Historic District Public ImprovMEMORANDUM
August 27, 2002
TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT:Historic District Public Improvement Program
The Historic Preservation Commission is recommending approval of the Historic District
Public Improvement Program guidelines providing 3:1 matching grants on a competitive
basis to neighborhood associations and neighborhood groups for streetscape
improvements in the City's five historic districts. The program is intended to enhance
the public places and streetscapes in the historic districts to retain and augment their
sense of place.
The program is limited to the boundaries of the Cathedral, Jackson Park, Langworthy,
Old Main, and West 11th Street Historic Districts. Funding will be distributed among the
five historic districts based on the projects selected and completed. The maximum
allocation of program funds per year per historic district is $100,000.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
____________________
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Planning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Steer
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4210 office
(563) 5894221 fax
planning@cityofdubuque.org
August 13, 2002
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
SUBJECT: Historic District Public Improvement Program
Dear Mike:
The Historic Preservation Commission would like to provide you with our policy
recommendation for allocation of City funds from the new Historic District Public
Improvement Program. The Commission developed this policy with input from the
Historic District Design Guidelines Steering Committee. A list of the committee
members is enclosed.
BACKGROUND
In March, 2001, the City Council adopted the Historic District Public Improvement
Program with a total five-year budget of $500,000. The program has $100,000
budgeted annually for five years from the General Fund.
The Historic District Public Improvement Program is intended to provide incentives for
public place and streetscape improvements in each historic district. The program would
fund such streetscape elements such as landscaping, historic lighting, planters and
signs. The HPC would serve as an advisory design review body to the City Council for
this program.
Approximately $50,000 of the initial year's allocation of $100,000 is being used for the
consulting services of the Durrant Group for design guidelines. The streetscape
guidelines adopted in March 2002 are intended serve as the basis for the expenditure
of the remaining funds in the Historic District Public Improvement Program.
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
RECOMMENDATION
The Commission's task was to provide you with a recommendation that you can take to
the City Council for approval, so that program funds can be allocated this year.
Originally, you had suggested a 50-50 cost share on projects using an assessment
process. The Design Guidelines Steering Committee was concerned that Iow and
moderate income households may not be able to afford this level of match, and that
neighborhood groups may not be able to raise this much in matching funds. The
Commission shares this concern, and suggests that a 25-75 cost share be considered.
The attached program guidelines provide a description of the Historic District Public
Improvement Program, a recommended policy for allocation of City funds, general
parameters for matching funds, and the application process.
The Commission asks that you review the attached information, and then forward this
recommendation on to the City Council for approval. If you would like to meet to
discuss the Commission's recommendations, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Christopher Wand, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
Enclosure
cc: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist
HISTORIC DESIGN GUIDELINES STEERING COMMITTEE
NAME BUSINE88/ORGANIZATION STREET CITY STATE ZIP PHONE
Terry Mozena Historic. Preservation Cqmmission 1036 W. 3r~ St Dubuque. IA. 52001 582-2707
Suzanne?ulnn Historic Preservation Commission 1433 Main.. St Dubuque IA 52001. 589-4733
Jim Gibbs Hietorio Preservation Commission !037 Kirkwood Dubuque IA 52001 588-3078
Linda Herbst Dubuque Main Street, Ltd. 76 Main St Dubuque IA 52001 582-1620
Tacie Campbell Dubuque. Count}, Hlstori.cal Society P O Box 266 Dubuque IA .52004.-0266557-9545 ...........
Steve Horman Dubuque Area Chamber. of Commerce 300 Main St. Dubuque IA 52001 557-9200
Doris Htngtgen Dubuque Area Board of. Realtors 951 Iowa St Dubuqu· IA 52001 555-2525
Tarnmy Pfab 0Id House Enthusiasts 235 N. Grandview Ave Dubuque IA 52001 583-3807.
