Proponent Testimony of Michael Deemer — House Bill 3, House Economic & Workforce Development Committee

Summary

Proponent testimony on House Bill 3 dated March 21, 2023, from Michael Deemer, President & CEO of Downtown Cleveland Alliance, to the Ohio House Economic & Workforce Development Committee. The testimony says the bill would formally state the General Assembly's intent to authorize a state tax credit for the development of affordable housing. It describes Downtown Cleveland Alliance as a nonprofit corporation that manages the Downtown Cleveland Improvement District, through which property owners have committed over $60 million. It cites a March 2022 report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition and urges passage of House Bill 3.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                         Ohio House Economic & Workforce Development Committee
Karen Fanger *
  Chair
                                                    Proponent Testimony on House Bill 3
Teresa Metcalf Beasley *                Michael Deemer, President & CEO, Downtown Cleveland Alliance
  Vice Chair                                                    March 21, 2023
Jonathan Sandvick *
  Vice Chair
Melissa Ferchill *
                               Chair Swearingen, Vice Chair Santucci, Ranking Member Upchurch, and Members of the
  Treasurer                    House Economic & Workforce Development Committee:
Renee Csuhran *
  Secretary                    Thank you for the opportunity to provide proponent testimony on House Bill 3 which
TJ Asher *
                               would formally state the General Assembly’s intent to authorize a state tax credit for the
  Immediate Past Chair
                               development of affordable housing.
Jeff Bechtel
Michael Carney                 I am providing testimony on behalf of Downtown Cleveland Alliance, a nonprofit
Jim Folk*
Marcie Gilmore
                               corporation dedicated to attracting residents, jobs, and investment to Cleveland’s central
Brian Grady *                  district. Our work encompasses improving Downtown Cleveland’s sidewalks, skyline,
Kira Hennessey                 and everything in between. We steward public improvements and private development in
Deb Janik
David Jenkins *
                               Cleveland’s center city. In addition, we manage the Downtown Cleveland Improvement
Len Komoroski                  District, through which property owners have committed over $60 million over the last 16
Brett Lindsey                  years. This investment creates an environment that is clean, safe, and welcoming;
Bruce Morrison
Ray Mueller                    business and resident friendly; and investment ready.
Matthew Nipper
Dominic Ozanne                 A key component to attracting new business is ensuring the downtown workforce has
Aaron Pechota
Antonin Robert *
                               access to affordable housing. According to a March 2022 report from the National Low
Bob Rosing                     Income Housing Coalition, there are only 78 affordable units available for every 100
Gina Vernaci *                 people earning at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) in the Cleveland
Cheryl Yetka
                               area. Furthermore, there are only 41 units available per 100 people for those earning 30
EX OFFICIO                     percent or less of the AMI. The Coalition additionally found that a single parent in Ohio
Michael Baston                 would need to work 74 hours per week at minimum wage in order to afford a livable two-
Laura Bloomberg
                               bedroom apartment.
Tom Einhouse *
Baiju Shah
                               With the rising costs of construction materials and barriers to financing, ensuring
DIRECTORS EMERITUS             residents have affordable housing options requires both public & private investments and
Thomas Adler
William Bolton
                               incentives. This tax credit would incentivize developers to reserve affordable rental units
John Carney                    for those with low to moderate incomes. By incentivizing a more diverse and affordable
Art Falco                      housing market, Downtown Cleveland and the state of Ohio will become ripe for outside
John Ferchill
David Goldberg
                               investment and attractive to the regional workforce.
^Jack Herrick
Allan Krulak                   On behalf of Downtown Cleveland Alliance, thank you for your time and consideration.
Donna Luby
Doug Miller
                               We respectfully urge passage of House Bill 3.
Zachary Paris
Mark Stornes
Bill West
ˆScott Wolstein

Michael Deemer                 Michael Deemer, President & CEO
 President & CEO

* Executive Committee Member
ˆOf blessed memory.
                                         1010 Euclid Avenue, 3rd Floor | Cleveland, OH 44115
                                             Phone (216) 736-7799 | Fax (216) 920-7798
                                                    www.downtowncleveland.com

Revised 1.12.23


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