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Frequently Asked Questions(Revised 08/03)
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Q: What are Community Legacy Areas?
A: Community Legacy will assist urban neighborhoods, suburban communities and
small towns that are experiencing decline and disinvestment, but that have the
potential, with modest public and private investment, to again be vibrant
places to live and work. These areas are often referred to as "at-risk" or
"transitional" communities. Indications of decline include dropping property
values, population loss, decreasing income and education levels, increasing
housing and commercial vacancies. Indications of community strength include
proximity to town centers, major employers and educational institutions;
partnerships with local banks, other businesses, and community organizations;
and community leadership.
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Q: How will Community Legacy Support
Neighborhood Revitalization?
A: Community Legacy will stabilize existing communities, which have
significant public and private investment in education and other cultural
institutions, parks, water and sewer, streets and sidewalks. These communities
have the potential for a beauty and spirit that is nearly impossible to build
new. If our existing communities can attract families and businesses,
Maryland's revitalization's goals can be achieved; Maryland's towns and cities
will once again be vibrant centers of community; thousands of acres of farmland
and open space will be protected from sprawl development; and State taxpayers
will not be asked to meet the social and economic costs of abandoned
communities while simultaneously meeting the costs of new growth.
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Q: How is Community Legacy
Different from existing State Resources?
A: State revitalization resources have restrictions on eligible applicants or
uses that have resulted in gaps in support for local revitalization efforts.
Community Legacy will provide funding in flexible financing to meet the unique
needs of each community it serves. Funds will be used to both complement and
supplement existing State resources.
Rather than request support for an individual project, participating
communities must develop a comprehensive revitalization strategy that is an
ambitious but reasonable response to local needs. By offering funding for
several diverse initiatives simultaneously, Community Legacy can help local
governments and their partners implement comprehensive strategies that give a
community the necessary momentum to reverse decline.
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Q: What types of Activities will
Community Legacy Support?
A: Community Legacy will support a wide range of local initiatives aimed at
attracting new residents and businesses, and encouraging existing residents and
businesses to remain in a community. These local activities might include:
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Incentives to attract homebuyers to purchase and rehabilitate homes;
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Incentives to existing homeowners and businesses to improve their properties;
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Development of mixed-use projects that may combine housing, retail, office,
public, and open space uses;
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Incentives to supermarkets and other large businesses that can offer
significant benefits to a community;
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Streetscape improvements along streets that are not state highways or streets
that serve important transit functions;
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Strategic demolition and land acquisition that can make redevelopment possible;
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Support for the cost of personnel and other non-capital expenses needed to
assure the success of a comprehensive revitalization effort.
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Q: How will Community Legacy
leverage other Investment?
A: The leverage of other public and private resources will be key criteria in
selecting a Community Legacy area, but the program does not have a specific
match requirement. Instead, local governments may leverage Community Legacy
funds in a wide variety of ways, including reduced property taxes for
residents, businesses, or new development projects; innovative public financing
including tax increment financing; commitments from private lenders,
foundations or federal sources; donated property; and the local government's
cash or in-kind resources.
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Q: How will we know if Community
Legacy is Successful?
A: Progress will be measured at two levels: Each Community Legacy application
must propose benchmarks based upon the revitalization strategy it proposes. For
example, if a community is working to increase homeownership, increasing house
sales and homeownership rates would be appropriate measures. If a community is
focusing its effort on a commercial district, reduced commercial vacancy and
increased State sales tax revenue could be measured. Anecdotal information
which can indicate improving confidence in a community will be used to
supplement data. Communities will report their progress to the Department of
Housing and Community Development quarterly and DHCD will summarize these
reports for the General Assembly annually.
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Q: Does the Community Legacy Statute
grant State Government Condemnation Authority?
A: The Statute does not grant the State condemnation authority. They do give
the Department of Housing and Community Development the right to settle debts
or obligations not met by the sponsor through the foreclosure and acquisition
of failed projects.
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Q: Where can i find Current Census
Data?
A: Most of the 2000 census data can be obtained directly from the Maryland
Department of Planning at
http://www.mdp.state.md.us/msdc/dw_census2000.htm or the US Census
Bureau website at
http://www.census.gov.
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Q: Does the Local Support
Resolution have to be included with the application?
A: All documents must be included with the application.
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Q: Will Repayment of Funds
Requested be an additional consideration in the Rating of the Application?
A: Yes. It is legislatively mandated that DHCD give priority to those
project showing the likelihood of repayment. Click here for repayment examples (PDF).
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For More Information:
For Information About the Program:
Contact the Community Legacy Project Managers
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
100 Community Place
Crownsville, Maryland 21032
clp@dhcd.state.md.us
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