Gateways to Home Grant Wash. Neigh. Center purchase
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MEMORANDUM
March 28, 2005
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Award from Dubuque Housing Trust Fund to Gateways to Home
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris is
recommending City Council approval of a $30,000 grant to Gateways to Home to
purchase the former Washington Neighborhood Center at 382 East 21 st Street and
renovate and convert the property into two rental units.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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MiCLI C. Van Milligan
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department
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MEMORANDUM
24 March 05
To: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
From: David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department
Re: Award from Dubuque Housing Trust Fund to Gateways to Home
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the City Council's approval of assistance
to Gateways to Home, to purchase a property at 382 East 21 st Street.
Discussion
As part of the Five Points area revitalization project, Housing Department staff have
sought to find a buyer for the former Washington Neighborhood Center, located at 382
East 21st Street. This facility has ceased operations as a community center and
homeless shelter over the past couple of years, with the owners wishing to sell and
move on to homeless outreach ministry.
Gateways to Home, the local CHDO (community housing development organization), is
seeking to expand its rental property portfolio and has reached an agreement to
purchase the property. Gateways will invest more than $60 000 in an extensive
renovation, converting the home from a 7-bedroom shelter to two rental units. The
purchase price is $55 000.
Gateways requested assistance from the Housing Trust Fund, to help defray the costs
of acquisition and rehabilitation. In March, the Trust Fund recommended a $30 000
grant to Gateways, using CDBG funds allocated to the Trust Fund for this purpose. At
its 22 March meeting, the Housing Commission approved this recommendation.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council approve this recommendation. Gate-ways has
a proven track record of property stewardship, now owning five other rental units. Their
board, headed by Doris Hingtgen, is committed to restoring this property - the original
Catholic Worker House - as part of the Five Points revitalization effort. They will
provide two rental units which will remain affordable for long-term. And restoration of
this property will assist the City's efforts in promoting additional private investment in the
Five Points neighborhood.
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