Harvard University Comes to Mount Vernon To Complete Code Enforcement and Housing Study
On Friday Mayor Richard Thomas and Planning Commissioner Chantelle Okarter met with policy advisors from Harvard University’s Ash Center for Excellence and Innovation in Governance and Public Policy. The meeting is the initial engagement that is part of a two-year Cities RISE Phase II grant that the Enterprise Community Partners, Inc awarded to the City of Mount Vernon in 2018. The Ash Center and Hester Street, a leading urban planning consultant nonprofit, will work with the City to find code enforcement solutions to Mount Vernon’s housing issues.
The City of Mount Vernon will launch a comprehensive civic engagement campaign to meet residents where they live, gathering the data that will be used by the Harvard team to help the City determine innovative solutions that can move Mount Vernon Forward from new affordable housing and fixing an aging housing stock, to senior housing and overall neighborhood conditions.
Mayor Thomas shared his vision on how the City can utilize the Phase II grant to educate the political process by working with the City Council and Comptroller to implement innovative solutions that can improve housing conditions for all Mount Vernon residents. In May, the grant will provide an opportunity for Mayor Thomas, a City Council member and the Comptroller to attend an executive training seminar at Harvard University.
In 2018, the Cities RISE Phase I grant allowed the City to purchase BuildingBlocks, a software platform which is currently used on the ground level with DPW, Buildings, Planning, Police, and Fire Departments to focus on problem properties and their effects on the City.
In his comments, Mayor Thomas stated that since 2016 his administration has been focused on bringing outside resources that can assist the City to address housing issues. “Getting data to make comprehensive decisions to improve the overall community development strategy will lead to better code enforcement methods and keep Mount Vernon residents safe in their homes.”
