Letters of Support for HOME ARP FundsCopyrighted
March 18, 2024
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 06.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Letters of Support for HOME ARP Funds
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval to provide a letter of support to
developers of projects at 1301 Central Avenue and 1739-1763 Central
Avenue for submission with their application for HOME ARP funds.
These letters also will strengthen the City's application for the RAISE
Implementation Grant related to the 14th Street Overpass.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
MVM Memo
Staff Memo
Letter of Support 1301 Central
Letter of Support 1739-1763 Central
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
THE CITY
DUOF
B TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Letters of Support for HOME ARP Funds
DATE: March 13, 2024
Dubuque
All -America City
IN
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Economic Development Director Jill Connors is recommending City Council approval to
provide a letter of support to developers of projects at 1301 Central Avenue and 1739-
1763 Central Avenue for submission with their application for HOME ARP funds. These
letters also will strengthen the City's application for the RAISE Implementation Grant
related to the 14t" Street Overpass.
In addition, the Housing and Community Development Department has provided a letter
of intent to provide Project Based Vouchers to the 1739-1763 Central Avenue project.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Alexis Steger, Housing & Community Development Director
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
All -America My
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DUB E
2007-2012.2013
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT: Letters of Support for HOME ARP Funds
DATE: February 29, 2024
Economic Development
Department
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4763
Office (563) 589-4393
TTY (563) 690-6678
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend City Council approval of two letters of
support for projects at 1301 Central Avenue and 1739-1763 Central Avenue for submission
with their application for HOME ARP funds. Because of the timeline to submit the HOME
ARP applications, these letters have previously been provided to the project developers.
These letters also will strengthen the City's application for the RAISE Implementation Grant
related to the 14th Street Overpass.
In addition, the Housing and Community Development Department has provided a letter of
intent to provide Project Based Vouchers to the 1739-1763 Central Avenue project.
CC: Alexis Steger, Housing and Community Development Director
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
February 29, 2024
Jason Hall, HOME ARP Program Manager
Iowa Finance Authority
1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 200
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
Dubuque
All -America C'�
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2007*2012*2013
2017*2019
RE: Support Letter for JB Lofts — 1301 Central Avenue, Dubuque, IA
Dear Mr. Hall,
Economic Development
Department
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4763
Office (563) 589-4393
TTY (563) 690-6678
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
The City of Dubuque continues to face increased challenges in the need for quality,
affordable housing. Increasing safe and affordable housing opportunities is a primary
focus of the City's FY 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan, and we are pleased to support the
30-unit affordable housing community proposed by Horizon Development Group, Inc. to
be located at 1301 Central Avenue.
Advancing this project would mean additional quality housing options for qualifying
households at or below 60% of area median income, including (3) permanent supportive
housing units that will assist the most vulnerable populations in our community.
Additionally, we understand the project is applying for HOME program assistance. The
project not only aims to repurpose an iconic, vacant building in the City's downtown but
simultaneously addresses the community -wide need for affordable housing. The City of
Dubuque has worked with Horizon Development Group, Inc. on past affordable housing
projects and strongly supports the effort to move the project forward.
If I can provide any other information or perspective, please feel free to contact me.
Respectfully,
Jill M. Connors
Economic Development Director
City of Dubuque
(563) 589-4213
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
February 26, 2024
Dubuque
Economic Development
Department
1300 Main Street
All-Me1*109ft
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4763
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Office (563) 589-4393
I I
TTY (563) 690-6678
®
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
2007*2012.2013
2017*2019
IFA HOME -ARP Program Application Evaluators
1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 200.
Des Moines, IA 50315
Dear HOME -ARP Committee,
On behalf of the City of Dubuque, I would like to offer my full support of the 1700
Central/Dubuque Initiatives application for HOME -ARP low-income housing program
funding for these important downtown Dubuque historic structures. We value a project
that provides more housing options for our disadvantaged citizens, especially in this low-
income census tract.
The proposed upper -story apartments in these buildings will further the revitalization of
the Central Avenue Corridor — A Dubuque City Council high priority policy agenda item.
We believe these units will be a replicable example for other downtown property owners
in every size city of Eastern Iowa.
Low-income housing projects like these rarely take on the challenging and costly process
of rehabilitating older downtown structures. However, this area is exactly where we need
housing assistance and quality reuse of our building stock.
The revitalization of the Central Avenue Corridor is of the utmost importance to the social
and economic wellbeing of our downtown residents. At the direction of the Mayor and City
Council, City staff are developing a revitalization plan for the area in addition to the
implementation of public improvements throughout the Corridor. For these reasons, we
encourage you to support this application and assist the Dubuque Initiatives/1700 Central
LLC in continuing to address the critical low-income housing shortage across the state.
Thank you for your consideration.
The potential for new housing options, resulting in new investments for the state of Iowa
is significant. We believe this is a worthwhile project and hope you look favorably on it in
your review process.
Respectfully,
Jill M. Connors
Economic Development Director
2