Historic Preservation Homeowner Grant ProgramPlanning Services Department
February 20,2003
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Request for $20,000 for the Historic Preservation Homeowner Grant Program
Dear Mayor and City Council Members
The Historic Preservation Commission supports the programs that the City of Dubuque
orovides with CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds from the federal
government to benefit Iow and moderate income households
The Commission also applauds the City Council's vision for our community:
Dubuque is a city of history, beauty, opportunities, and excitement.
Dubuque: A Masterpiece on the Mississippi.
The Historic Preservation Homeowner Grant Program supports this vision. The
program also addresses the goals and objectives of the CDBG program, including:
Retention of affordable housing stock.
Increasing the availability of safe. affordable, permanent housing for Iow and
moderate-income families.
Restoring and preserving properties of special historic architectural and
aesthetic value.
The Historic Preservation Commission respectfully requests maintaining the annual
allocation of $20,000 in CDBG funds for this program. We continue to see active interest in
this program by Iow and moderate homeowners in our historic districts. In fact, many of
program recipients to date have been low income households, earning less than 50% of
area median income.
A $10,000 allocation in FY04 will provide funds for only two households. We expect that
the past levei of interest will continue in FY04, and that such a small allocation will create a
Service People Iraeg~it~ Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
FY04 CDBG Allocation
February 20,2003
Page 2
waiting list or will delay much needed rehabilitation.
In the FY04 CDBG budget, we noted an overall increase in funding for Housing
Development Programs. We also found that the Historic Preservation Homeowner Grant
Program had the largest percent decline of any housing program: a 50% decrease.
We believe that reducing the program now when it s succeeding, is not appropriate We
strongly feel that the program should be maintained at its annual allocation of $20.000.
We respectfully request maintaining the annual allocation of $20,000 in CDBG funds for
the Historic Preservation Homeowner Grant Program in the FY04 CDBG budget.
Historic Preservation Commission