As the NRP staff person assigned to Prospect Park I would like to respond with the following:
The 52.5% housing expenditure mandate is on the program over the 20 year period. NRP has NEVER required or dictated what each neighborhood spent individually on housing in Phase I of NRP. While some neighborhoods have spent nearly 80% on housing, others have not. Phase II or NRP has significant hold-backs on discretionary (non-housing) related funding until the program has ensured that they have met the 52.5% programmatically. The Board of Directors of Prospect Park have been made aware of these hold-backs. Secondly, to say that poorer neighborhoods have not invested in things in their neighborhoods that go beyond housing is just plan flawed and untrue. My own neighborhood spent nearly $2M of it's $7.7M on the park and school complex. We also spent money on programming for the park and school and provided program funds for youth serving agencies in the neighborhood. We paid to build the bookmobile and Prospect Park kicked in some NRP funds for books. We did commercial loan funds for businesses and invested in a plan for Nicollet Ave. Phillips spent a significant amount of their NRP funds on issues that were not directly housing related. Many of these expenditures were on Peavey Park, Stewart Park, Anderson School and the many social service programs needed in a neighborhood like Phillips. In closing I will state that if Prospect Park votes to support Pratt school in their redirection meeting next week, it is within NRP policy for them to do that. The NRP Policy Board will have to give final approval of this request. If they choose to support some of the educational and social service programs that have submitted proposals, NRP will work with the neighborhood and applicant agency to ensure that the proposals meet NRP legal requirements. The Prospect Park East River Road Improvement Association (PPERRIA) Board has been advised in writing regarding NRP housing policies in addition to legal opinions on program proposals that were submitted to PPERRIA for funding consideration. PPERRIA has followed the NRP Policy on Changing Neighborhood Action Plans and has gone above and beyond the notice requirements to the entire neighborhood for this redirection of funds. Barb Lickness NRP Staff to Prospect Park East River Road ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
