Projects
Seven/50 Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (RAI)
Prepared for the HUD Sustainable Communities grantee: Seven50. A comprehensive analysis of social equity in southeast Florida focusing on racial and ethnic concentrations of poverty and the need for economic opportunity in the region
Opa-Locka Community Redevelopment Plan
The plan is an important and relevant blueprint strategy for the new community redevelopment agency and the CRA, it also meant to serve as a model for economic and social redevelopment in all areas of Opa-locka. Thus, what is called for in the CRA will apply in similar neighborhoods and districts throughout Opa-locka and it is intended that the City uses the plan in this manner.
City of Hallandale Beach Comprehensive Economic Development Analysis
Carras Community Investment, Inc. in conjunction with Urban Revitalization Solutions prepared a quantitative "Comprehensive Economic Development Analysis" for the City of hallandale Beach in conjunction with a similar analysis being conducted for the City of Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) that would capture and interpret the dynamics of the local industrial, commercial and real estate market.
Affordable Housing and Mobile Home Communities
In order for the Town of Davie and the Mobile Home Task Force to identify the area’s existing and future housing needs and to adopt applicable housing recommendations, Carras Community Investment first completed a quantitative housing needs assessment. The needs assessment provides the context for the mobile home issue, which has been exacerbated by the overall affordable housing crisis in the Town of Davie.
Community Real Estate Development Certificate Program – Tampa Bay
James Carras, Carras Community Investment, Inc., served as the lead Facilitator and Trainer for the 2014 Community Real Estate Development Tampa Bay Certificate Program 2014 (CRED). His firm was also responsible for assisting in marketing the course, organizing the course schedule, preparing materials and presentation and identifying key resource speakers. He was assisted by Rebecca Clayton who managed student communication and administrative tasks.
The Community Reinvestment Act, Bank Performance in Housing Lending and Investment in Broward County
The Broward Housing Council seeks to better understand the level of community investment by regulated financial institutions relative to affordable housing in Broward County’s low- and moderate-income communities and to low- and moderate-income persons. The Community Reinvestment Act report created by Carras Community Investment, Inc. explains how the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) works, summarizes key housing credit needs, provides a review of Home Mortgage Disclosure data, analyzes the CRA performance of the largest banks in the market, assesses the financial institutions level of investment and lending, and provides recommendations for increasing housing lending and investment in Broward County.
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) for the City of West Palm Beach was conducted by Carras Community Investment, Inc., a private community and economic development consulting firm in conjunction with the City of West Palm Beach. As a recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of West Palm Beach is required to identify impediments or barriers to fair housing choice and work to address those barrier
City of Lake Worth 1000 Lake Avenue Market Study
Carras Community Investment Inc. was engaged by the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to prepare a market analysis for the 1000 Lake Avenue edifice (site), with primary focus to:
1. Identify the current 1000 Lake Avenue edifice downtown area economic base;
2. Identify the market potential for future redevelopment within the 1000 Lake Avenue edifice;
3. Assist in conceptualizing a market-based redevelopment strategy that would serve the 1000 Lake Avenue edifice to achieve short and long term goals/vision;
4. Make recommendations and outline next steps based on the baseline data collected.
City of Hialeah Community Redevelopment Plan
The goal of this study is to provide a detailed review of existing land use characteristics, socioeconomic conditions, physical features, and other indicators, in order, for the creation of a Community Redevelopment Area/Agency in Hialeah that can revive and enhance the study area in accordance with Section 163.355, F.S. The process seeks to establish such agency for the welfare of the community around the Hialeah Tri-Rail Market Station and to improve their quality of life
City of Opa-locka Sustainable Communities Challenge Initiative:
Current Conditions Report
A collaborative effort to develop a comprehensive plan and appropriate sustainable strategies for community development requires a clear understanding of the current economic, social, and physical conditions within the community. This existing conditions report examines key conditions in Opa-locka, Miami-Dade County, Florida. The report presents data and planning information. It is intended as a snapshot of some of the conditions most commonly used by communities to monitor their overall economic and social strengths and weaknesses. It is not an analysis but rather a starting picture of factors that can inform planning and priority-setting in Opa-locka
City of Johns Creek, Georgia - Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
In accordance with the objectives identified in HUD’s Fair Housing Guide, the City of Johns Creek and Carras Community Investment, Inc., developed a clear fair housing plan that is intended to: Eliminate housing discrimination in the jurisdiction; Promote fair housing choice for all persons; Provide opportunities for inclusive patterns of housing occupancy regardless of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability and national origin; Promote housing that is structurally accessible to, and usable by, all persons, particularly persons with disabilities; and Foster compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions of the Fair Housing Act.