Washington Court Dbq Casket Factory
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MEMORANDUM
May 28, 2005
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Washington Court (Dubuque Casket Factory)
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris is submitting
information on funding for the Washington Court (Dubuque Casket Factory) project and
Neighborhood Development Specialist Jerelyn O'Connor is submitting information on
efforts to locate a park in this area.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and community Development Department Director
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
18 May 05
To: Michael '~Milligen, City Manager
From: David ~rrisl Housing and Community Development Department
Re: Washington Court (Dubuque Casket Factory)
Questions were raised at the 16 May City Council meeting regarding the funding
for this project. I regret I was unable to attend the meeting to respond to the
Council.
The total project cost, of $5 493 500, is supported as follows:
Source
Iowa Finance Authority
Iowa Finance Authority
Iowa Dept Economic
Development 800 000
Deferred developer fee 190 000
Iowa Enterprise Zone 142 000
Federal historic rehabilitation 867000
City CDBG 200 000
Amount
$ 610 SOD
2 684 000
Terms
15-year loan, 5.6%
housing tax credits (Section 42)
HOME Program, 20-yr loan, 1 %
12 years
tax credits
tax credits
3D-year loan, 1 %
The City's Community Development Block Grant funds will be used to acquire
the existing used car lot on Elm Street, to provide necessary additional on-site
parking.
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MEMORANDUM
May 24, 2005
TO:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM:
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist
SUBJECT: Washington Neighborhood Park Development
Washington Neighborhood Association
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to summarize planning on development of
additional greenspace/playground area in the Washington Street Neighborhood.
Background
In January, the City Council approved a comprehensive "revitalization strategy" for the
Washington Street Neighborhood. It is a program of concentrated activities to
encourage more owner investment and housing rehabilitation in this area.
The area is defined as a 55 square block area bounded by 11th and 22nd Streets on the
south and north; and by White and Elm Streets on the west and east.
The need for additional green space within the neighborhood was identified in the
assessment of the neighborhood. An element of the revitalization strategy is to work
. with a private developer for adaptive re-use of the Casket Factory building. During the
recent rezoning of the Casket Company property at 1798 Washington, several
neighbors expressed concerns about increased population density in the neighborhood
and the current lack of greenspace and playgrounds within the neighborhood.
The Community Development Advisory Commission has also identified the
improvement and creation of recreation/park facilities and green space for income
eligible neighborhoods as a priority.
Discussion
Leisure Services Manager Gil Spence and Housing and Community Development
Director David Harris have been exploring possibilities for possible sites for park
development in the neighborhood. This has been challenging because there is a
.
scarcity of vacant land in the neighborhood. David Harris has had preliminary
discussions with the owner of a lot on the northwest corner of 18th and Washington
Street and this possibility will be investigated further.
A key component of the Washington Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy is to
encourage formation of a neighborhood association to promote grassroots-level citizen
participation. On May 19, David Harris and I met with a group of concerned citizens
who are taking the initial steps to organize the Washington Neighborhood Association.
AI Lundh, a representative from St. Mary's Church, is acting chairperson. Several of the
persons attending the initial organizing meeting spoke of the great need for playground
space within the neighborhood, particularly for young children.
It is our intent to ask the emerging neighborhood association for assistance in planning
the development of a neighborhood park, location, amenities, etc. It is also our intent
to work closely with the Community Development Advisory Commission to secure
funding to make the development of this park a reality.
Action
No action is required at this time. This information is being provided to update you on
efforts to develop a park in the Washington Neighborhood.
Cc: David Harris
Gil Spence