TIF

Districts.

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Click here to download the Elkhart TIF District map.

Redevelopment

Commission.

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• Aeroplex Economic Development Plan
• Cassopolis Street Economic Development Plan
• Consolidated South Elkhart Redevelopment Plan
• Downtown Redevelopment Plan
• Technology Park Redevelopment Plan

• Downtown – February 25, 1986
• Southwest Industrial – November 14, 2000
• Aeroplex – November 12, 2002
• Cassopolis – January 10, 2006
• Consolidated South Elkhart – November 12, 2013

• Michael Huber, Director of Development Services  574-522-4855 X 1078,  Michael.Huber@coei.org

Housing

Program.

Community Development Block Grant

City of Elkhart 

Program Year 2024 Annual Action Plan

 Public Participation Schedule

The City of Elkhart is a CDBG entitlement community from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City works with elected officials, appointed committee members, local agencies, neighborhood associations, concerned residents, community leaders, local businesses and other interested parties to develop activities designed to improve the lives of low- and moderate-income residents and increase the safety and attractiveness of the City’s Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area. Through extensive public participation including public meetings and discussions with agencies serving the needs of low- and moderate-income clients during the development of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, the City of Elkhart has identified several unmet needs in the community. From these needs, it was determined that most could fit within one of the following five areas:

• Housing Needs – which focuses on meeting the needs of area residents for safe, sanitary, and affordable housing.
• Homeless Needs – which provides assistance to agencies for meeting the needs of Elkhart’s Homeless populations.
• Non-Homeless Special Needs – which provides assistance to agencies for meeting the needs of Elkhart’s Special Needs populations, including seniors, disabled populations and those living with HIV/AIDs.
• Economic Development Needs – which focuses on improving the earning potential and wealth building of low and moderate income residents.
• Neighborhood Development Needs – which focuses on improving neighborhood business districts, infrastructure and public parks and facilities to improve the quality of life within the City’s central neighborhoods.

The meetings for the 2024 Annual Action Plan will be held at the Elkhart Public Library – Downtown, 300 S. Second Street, Elkhart, IN 46516.  Notification will be provided if virtual meetings are required.

Contractor

Information.

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The City of Elkhart has home renovation programs funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)  is in need of qualified, professional and detail oriented contractors to perform a variety of housing rehabilitation projects.  They include owner-occupied as well as vacant homes.  To bid on any of the work, a contractor and all of their subcontractors must be on the approved contractor’s list.

To be placed on this list you must complete the contractor’s application  , be a registered entity in SAM.gov (registration is free), and submit all required information.  Once a contractor is approved to participate in this program, they will receive email invitations to submit bids for projects involving their trade.  Project details will be included in the email invitations and are only available through this process.  Bids from contractors that have not been approved and registered with the Community and Redevelopment Department will not be accepted.

The City of Elkhart Community and Redevelopment staff looks forward to working with you to provide safe, sanitary, and attractive affordable housing in our community.

Please contact Trina Harris, (574) 294-5471 x2077 or trina.harris@coei.org

The City of Elkhart Community Redevelopment Department is looking for trades contractors and sub-contractors for our owner-occupied home rehabilitation program.  This information session will provide an overview about working with the city on this important program.  We will cover topics ranging from working with the city, training opportunities, and federal contracting guidelines. We will also provide technical assistance for those contractors who have never worked with federal funding.

Minority-owned and women-owned businesses are highly encouraged to attend!

Elkhart

Housing Strategy.

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The Elkhart Housing Strategy, completed by enFocus in partnership with the City of Elkhart Redevelopment Commission, is now available! The Executive Summary/Implementation Plan and the full document can be accessed at the following link:

Executive Summary and Implementation Plan
Elkhart Housing Strategy (Full Document)

The appendices from the full document can be accessed individually at the following links. Appendices A and B include the financial background for the various development pro formas. Appendix C contains a catalog of financial and other tools necessary to implement the housing strategy:

Appendix A: Pro Forma Methodology
Appendix B: Development Pro Formas
Appendix C: Tools

As part of their contract, enFocus was also responsible for creating a neighborhood marketing and engagement campaign, with elements that could be selected on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis. These appendices can be accessed at the links below:

Appendix D: Sample Resident Survey
Appendix E: Focus Group Script
Appendix F: Focus Group Facilitator’s Guide
Appendix G: Setting up a Neighborhood Page
Appendix H: Sample Marketing Materials

Appendix I includes a summary of findings from Wabash College Democracy and Public Discourse. Wabash College assisted with the housing public meeting, held in March 2019, in the State & Division Neighborhood. Appendix J includes data assumptions for the housing unit projections.

Appendix I: Summary of Wabash College’s Findings
Appendix J: Data Assumptions for Housing Units

Background

In the fall of 2017, the Elkhart Redevelopment Commission retained Zimmerman/Volk Associates to prepare an Analysis of Residential Market Potential for Downtown Elkhart. The study found that, over a 5-year timeframe, Downtown Elkhart alone could support 680 to 880 rental and for-sale housing units. The study further concluded that the City of Elkhart had the potential to attract 4,980 households annually over the next five years.

To address Elkhart’s housing need, the Redevelopment Commission retained enFocus, a nonprofit consulting firm, in the fall of 2018 to develop an infill housing strategy for the City of Elkhart. This yearlong project included best practice research, assessment of a pilot neighborhood, development of a marketing and engagement strategy, and the design of an implementation strategy.

From this strategy, 53 tools have been identified to bridge the development and affordability gaps for housing development. The final report also includes recommended policy changes, as well as education and outreach initiatives to support the overall strategy.

Other enFocus Reports for the Elkhart Housing Strategy
In addition to the final report, enFocus also provided an assessment of the State & Division Neighborhood, as well as a report on best practice strategies for encouraging housing development. These documents can be accessed at the following links:

Assessment of the State & Division Neighborhood
Elkhart Housing Strategy: Phase I Report

Partnerships are critical in the implementation of the City’s housing strategy. This strategy cannot be implemented without the support from the development community, as well as nonprofit partners, private businesses, and other community stakeholders. Stay tuned for the next steps.