John Henning i Historic Bluffs Neighborhood Assoc 452 Loras Btvd Dubuque. !A. 52001 587-0671
Doug Stillings Downtown Neighborhood Asseclation. 1255 Locust St .. Dubuque IA 52001 589-2000
Kathy Man~lrich Bluff 8treet Neighborhood Assoc .. 345 Bluff St Dubuque IA 52001 557-1231
Gil Spence ........... Leisure Services Manager 589-4263 ......
Laura carstens Planning services Manager 589-4210
Bob Schissl Civil Engineer 589-4270
Cindy Stelnhauser Assistant City Manager 589-4116 ......
Jerelyn O'Connor Neighborhood Development Specialist 589-4326
John Klosterman Street Maintenance Supervisor. 589-4250
Dennis. Hackbarth Building Inspector 589-415.0.
..J..o!ene Pafferson Housing Rehabil.ifetion Supervisor 589-4239
.~mimont Assistant Planner 589-4210
Mike Koch Public Works Director ! 589-4270
Revised: 2/5102 (21)
City of Dubuque, Iowa
Historic District Public Improvement
Program Guidelines
April, 2002
Program
The Historic District Public Improvement Program (HDPIP) provides 3:1 matching
grants on a competitive basis to neighborhood associations and neighborhood
groups for streetscape improvements in the City's five historic districts. The
program is intended to enhance the public places and streetscapes in the historic
districts to retain and augment their sense of place.
Program Limits
The program is limited to the boundaries of the Cathedral, Jackson Park,
Langworthy, Old Main, and West 11th Street Histodc Districts. Funding will be
distributed among the five histodc districts based on the projects selected and
completed. The maximum allocation of program funds per year per historic
district is $100,000.
The minimum grant amount is $3,000. The maximum grant amount is $100,000.
Who can Apply?
Neighborhood Association recognized by the City of Dubuque.
Neighborhood Group (definition: all property owners on both sides of a street).
Individual property owners are not eligible to apply.
Eligible Projects: What is Funded
· Purchase and installation of permanent exterior improvements installed in
public right-of-way or public places, such as parks, in an historic district.
· Architectural and engineering fees associated with the project.
· Streetscape amenities consistent with the City's Streetscape and Landscape
Guidelines for Historic Districts, including: decorative paving (such as pavers,
stamped and/or colored concrete), historic street lights, ornamental benches,
decorative railing or fences, tree grates, planters, signs, and landscaping.
What is Not Funded
· Installation of streetscape elements and amenities on private property.
· Costs of work performed prior to signed agreement with the City.
Histodc District Public Improvement Program
Page 2
Priority
Priority will be given to projects developed in coordination with the City's public
street improvement program, and similar public improvements in historic districts.
Coordination with the City's project allows the streetscape amenities to be
installed concurrent with the street improvement or other public improvement
project. Accommodations can be made for installation of amenities subsequent
to the street improvement project through the installation of supportive
infrastructure, such as conduit for historic street lights. In general, the pdority for
allocation of funds through this program will be as follows:
1. Street Reconstruction/Improvement Projects
2. Sidewalk Inspection Program
3. Major Infrastructure Repairs/Maintenance
4. Neighborhood Association/Neighborhood Group Proposal
5. Historic Preservation Commission - Neighborhood Pilot Project
Evaluation Criteria
The Histodc Preservation Commission will review the application, and then
provide a recommendation to the City Council based on the following criteria:
· High visual impact and quality of life improvement for the neighborhood:
Does the project encourage people to walk in the neighborhood? Visit the
neighborhood? Enjoy the neighborhood?
· High community and neighborhood visibility of streetscape improvements.
· Amount of private leverage: ratio of public funds to pdvate funds.
Continuity with previous/planned public and/or pdvate improvements.
Percentage of neighborhood/property owner support: minimum 25%, with a
higher rating given for greater neighborhood match.
· Conformance with the City's adopted Streetscape and Landscape Design
Guidelines for the historic districts, and any special urban design plans or
guidelines adopted for the project area.
