§ 1-295. Powers.

(1)

The agency shall have the following powers:

(a)

The power of eminent domain as provided by law.

(b)

The power to dispose of any real property in a community redevelopment area as provided by law.

(c)

The power to carry out and effectuate the following powers in addition to those herein granted:

(i)

To make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers under this article; to disseminate slum clearance and community redevelopment information; and to undertake and carry out community redevelopment projects and related activities within its area of operation, such projects to include:

1.

Acquisition of a slum area or blighted area or portion thereof.

2.

Demolition and removal of buildings and improvements.

3.

Installation, construction or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds and other improvements necessary for carrying out in the community redevelopment area the community redevelopment objectives of this article in accordance with the community redevelopment plan.

4.

Disposition of any property acquired in the community redevelopment area at its fair value for uses in accordance with the community redevelopment plan.

5.

Carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements in accordance with the community redevelopment plan.

6.

Acquisition of real property in the community redevelopment area which, under the community redevelopment plan, is to be repaired or rehabilitated for dwelling use or related facilities, repair or rehabilitation of the structures for guidance purposes, and resale of the property.

7.

Acquisition of any other real property in the community redevelopment area when necessary to eliminate unhealthful, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, lessen density, eliminate obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare, or otherwise to remove or prevent the spread of blight or deterioration, or to provide land for needed public facilities.

8.

Acquisition, without regard to any requirement that the area be a slum or blighted area, of air rights in an area consisting principally of land in highways, railway or subway tracks, bridge or tunnel entrances, or other similar facilities which have a blighting influence on the surrounding area and over which air rights sites are to be developed for the elimination of such blighting influences and for the provision of housing (and related facilities and uses) designed specifically for, and limited to, families and individuals of low or moderate income.

9.

Construction of foundations and platforms necessary for the provision of air rights sites of housing (and related facilities and uses) designed specifically for, and limited to, families and individuals of low or moderate income.

(ii)

To provide, or arrange or contract for, the furnishing or repair by any person or agency, public or private, of services, privileges, works, streets, roads, public utilities or other facilities for or in connection with a community redevelopment project; to install, construct and reconstruct streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds and other public improvements; and to agree to any conditions that it may deem reasonable and appropriate attached to federal financial assistance and imposed pursuant to federal law relating to the determination of prevailing salaries or wages or compliance with labor standards, in the undertaking or carrying out of a community redevelopment project and related activities, and to include in any contract let in connection with such a project and related activities, provisions to fulfill such of said conditions as it may deem reasonable and appropriate.

(iii)

Within its area of operation:

1.

To enter into any building or property in any community redevelopment area in order to make inspections, surveys, appraisals, soundings or test borings and to obtain an order for this purpose from a court of competent jurisdiction in the event entry is denied or resisted.

2.

To acquire by purchase, lease, option, gift, grant, bequest, devise, eminent domain or otherwise any real property (or personal property for its administrative purposes), together with any improvements thereon.

3.

To hold, improve, clear or prepare for redevelopment any such property.

4.

To mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of any real property.

5.

To insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal property or operations of the county against any risks or hazards, including the power to pay premiums on any such insurance.

6.

To enter into any contracts necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article.

(iv)

To invest any community redevelopment funds held in reserves or sinking funds or any such funds not required for immediate disbursement in property or securities in which savings banks may legally invest funds subject to their control; and to redeem such bonds as have been issued pursuant to this article at the redemption price established therein or to purchase such bonds at less than redemption price, all such bonds so redeemed or purchased to be canceled.

(v)

To borrow money and to apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions and any other form of financial assistance from the federal government or the state, county or other public body, or from any sources, public or private, for the purposes of this article, and to give such security as may be required and to enter into and carry out contracts or agreements in connection therewith; and to include in any contract for financial assistance with the federal government for or with respect to a community redevelopment project and related activities such conditions imposed pursuant to federal laws as the county may deem reasonable and appropriate and which are not inconsistent with the purpose of this article.

(vi)

Within its area of operation, to make or have made all surveys and plans necessary to the carrying out of the purposes of this article and to contract with any person, public or private, in making and carrying out such plans and to adopt or approve, modify and amend such plans, which plans may include but not be limited to:

1.

Plans for carrying out a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings and improvements.

2.

Plans for the enforcement of state and local laws, codes and regulations relating to the use of land and the use and occupancy of buildings and improvements and to the compulsory repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal of buildings and improvements.

3.

Appraisals, title searches, surveys, studies and other plans and work necessary to prepare for the undertaking of community redevelopment projects and related activities.

(vii)

To develop, test and report methods and techniques, and carry out demonstrations and other activities, for the prevention and the elimination of slums and urban blight and developing and demonstrating new or improved means of providing housing for families and persons of low income.

(viii)

To apply for, accept and utilize grants of funds from the federal government for such purposes.

(ix)

To prepare plans for and assist in the relocation of persons (including individuals, families, business concerns, nonprofit organizations and others) displaced from a community redevelopment area, and to make relocation payments to or with respect to such persons for moving expenses and losses of property for which reimbursement or compensation is not otherwise made, including the making of such payments financed by the federal government.

(x)

To appropriate such funds and make such expenditures as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this article; to zone or rezone any part of the county or make exceptions from building regulations; and to enter into agreements with a housing authority.

(xi)

To close, vacate, plan or replan streets, roads, sidewalks, ways or other places; and to plan or replan any part of the county or municipality.

(xii)

To organize, coordinate and direct the administration of the provisions of this article in order that the objective of remedying slum and blighted areas and preventing the causes thereof may be most effectively promoted and achieved, and to establish such new office or offices of the county or to reorganize existing offices in order to carry out such purpose most effectively.

(xiii)

Any other community redevelopment powers as provided by law.

(d)

The power to issue negotiable redevelopment bonds as provided by law.

(Ord. No. 80-110, § 4, 11-19-80; Ord. No. 81-35, § 3, 5-21-81)