and redevelopment authority (HRA). The Board of Directors of Arden Hills North Homes Association (AHNHA) has voted to request that the City of Arden Hills consider establishing our community of 140 townhomes as a Housing Improvement Area (HIA) as defined in Chapter 428A of Minnesota Statutes 2007. AHNHA is a 140-unit development built in 1976, with Masonite siding. We have been on a 5-year painting cycle (paint over 4 years with the fifth year off, which is the current 2009 year.) We may be able to paint one more time, but would prefer to re-side, not using the cheapest thin vinyl as other developments have done, but rather to go with an insulated product that would enhance appearance, confer additional hail resistance, and add R-value for decreased energy consumption. A committee has been working on this for several months, and now has three competitive estimates based on one particular quad in detail that they deemed to be representative, and extrapolating from there. Our buildings are mostly quad, with a few duplexes. Using insulated vinyl that could add up to R 5, allowing for wood repair based on much previous experience right here, including housewrap (such asTyvex) and/or fanfold insulation, replacing gutters and downspouts where they exist now, and adding a 15% contingency allowance, the total comes to about $2.3 million. This is probably not doable at this time with even a five-year monthly special assessment on dues, but if payment could be stretched to 10 or even 15 years with a monthly equivalent closer to $100, this would sound a lot better to homeowners. We understand that with City assistance this could be done up front, with the cost (albeit increased because of the various legal steps and interest cost involved) charged back as fees and collected with taxes. We would appreciate this receiving attention now to see if it would be a viable project from the City’s point of view. We don’t expect a final answer now but are reluctant to embark on the required homeowner petition and legal preparations on something that has little or no chance of succeeding. The alternative is one more painting cycle that we can handle out of dues, but then replacement of siding would become essential, whereas it would be preferable now to maintain appearance and property values. Thanks in advance for your attention and that of the Council. Yours sincerely, /s/ George Redman President