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Council Criticizes, Approves Plan For Foreclosed Homes

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

cwade@tampatrib.com

Published: November 21, 2008

TAMPA - The Tampa City Council on Thursday gave a tentative nod to Mayor Pam Iorio's plan to use $13.6 million in federal funding to buy foreclosed and abandoned homes - but not without criticizing the administration for keeping the council out of the loop.

Councilman John Dingfelder said he has a lot of unanswered questions about how Tampa's portion of $3.92 billion in neighborhood stabilization money will be used.

"We haven't had any input into this," he said.

Iorio's plan calls for buying about 80 foreclosed homes that will be fixed up or torn down and resold. An additional 30 foreclosed properties will be bought with the money and rehabilitated as rental properties, requirements of the federal grant.

Sulphur Springs, North Tampa and Old West Tampa have been identified as target areas based on the high rates of subprime mortgages, mortgage defaults and delinquencies.

The city plans to work with nonprofit groups and charitable organizations to find eligible buyers. However, the money will not be available to homeowners facing foreclosure.

The city's plan for using the money must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by Dec.1.

Cynthia Miller, the city's growth management and development services director, said the council will have input as the program gets under way.

"It can be modified in the future," she said. "You all get to make the final call."

Council members plan to hold a workshop and public hearing on the plan in January.

"I'm not convinced we're using the money in the right way," Councilwoman Mary Mulhern said. "Demolishing houses doesn't sound like what the government intended."

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