Section 4-221 - Public purpose project. - Maryland Statutes

§ 4-221. Public purpose project.
 

(a)  In general.- A project or undertaking, including the real, personal, and mixed property involved, qualifies as a public purpose project if it is planned, acquired, owned, developed, constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated, repaired, renovated, or improved with the financial assistance of the Administration or the assistance of federal low-income housing credits authorized by the Internal Revenue Code, and it is: 

(1) eligible wholly or partly for federal low-income housing credits; or 

(2) located in a distressed area designated under subsection (e) of this section. 

(b)  Characteristics.- Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a public purpose project: 

(1) shall provide in substantial part for existing or new housing; and 

(2) may include: 

(i) any improvements, such as streets, roads, sewer lines, and water lines; and 

(ii) public or private commercial, educational, cultural, recreational, community, or civic facilities. 

(c)  Public or private facilities.- A public purpose project may include a greater proportion of public or private facilities if the Secretary determines that to do so would promote sound community development. 

(d)  Limited income families.- All or part of the housing portion of a public purpose project shall be occupied by families of limited income. 

(e)  Designation of distressed area.- At the request of a political subdivision, the Secretary may designate a distressed area of the political subdivision after considering factors including: 

(1) the availability, cost, and condition of housing and neighborhood facilities, including the age and number of abandoned and substandard structures; 

(2) the incomes of residents relative to State or area-wide regional median incomes, including the number of individuals who are welfare recipients, unemployed, or living in poverty; 

(3) the need to finance housing or public or private facilities to upgrade the social and economic conditions of the distressed area; 

(4) the plans and financial commitment of the political subdivision to undertake improvements in the distressed area; and 

(5) other standards and criteria that the Secretary considers relevant, including standards established for other State or federal programs. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 83B, § 2-203(i), (x); 2005, ch. 26, § 2.]