The Community Development Division is committed to making the City of Concord and its neighborhoods better places to live, work, and play. Through the efforts of this Division, the City strives to provide safe, decent, affordable housing, a suitable living environment and economic opportunities, specifically for low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. The City has several programs in place to accomplish this goal. These programs are federally funded through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Act Programs.
Clearwater Arts Center & Studios
CDBG funds are being used to create a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization with the Gibson Village community.
The first phase of renovations to Clearwater Arts Center & Studios, the city’s former electric operations center, is complete. Artists are currently leasing nine studios from which they work to create, teach, and sell art. A 2,200 square foot gallery enables the artists to hold exhibitions of their work.
Site improvements have been completed. The next phase of the improvements will include further renovation of interior space within the site. Once fully renovated, Clearwater Arts Center & Studios will contain over 30 studios, a gallery, a community market space, and a café. The adjacent Village Greenway and open space will offer opportunities for outdoor concerts and events.
For more information, visit clearwaterartists.com.
News/Events
News
>> National Strategies to End Homelessness
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is setting a path to end all homelessness for America’s youth, veterans, families and other chronically homeless populations. The Council on Homelessness created a new Federal Strategic Plan to prevent and end homelessness after the COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented numbers of Americans to be at risk of losing their housing due to many circumstantial factors. Learn More
>> Alabama Housing Providers Accused of Age, Disability, and Familial Status Discrimination Agree to Pay $20,000 to Resolve HUD Complaint
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it signed a Conciliation Agreement/Voluntary Compliance Agreement to resolve allegations and a HUD investigation into whether the owners’ policy prohibiting visitors under the age of 12 due to COVID-19 was discriminatory. Learn More.
>> HUD’s Two-Week Review-Secretary Fudge Travels to Chicago to Promote Build Back Better Agenda
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge and Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman participated in events throughout the past two weeks to amplify the Biden-Harris Administration’s Build Back Better agenda and its investments in revitalization. Combined, they visited six (6) cities, which included Charlotte, North Carolina. Learn More.
>> HUD Releases Agency Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
As part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to confronting the climate crisis, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its climate adaptation and resilience plan to ensure its facilities and operations adapt and are increasingly resilient to climate change impacts. Learn More.
>> Biden-Harris Administration Launches House America Initiative to Address Homelessness Crisis
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, who serves as chair of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) joined the Biden-Harris Administration officials, Cabinet members, and elected officials to launch House America. An all-hands-on-deck effort to address the nation’s homelessness crisis. Learn More.
>> HUD National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Information Starting October 24, 2021 – October 30, 2021.
Each year, HUD, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborate with states, tribal governments, local governments, families, individuals, community-based organizations and other stakeholders to generate converstations around the topic of lead exposure and evaluation control to ensure better health, safety and housing for children under 18 and the elderly. Learn More.
Events
>> November 17, 2021 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The City of Concord’s Planning & Neighborhood Development Department is partnering with Prosperity Unlimited, Inc. to offer an Annual Meeting for Lenders to establish relationships with area lenders, to provide a review Fair Housing laws for professionals that are directly involved in the lending and crediting process, and to offer some additional information about the state and local resources that can be obtained by homebuyers to help them with down payments and closing costs when they purchase a home. Please join us for this virtual event to enhance or refresh your knowledge about fair lending laws and regulations and much more. To register or for questions about this event, please visit https://forms.gle/MrEGFZJaxVcx2PFJA or call (704) 920-5137.
>> November 17, 2021 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The City of Concord’s Planning & Neighborhood Development Department is partnering with Prosperity Unlimited, Inc. to offer an Annual Meeting for Realtors to establish relationships with area realtors, to provide a review Fair Housing laws, and to offer some additional information about the state and local resources that can be obtained by homebuyers to help them with down payments and closing costs when they purchase a home. Please join us for this virtual event and learn more about the role that you play in facilitating equitable purchasing processes and much more. To register or for questions about this event, please visit https://forms.gle/yTidsj4an6TeK1RHA or call (704) 920-5137.