[EQAB-list] OR residential recruiter

[Ellen Smith <smithellen at comcast.net>]

Quick comments: 

Contrary to the impression given by the newspaper article, this initiative is not aimed at the 5,000 homes that could be built in various approved subdivisions around Oak Ridge. Rather, the goal is to promote living in Oak Ridge in general, particularly among people who are relocating to the area to work in Oak Ridge. The Chamber is working with real estate agents in this promotional effort.

The City Council agenda package for January 12 (on the city website or in the library) includes some specifics about the Chamber request. Also, Mayor Pro-Tem Jane Miller had an op-ed article about the "Live Where You Work" initiative in the November 6, 2008, Oak Ridge Observer. 

The City has a contract with the Chamber and provides funding for a variety of economic development efforts. Last evening I asked to verify the current funding for that contract, and was told it is $229,000/year. The Chamber's request for $20,000 for a relocation specialist would be in addition to that existing funding. 

-- Ellen Smith

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Pat Imperato <psimperato at aol.com>
> Monday's Oak Ridger had an article about a proposal for the city to hire a 
> relocation specialist to promote"Live Where you Work"? It's a concept that we 
> should support as part of our sustainability recommendations.? However Parker 
> Hardy implied that the residential development that would be pursued were the 
> 5,000 "planned" new homes.?I'd like to know what the project cost of those homes 
> would be?
> 
> ?It seems that there are a lot of existing homes that are on the market now many 
> of which are moderately priced homes in existing neighborhoods - possibly a more 
> sustainable approach to community development rather than clearing land for new 
> developments/housing at higher costs.
> 
> City Council will consider the proposal at their Jan 12th meeting.? I will try 
> to get some answers regarding how such a relocation specialist could work with 
> promoting the sale of homes currently on the market.? Friends of mine in real 
> estate sales say that the Oak Ridge realtors are not organized to work 
> cooperatively and that economic development recruiters promote Knoxville/Bearden 
> and Farragut as residential locations.
> 
> Can this topic be put on Thursday's agenda?? If possible we might consider 
> making a recommendation to City Council on promoting the most sustainable 
> community development practices.
> 
> Pat Imperato
> 131 Whippoorwill Dr.
> Oak Ridge, TN 37830
> 
> 865-272-3451 h
> 610-888-0456 c


-------------- next part --------------
An embedded message was scrubbed...
From: Pat Imperato <psimperato at aol.com>
Subject: [EQAB-list] OR residential recruiter
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:08:09 +0000
Size: 648
Url: http://www.discoveret.org/pipermail/eqab-list/attachments/20090106/205368f3/attachment.mht