· Link with Housing Rehabilitation special programs or with Historic
Preservation Homeowner Grant or Revolving Loan Programs.
· Previous assistance from the HDPIP (a higher rating will be given to first-time
applicants over previous recipients).
Grant Rounds
The program kick-off in 2002 will be July Ist. In subsequent years, the primary
HDPIP grant round will be held on March Ist of each year. A secondary grant
round wilt be held on September I st of each year if funds are available.
Histodc Distdct Public Improvement Program
Page 3
Public/Private Match
The program covers up to 75% of project costs. Neighborhood associations and
groups are required to provide a 25% match. For example, if applying for a
$75,000 grant, the budget must describe at least $100,000 in eligible costs and
at least $25,000 in private match.
The private match may be obtained from assessments of property owners in the
project area; private fundraising; private donations; in-kind services, or private,
state or federal grants. The entire 25% private match may be in-kind donations.
With the exception of CDBG funds (see description below of CDBG Program),
City funds may not be used as matching share. All matching funds must be cash
expended or in-kind services donated dudng the grant period, which begins when
the grant agreement is signed by both the applicant and the City of Dubuque.
Architectural and engineering fees associated with the project, up to $10,000 or
10% of total project costs, are eligible grant expenses.
The minimum grant amount is $3,000. The maximum grant amount is $100,000.
Assessments for Streetscape Projects
For historic streetscape projects involving assessments, such as a street
reconstruction project, the neighborhood association or neighborhood group
would be responsible for 25% of the cost of any added assessable cost for
streetscape enhancements.
Property owners would be assessed for a percentage of the costs of public
improvements using the formulas applied to the City's street and sidewalk
programs. For example, the property owners in the project area would pay 100%
of the estimated cost of a standard plain concrete sidewalk as they would with
any assessable project. The HDPIP grant would provide 75% of the additional
costs for the historic streetscape treatments.
Example of Public/Private Cost Share for a Street Assessment Project
Estimated cost per lot for standard grey concrete sidewalk $1,000
Estimated cost per lot for brick sidewalk $2,000
Increase in cost for streetscape improvement $1,000
Amount eligible for HDPIP program $ 750
Private match required $ 25O
Total assessment cost per lot $1,250
Historic Distdct Public Improvement Program
Page 4
Non-Assessment Streetscape Projects
For some components of streetscape projects, such as an asphalt resurfacing
street project, the City typically would not assess the property owners. For these
non-assessment projects, the neighborhood association or neighborhood group
must provide a private match of 25% of the project costs.
Example of Public/Private Cost Share for a Non-Assessment Proiect
Estimated cost per historic street light $5,000
Amount eligible for HDPIP program $3,750
Private match required $1,250
Application Process
Applications will be accepted during regular business hours by the Neighborhood
Development Specialist, City Manager's Office, City Hall, 50 W. 13th Street,
Dubuque. Applicants are encouraged to review these Guidelines carefully before
completing the application. Applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-
application conference with the Neighborhood Development Specialist.
Applications must include all the required information when submitted.
Applications will be reviewed initially by City staff, who will check for submittal of
required information, coordination with public improvement projects, compliance
with City codes, and consistency with the Streetscape/Landscape Guidelines.
Applications then will be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission for
review and evaluation. After review of the applications, the Commission will
provide a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will select the
projects to be funded.
Neighborhood representatives are expected to attend both the Commission and
Council meetings to present their projects and to answer questions.
CDBG Program
Through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG, the City provides
financial assistance to Iow and moderate income households. The City provides
a Neighborhood Infrastructure Program and Neighborhood Grants to
neighborhood associations and neighborhood groups in CDBG target areas,
where a majority of households are Iow and moderate income. These programs
compliment the Historic District Public Improvement Program, and are
coordinated by the Neighborhood Development Specialist.
The Neighborhood Infrastructure Program can be used to pay the special
assessments for Iow and moderate income households within the project area.