Urban Revitalization 2007 Applications Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Calendar Year 2007 Urban Revitalization Program Applications
DATE: February 13, 2008
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris is
recommending approval of a resolution related to the Calendar Year 2007 applications
for residential property tax exemption. This resolution approves the timely residential
property tax exemption applications filed in accordance with the Urban Revitalization
Ordinance and directs that the approved application be forwarded to the City Assessor.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director
Dubuque
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department
SUBJECT: Calendar Year 2007 Urban Revitalization Program Applications
DATE: February 12, 2008
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum presents for City Council consideration the following resolution
related to the calendar year 2007 applications for residential property tax exemption.
The resolution approves the timely residential property tax exemption applications filed
in accordance with the Urban Revitalization ordinance and directs that the approved
applications be forwarded to the City Assessor.
BACKGROUND
In 1980, the City Council established, under the guidelines set forth in Chapter 404 of
the Code of Iowa, Dubuque's first two Urban Revitalization Areas -Jackson Park Urban
Revitalization Area and West 11th Street Urban Revitalization Area. In 1981, the City
designated the Washington Street Urban Revitalization Area and amended the district
in 2007. In 1995, the Upper Main Urban Revitalization Area was designated and in
2002 the Langworthy, Old Main and Cathedral Urban Revitalization areas were
designated. The Garfield Place Urban Revitalization Area was approved in 2000,
amended in June 2002 and amended again in February 2004.The Manasseh House
Urban Revitalization was approved in February 2006. Additionally, a number of other
small areas have been designated over the years, but these designations have
primarily expired.
The purpose of the Urban Revitalization legislation is to attract development to specific
areas, which might otherwise continue to deteriorate, thereby stabilizing and eventually
increasing the tax base within those areas. The exemptions are intended to stimulate
private investment by reducing the tax increases that would normally result from making
improvements to residential property.
Process
Applications for tax exemption are accepted until February 1 of each year. The
Housing and Community Development Department reviews applications to ensure
properties are located in a designated area. Staff from Building Services and Housing
and Community Development have completed an inspection of each property to
determine if the improvements have been completed, are in general conformance with
the area plan, and appropriate permits have been obtained, if necessary. Applications
are presented to the City Council for consideration. If the City Council finds them to be
in compliance with the appropriate urban revitalization plan, they are forwarded to the
City Assessor who inspects the properties, determines the assessable value of the new
improvements and transmits this information to the County Auditor. The City Assessor
must receive applications by March 1 to approve the tax abatement.
DISCUSSION
The residential tax exemption is for a period of 10 years and represents 100% of the
assessed valuation added by the qualifying improvements. Sixteen residential
applications were received but one application was denied as no building permits were
received.
The Washington Neighborhood Urban Revitalization district was revised and the
boundaries expanded in March 2007. In addition to the ten year residential abatement on
improvements, this district also allows a three year abatement for commercial buildings.
Two commercial UR applications were received.
The following 17 applications were reviewed and approved:
Washinaton Neiahborhood Urban Revitalization Area
2108 Washington- Betty Griffin
1543 Washington- Roger Richards
1636 Jackson- Skyline Properties
1646 Jackson- Skyline Properties
1845 Washington- Michael Armstrong (Commercial)
2175 Central- National Retail Property (Commercial)
West 11th Street Urban Revitalization Area
550 Arlington- Robert Johnson and Bethany Golombeski
535 Chestnut -Don & Lisa Leik
570 Arlington -Brad Parks
485 Arlington -Chad & Laura Witthoeft
1010/1012 Wilson -Joseph Healy
633 West 16th Street -David & Bridget Stipanovich
1323 & 1325 Bluff Street- David Luchsinger & Susan Kearns
970 Grove Terrace -Mike & Suzanne Blouin
Jackson Park Urban Revitalization Area
1433 Main - Scottt Hendron (2007 improvements only)
135 West 17th Street -Robert McDonnell & Timothy Coonley
Langworthy Urban Revitalization Area
265 Alpine- Julie Lott
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that all eligible applications included in the attached resolution be
approved and forwarded to the City Assessor for final review and determination of the
amount of property tax exemption.
ACTION STEP
The Action Step is for the City Council to receive and file eligible tax exemption
applications and this staff report and adopt the attached resolution.
Prepared by Aggie Tauke, Community Development Specialist
F:\Users\ATAUKE1Urban Revite\Annual Apps\Council URApplication memo.doc
RESOLUTION NO. 57-08
RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS
SUBMITTED BY PROPERTY OWNERS IN RECOGNIZED URBAN
REVITALIZATION AREAS AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSMITTAL OF THE
APPROVED APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY TAX ASSESSOR
Whereas, Chapter 404 of the Code of Iowa, the Urban Revitalization Act, permits
cities to exempt property taxes for improvements made to properties in designated
revitalization areas; and
Whereas, the Urban Revitalization Act requires property owners to submit a written
application for exemption by February 1 of the assessment year for which the exemption is
first claimed, and further requires the City Council to approve all applications that meet the
requirements of the adopted Urban Revitalization Plan and forward the approved applications
to the City Assessor for review by March 1 of each year; and
Whereas, pursuant to the requirements of said Urban Revitalization Act, the following
Urban Revitalization Areas were established: Washington Neighborhood, Jackson Park,
West 11th Street, and Langworthy; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, as of February 1, 2008, received tax exemption
applications from the following property owners in the aforementioned urban revitalization
district.
Washington Neighborhood Urban Revitalization Area
2108 Washington- Betty Griffin
1543 Washington- Roger Richards
1636 Jackson- Skyline Properties
1646 Jackson- Skyline Properties
1845 Washington- Michael Armstrong (Commercial)
2175 Central- National Retail Property (Commercial)
West 11th Street Urban Revitalization Area
550 Arlington- Robert Johnson and Bethany Golombeski
535 Chestnut -Don & Lisa Leik
570 Arlington -Brad Parks
485 Arlington -Chad & Laura Witthoeft
1010/1012 Wilson -Joseph Healy
633 West 16th Street -David & Bridget Stipanovich
1323 & 1325 Bluff Street- David Luchsinger & Susan Kearns
970 Grove Terrace -Mike & Suzanne Blouin
Jackson Park Urban Revitalization Area
1433 Main - Scottt Hendron (2007 improvements only)
135 West 17th Street -Robert McDonnell & Timothy Coonley
Langworthy Urban Revitalization Area
265 Alpine- Julie Lott
Whereas, the Housing and Community Development Department and Building
Services have reviewed the above-described applications and inspected the properties, and
have determined that the applications and the improvements conform to all requirements of
the City of Dubuque's Urban Revitalization Plan.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the above-described tax exemption applications meet the
requirements of the City of Dubuque's Urban Revitalization Plans.
Section 2. That the above-described tax exemption applications are hereby approved
by the City Council, subject to the review and approval of the City Assessor.
Section 3. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward the above-
described tax exemption applications to the City Assessor.
Passed, approved and adopted this 18th day of February
Roy M. Buol, Mayor
Attest: Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk
F:\Users\ATAUKE\Urban Revite\Annual Apps\UrbanRevitRes.doc