Main St Chall Grant Step by Step 759 Locust
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MEMORANDUM
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September 25, 2006
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TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Main Street Challenge Grant - Step by Step
Housing and Community Development Director David Harris is submitting a letter of
support for Dubuque Main St. Ltd. Funding of Step by Step.
Step by Step is seeking additional funding for the conversion of an apartment building,
located at 759 Locust Street, into a residential facility for persons with disabilities. To
date they have obtained more that $640,000 in funding toward a capital budget goal of
approximately $1.1 million.
The letter of request is considered by Main Street's project review committee, and the
selected applicant is then offered the opportunity of developing a full application for
IDEO review later this year.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
(l1zv 1 f. ~l/l f.e---
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/ksf
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Director
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MEMORANDUM
12 September 06
To: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
From: David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department
Re: Main Street Challenge Grant - Step by Step
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the City Council's approval of
submission of the attached letter of support for Main Street funding, for Step by Step.
Discussion
Step by Step is seeking additional funding for the conversion of an apartment building,
located at 759 Bluff Street, into a residential facility for persons with disabilities. As the
letter to Dan LoBianco notes, we have to-date obtained more than $640 000 in funding
for this project, toward a capital budget goal of approximately $1.1 million.
We are submitting an application to Main Street Ltd for their annual Challenge Grant
funding, offered this year at a maximum of $100000. The letter of request is
considered by Main Street's project review committee; a selected applicant is then
offered the opportunity of developing a full application for IDEO review later this year.
Action Step
The action requested of the City Council is to approval submission of the attached letter
to Main Street, with the Housing Department's endorsement of an application for
Challenge Grant funding for Step by Step.
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City of Dubuque
Housing and Communrty Develop. Dept
1805 Central Avenue
Dubuque. Iowa 52001
563.589-4239 (telephone)
563.589.4244 (fax)
12 September 06
Dan LoBianco, Executive Director
Main Street Ltd
909 Main
Dubuque 52001
Re: Challenge Grant
Dan:
Thanks for the opportunity to apply for the Challenge Grant funding. I'm proud to
do so, in behalf of Step By Step.
Step By Step is an organization of individuals committed to providing housing
opportunities to persons with disabilities. It is consumer-driven, values-based
and presently a 100% volunteer effort. Our first project is to develop a seven-unit
residential facility which will sustain and affirm the abilities of tenants with mobility
disabilities. It will be fully accessible and provide communal cooking and dining
facilities, promoting the concept of 'community' in a mutually-supportive living
environment.
In locating the desired facility, primary to our thinking was to be near the main
downtown bus transfer point. A circle nine blocks in diameter was centered on
9th and Main Streets; this was determined to be a traveling distance within the
capability of persons in wheelchairs, and which affords access to a number of
significant downtown services and amenities. An historic apartment building at
759 Bluff Street has been chosen, as it has the additional merit of location next to
Washington Park and offers a tranquil and private rear yard space, shaded by a
massive oak tree. Another value associated with this facility is for residents to be
as connected to the natural physical environment as possible.
For the past year, we have conducted a feasibility analysis of this property. AI
Lundh has prepared detailed schematic drawings and cost estimates. Each
resident will live independently, with a small kitchenette in each unit. A fully-
equipped communal kitchen-dining area serves as a community center for all
building residents, and is located on the second floor with a building-width deck
for 'outdoor room' use. The building will house a central elevator. We are
working with the University of Iowa Clinical law Program's Director, Len Sandler,
whose students are providing technical review as part of their "Universal Design"
project, to assure full accessibility.
Also envisioned is a combination craft space-retail store-office space, to be
located in the spacious basement. The office will serve as the base for the
"center for independent living (Cll)" to be established. A non-profit corporation
will be formed to serve as the Dubuque Center for Independent Living, the
newest in a state-wide network of seven Clls currently in operation in Iowa.
Centers for independent living serve to coordinate resources for persons with
disabilities, to educate the general public and to advocate for consumer issues.
A series of 'town hall' meetings held in Dubuque in the 2005 summer affirmed the
base of support - from both consumers and service providers - needed to
establish a local organization.
The owner of this building has agreed to a sale price substantially below market
value. Tom Kane, from Kane Appraisals, has donated his services and produced
the appraisal. Terry Maiers has agreed to assist with setting up corporate
accounting and to advise on other financial matters.
To-date, we have secured more than $640 000 in funding for this project. This
includes a $350 000 HOME Program grant from IDEO, $208000 in CDBG funds
from the City and an $83 000 Enterprise Zone tax credit award. Applications
have also been submitted to the Des Moines Federal Home loan Bank and to
the Iowa Finance Authority/Housing Trust Fund. And we are in discussion with
the State Historic Preservation Office in development of an application for federal
historic rehab tax credits.
Attached is a vision statement for Step By Step.
Thanks for your consideration of our project. I could suggest you contact Sarah
Davidson for further information, at 583-8513; or myself, at your convenience.
Sincerely
David Harris, Director
Housing and Community Development Department
City of Dubuque
Step by Step Housing Project
1. Creating a life-giving, cooperative environment that empowers physically
disabled, low income women by:
1. Stabilizing "home" for an extremely vulnerable segment of the population
as prices are going up, services are being cut, and incomes are low and/or
fixed. Stability, or the lack of it, effects both physical and psychological
well being.
2. Providing tenants the opportunity to manage the building. Rent is paid to
Step by Step and tenants have a voice in how that income is saved or
used to enhance the building and services. Under current circumstances
the rent would go to the developer, very often someone out of town.
3. Asking for input from the disabled community early in development and
beginning the, not so easy, task of building community. Presentation of
the Step by Step project will take place at Town Hall Meetings:
Empowering People with Disabilities, September 1st.
2. Developing rental housing that is truly accessible, eliminates wasted
resources, and increases quality of life.
1. The vast majority of the work is inaccessible to someone with disabilities. To
the extent possible, home needs to be barrier free.
2. The "bottom line" currently produces inaccessible living space. This project
would simplify the design and spend the money where benefits to the
community are greatest:
a. Providing a kitchen that makes use of the most recent design and
technology, a kitchen that would never be available to low-income
individuals.
b. Providing an accessible bathroom in each unit with a 5x5 roll in shower.
c. Providing a home-like atmosphere with green space.
d. Providing privacy along with the support of the community.
e. Using renewable energy to the maximum extent possible (protection
against the increasing cost of heating and cooling).
f. Being accessible to public transportation (essential to independence).
g. Providing variety of living space.
Step by Step
Sustainable Projects by and for
People with Disabilities