Resolution of Support for Proposed Low Income Housing Project in the Amended and Restated Radford Road Urban Revitalizatino AreaCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE
SUMMARY:
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
MVM Memo
Copyrighted
April 3, 2023
Consent Items # 010.
Resolution of Support for Proposed Low Income Housing Project in the
Amended Radford Road Urban Revitalization Area
City Manager recommending City Council adopt a resolution of support
for a proposed 50-unit low-income housing project.
RESOLUTION Providing a Letter of Support for a Low -I ncome Housing
Tax Credit Project proposed by Dubuque Housing Group
Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Adopt Resolution(s)
Staff Memo - Resolution of Support
Resolution
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Resolutions
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
DUB TEE1.
All -America City
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
� pp
zoo�•*o 13
zoi720zoi9
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution of Support for Proposed Low Income Housing Project in the
Amended Radford Road Urban Revitalization Area.
DATE: March 30, 2023
Housing & Community Development Director Alexis Steger is recommending City
Council adopt a resolution of support for a proposed 50-unit low-income housing
project.
A developer, Dubuque Housing Group intends to submit an application for 9% Low-
income housing tax credits to the Iowa Finance Authority for a 50-unit low-income
housing project located in the Amended Radford Road Urban Revitalization Area. The
development will be on the east side of Radford Road, across from Roosevelt Middle
School.
The Urban Revitalization tax exemption along with the requested resolution of support
will show strong local support for the project, which will bolster Dubuque Housing
Group's Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) application to the Iowa Finance
Authority.(IFA)
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Alexis Steger, Housing & Community Development Director
THE CJE F Dubuque
A�AmericaCiDIU6--B
11111. F
Masterpiece on the Mississippi ZU07.2012 • 2013
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Alexis M. Steger, Housing and Community Development Director
DATE: March 30, 2023
RE: Resolution of Support for Proposed Low Income Housing Project in the
Amended Radford Road Urban Revitalization Area.
Introduction
This memorandum requests approval of a resolution of support for a proposed 50-unit
low-income housing project.
Background
A developer, Dubuque Housing Group intends to submit an application for 9% Low-
income housing tax credits to the Iowa Finance Authority for a 50-unit low-income
housing project located in the Amended Radford Road Urban Revitalization Area. The
development will be on the east side of Radford Road, across from Roosevelt Middle
School.
The Urban Revitalization tax exemption along with the requested resolution of support
will show strong local support for the project, which will bolster Dubuque Housing
Group's Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) application to the Iowa Finance
Authority.(IFA)
Discussion
The resolution affirms housing incentives previously approved by City Council. Prior
to the project moving forward, a development agreement would be required that would
outline specific incentives and requirements.
Consistency with City Council Goals & Priorities
The City of Dubuque reviews applications for city support to ensure the request is
consistent with the City Council Goals & Priorities. The proposed Radford Road project
furthers City Council goals of having "Livable Neighborhoods and Housing: Great Place
to Live" and "Partnership for a Better Dubuque: Building our Community that is Viable,
Livable, and Equitable".
This project also furthers the "Management in Progress" efforts to support Low Income
Housing Tax Credits Program/Projects.
Source of Income Committee
In December 2014, the City Council approved formation of a Source of Income
Committee to conduct a two-year study examining the HCV program and its relationship
to fair housing, with a goal of identifying ways to enhance fair housing in Dubuque (see
Attachment C).
In February 2017, the Source of Income Committee ultimately recommended a
collective impact approach to adopt and implement a mix of educational, outreach, and
financial programs to increase housing provider participation in the HCV program.
These recommendations are found in the Comprehensive Plan:
• Adopt and implement a mix of educational / outreach programs to increase
participation in HCV program.
• Adopt and implement a mix of financial incentives / policies for creation of HCV
units throughout community.
Based on the Source of Income Committee recommendations, the City now requires
housing developers to accept HCV participants in conjunction with approval of an
affordable housing development agreement related to an urban revitalization plan. Prior
to project commencement Dubuque Housing Group will be required to enter into an
agreement with the City of Dubuque which would include the requirement to accept
housing choice vouchers.
Location
Affordable housing projects are given a priority for city support if they are located
outside an area of concentrated poverty based on the recommendations of the
Voluntary Compliance Agreement and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. The Amended Radford Road Urban Revitalization Area is outside the
area of concentrated poverty and therefore meets this objective.
Opportunity Areas
Iowa's LIHTC program calculated the "high" and "very high" opportunity areas as part of
the State of Iowa's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. IFA and the Iowa
Economic Development Authority are required to conduct such an analysis because
both agencies administer HUD funding. One of the components of the Analysis is to
identify Opportunity Areas.
HUD adapted the Communities of Opportunity model to calculate opportunity index
scores for each census block group on six separate dimensions: Prosperity, Labor
Market Engagement, Job Access, Mobility, School Proficiency, and Community Health.
Each dimension analyzed for Iowa's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
Choice includes a collection of variables describing conditions for each census tract in
the State.
The Radford Road Urban Revitalization Area is in a designated "high" opportunity
area.
Community Input
All projects requesting city support are required to hold a community meeting, where at
a minimum, residents within a 200-foot radius of the project receive an invitation. The
developer held a community meeting on March 27, 2023. Two residents from one
household attended. Their only concern with the development was with potential
storm water runoff from the site. Any site development would require review by the
Development review team and storm water management and erosion controls would
be required at that time.
Relocation
The proposed project is new construction; therefore, no persons, families, business or
others would be displaced for this project.
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City support these efforts to promote quality, affordable housing,
with attention to the needs of families.
Action Requested
I respectfully request the City Council approve the Resolution of Support.
Cc: Wally Wernimont, City Planner
Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
3
Prepared by Alexis Steger. Housing & Community Devel., 350 W. 6' St., Suite 312 (563) 690-6072
Return to Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk, 50 W. 13t" St., Dubuque, IA 52001, (563) 589-4100
RESOLUTION NO. 85-23
PROVIDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR A LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX
CREDIT PROJECT PROPOSED BY DUBUQUE HOUSING GROUP
WHEREAS, Dubuque Housing Group ("Developer"), is proposing to submit
an application for 9% LIHTC to the Iowa Finance Authority ("IFA") for a proposed
affordable housing project on the Property; and
WHEREAS, IFA requires, as part of an application by the Developer,
documentation from the City enumerating project -specific support which is not
more than 180 days old on or as of the date the application is submitted; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to affirm the project provision of a
public benefit by creating new affordable housing units in the community and
further desires to affirm support of an application of LIHTC for the Project and
conditional approval of certain financial assistance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, as follows:
1. The City Council affirms and authorizes its support of the proposed
Project by the Developer to IFA for the competitive 9% LIHTC funding in the 2023
application round.
2. The City Council provides conditional financial support for the Project
through established housing creation incentives, all in accordance with the
Amended Radford Road Urban Revitalization Area Plan established pursuant to
Ordinance No. 52-19 and Resolution No. 200-22 subject to approval by IFA of the
Project for 9% LIHTC Funds in the 2023 application round, and an executed
development agreement.
Passed, approved and adopted this 3rd day of April, 2023.
Attest:
*tee "' A�
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk