How We Build Homes & The Right To Buy
Any bold housing strategy will require investment from the private and public sector. My plan will call for the city to invest in building dense affordable & workforce housing along major roadways like East Bay and Ulmerton and transit options to help that development and adding the right to buy city owned housing stock for residential uses in the city charter.
To avoid tax increases, this will require the city to take out some higher than average debt levels to provide the capital necessary to build some projects. However, our city has tremendously low debt levels and these would be assets in which the investment more than offsets any liability to the city. Any property, townhomes, apartments, etc. built by the city would be held in an trust with the residents.
Tenants who are able to show they can pay their rent after 24 months would be given the right to buy their unit at the cost associated with building the unit plus inflation associated with the bond on the project and not the current market rate.
Once the building is completely owned by the market, full responsibility for the building and all future maintenance and upgrades would be the responsibility of an HOA. This way the city recoups all money and builds a continuous generation living the American dream of property ownership.
When the government cares about home building, our economy grows and working people can live the American Dream of homeownership.
Matt’s Plan For Largo
There are times in the life of a city or region when the choices we make define the character of our city. Times when people stand up and demand real significant change. This is one of those moments.
As we move beyond the pandemic, we have the chance to shape a brighter future for Largo and I believe I have the vision and the plan to do it.
That is why, I'm setting out my plan for Largo. It is a plan to make the most of opportunities ahead, a plan to make Largo, stronger, fairer, more unified and outward looking than ever before.
It is a plan for a bold and progressive Largo taking its place in Pinellas County & Tampa Bay region. So we will continue to forge new deep, special partnerships within Pinellas County & the greater Tampa Bay region.
It is a plan for a stronger economy, where everyone plays by the same rules, so we will crack down on businesses not following the rules and individuals and businesses who abuse the system that impact residents' lives in negative ways, so residents keep more of their money.
It is a plan to deliver a modern industrial & housing strategy. A plan that will help spread prosperity and opportunity in every part of Largo. Our plan will adopt a new target industrial employment map and new MAX traffic index to more quickly & efficiently evaluate and approve building projects.
It is a plan to deliver record new housing units by putting the largest investment in Largo’s history into housing construction, community development and planning. Our plan will bring online at least 10,000 new housing units over the next decade, catching up our housing supply in order to give our children and grandchildren the opportunity to buy homes in the City they grew up in and love.
It's a plan that will also work to save and protect our mobile home communities. We will provide record investment and incentives to these parks to redevelop their communities to meet modern safety standards, working with others to secure funding so we protect our seniors ability to access affordable housing in Largo.
It's a plan that will ensure a fair and efficient tax system, a plan that continues to provide and grow the world class services to residents but also maintain the priorities our citizens demand, while building or maintaining our reserves so we continue to show we're a city that lives within our means and keeps our commitments.
It is a plan for a fairer community, where success is based on merit not privilege, so my plan will provide free access for all Largo employees & children to attend 4 year old VPK full time. My plan will also provide free VPK for 3 years olds to all Largo employees and resident households making ≥50% of Area Mean Income. It is also a plan that will secure free access to Largo Summer & After School programs for all City of Largo employees and resident households making ≥25% of Area Mean Income.
Lastly, it is a plan for a united city, that our children and grandchildren are proud and able to call home. We will strengthen and protect the precious recreation centers, parks and reserves that make Largo special while still acting for the benefit of every resident in Largo.
That is my plan for Largo. A plan to get the right deal for Tampa Bay as a region and a better deal for ordinary working people here in Largo. To make the most of the opportunities ahead and to make Largo a city that works for everyone, not just a privileged few.