Support for Dubuque Initiatives Rehabilitation Project at 1739-1763 Central AvenueCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 8.
Copyrighted
July 6, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Supportfor Dubuque Initiatives Rehabilitation Projectat 1739-1763
Central Avenue
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending support for the Dubuque Initiatives grant
application to the Iowa Finance Authority for the use of National Housing
Trust Fund grant dollars to complete a rehabilitation project at 1739-1763
Central Avenue by Chris Richard.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
FIN ik[91:ILy,121zk ]
Description Type
Support for 1739-1763 Central Avenue Project-MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Letter of Support Supporting Documentation
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Support for Dubuque Initiatives Rehabilitation Project at 1739-1763
Central Avenue
DATE: June 29, 2021
Economic Development Director Jill Connors is transmitting information on a Dubuque
Initiatives grant application to the Iowa Finance Authority for the use of National
Housing Trust Fund grant dollars to complete a rehabilitation project at 1739-1763
Central Avenue by Chris Richard. The project will bring 7 (4 - 2 bedroom and 3 — 3
bedroom) new quality, affordable units into the market aimed at rehousing people and
families most in need. Jill Connors recommends City Council support of the grant
application.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
THE CITY OF
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Dubuque
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2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
Economic Development
Department
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4763
Office (563) 589-4393
TTY (563) 690-6678
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
SUBJECT: Support for Dubuque Initiatives Rehabilitation Project at 1739-1763
Central Avenue
DATE: June 28, 2021
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides information on a Dubuque Initiatives grant application to the
Iowa Finance Authority for the use of National Housing Trust Fund grant dollars to
complete a rehabilitation project at 1739-1763 Central Avenue.
BACKGROUND
Dubuque Initiatives (DI) is a local economic development non-profit focusing on
downtown development projects. Dubuque Initiatives, Inc. is a sustainable, non-profit
organization, working as a community partner and catalyst, to undertake challenging
projects involving job creation and/or community revitalization that supports a viable,
livable and equitable community. Dubuque Initiatives takes on projects that otherwise
would not be feasible.
DISCUSSION
In an effort to revitalize areas of the Central Avenue Corridor, the DI board is partnering
with Chris Richard by financing certain of the developer's Central Avenue projects. One
of these projects is the redevelopment of 1739-1763 Central Avenue. The main objective
of this project is to bring 7 (4-2 bedroom, 3 — 3 bedroom) new quality, affordable units into
the market — aimed at rehousing people and families most in need. This project will also
keep the historic integrity of the exterior by replacing the upper floor windows to match
the original openings and style of the time period it was built. The high ceilings at the
1739 location will give the finished product a very distinctive look. The 1700 block of
Central is planned to undergo a dramatic revitalization over the next couple years. This
project will be the kickstart of the block and will silence the stigma of gentrification that
sometimes comes with a large-scale rehab of a block.
The developer has been working closely with Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa
(CSEI) and the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority (EIRHA) and the City of
Dubuque Housing & Community Development Department to determine need for the
project. CSEI manages the Emergency Shelter Grant Program and the Special Needs
Assistance Program in Dubuque, Dubuque County and Delaware County. Their waiting
list data is as follows: Referral Access List (Dubuque County only): 40 households waiting
for assistance (not considered homeless but are eligible for some type of assistance);
Homeless prevention list (Dubuque & Delaware Counties): 29 households waiting for
assistance (about to be homeless); Homeless Coordinated Entry list (Dubuque &
Delaware Counties): 19 households waiting for assistance (considered homeless). In
total CSEI has 88 households that are at the target income level for the National Housing
Trust Fund program of 30% or below the County Median Income.
Additionally, EIRHA manages the Section 8 Housing Voucher program for Dubuque
County. They have 223 applicants on the waiting list from the City of Dubuque for Section
8 housing. They have an additional 69 people on the waiting list from Dubuque County
outside the Dubuque City limits. Participants for the Section 8 Voucher program must be
at or below 50% of the County Median Income.
This project meets two of the City Council's 2020-2022 Top Priorities — 1) Affordable
Housing Creation and 2) implementation of the Equitable Poverty Prevention Plan.
The application requests letters of support for the project from multiple local
organizations. City staff have provided the attached letter.
RECOMMENDATION/ ACTION STEP
I respectfully request Mayor and City Council support of this grant application. We look
forward to reporting back in the near future on the results of this application.
2
THE CITY OF
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To Whom it may concern,
Dubuque
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2007.2012.2013
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June 28, 2021
City Manager's Office
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4845
Office (563) 589-4110
Fax (563) 589-4149
TTY (563) 690-6678
ctymgr@cityofdubuque. org
www.cityofdubuque.org
The City of Dubuque supports the Dubuque Initiatives project at 1739-1763 Central Avenue in
Dubuque.
City Council's 2020-2022 Top Priorities include City actions in support of Affordable Housing
Creation and the implementation of the recently adopted Equitable Poverty Prevention Plan.
The 1739-1763 Central Avenue project meets these objectives.
The project is located along the Central Avenue Corridor, which is in the Washington
Neighborhood, where many of our low-income residents live. Having additional affordable
housing stock in this area of town meets a housing need in an area where ownership per capita
of a personal vehicle is lower than the rest of the community. The property is less than two
blocks from three bus stops.
The City Council has also identified the Central Avenue Corridor as a priority area for
redevelopment and economic support. The buildings along the corridor have experienced
decades of disinvestment and are ripe for redevelopment. In 2018-2019, the City had prepared
a Streetscape Master Plan for the area. The improvement of the exterior of these buildings
promotes the aesthetics identified as important in that plan.
The City of Dubuque has several grant programs that are designed to assist this sort of project
for the planning, design, and mixed -use rehabilitation of the buildings. The project would be
eligible for up to $130,000 for these purposes. In the anticipation of a quality rehabilitation of
these buildings by Dubuque Initiatives and developer Chris Richard, City staff will recommend
the award of these grants.
The project is also located in an Urban Revitalization Area, making it eligible for tax increment
abatement for 10 years.
The City is pleased to lend its support to this important project.
Sincerely,
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
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