Urban Revitalization Program 2013 AcceptanceMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Calendar Year 2013 Urban Revitalization Program Applications
DATE: February 12, 2014
Dubuque
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AI- America City
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2007 • 2012 • 2013
Housing and Community Development Department Director Alvin Nash recommends
City Council approval of 13 applications for residential property tax exemption. Thirteen
additional applications were received but were denied due to ineligibility or incomplete
projects or applications. Those who submitted incomplete applications were
encouraged to reapply.
In the Washington Neighborhood Urban Revitalization District only, commercial
improvements are eligible tax exemption for a period of three years for improvements
that increase the assessed value by 15% and do not add additional rental units or
convert structures from single family to two or more residential units. Two commercial
applications were approved and one was denied due to ineligibility.
The applications were filed in accordance with the Urban Revitalization Ordinance, and
Alvin Nash recommends the applications be forwarded to the City Assessor for final
review and determination of the amount of property tax abatement.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Alvin Nash, Housing and Community Development Department Director
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Alvin Nash, Housing and Community Development Department
SUBJECT: Calendar Year 2013 Urban Revitalization Program Applications
DATE: February 10, 2014
Dubuque
battri
All- America City
1 I
2007 • 2012 • 2013
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum presents for City Council consideration the attached resolution
related to calendar year 2013 applications for residential property tax abatement. The
resolution approves applications filed in accordance with the Urban Revitalization
ordinance and directs that the approved applications be forwarded to the City Assessor.
BACKGROUND
In 1980, the City Council established, under the guidelines set forth in Chapter 404 of
the Code of Iowa, Dubuque's first two Urban Revitalization Areas - Jackson Park Urban
Revitalization Area and West 11th Street Urban Revitalization Area. In 1981, the City
designated the Washington Street Urban Revitalization Area and amended the district in
2007 and 2008. In 1995, the Upper Main Urban Revitalization Area was designated and
in 2002 the Langworthy, Old Main and Cathedral Urban Revitalization areas were
designated. Additionally, a number of other small areas have been designated over the
years, but these designations have primarily expired.
The Washington Neighborhood Urban Revitalization district was revised, the boundaries
expanded in March 2007 and amended in 2008. In addition to the ten year residential
abatement on improvements, this district also allows three -year abatement for
commercial buildings.
The purpose of the Urban Revitalization legislation is to attract development to specific
areas, which might otherwise continue to deteriorate, thereby stabilizing and eventually
increasing the tax base within those areas. The abatements are intended to stimulate
private investment by reducing the tax increases that would normally result from making
improvements to residential property.
Process
Applications for tax exemption are accepted until February 1 of each year. The Housing
and Community Development Department reviews applications to ensure properties are
located in a designated area. Staff from Building Services and the Housing and
Community Development Department have completed an inspection of each property to
determine if the improvements have been completed, are in general conformance with
the area plan, and appropriate permits have been obtained, if necessary.
If the City Council finds the applications to be in compliance with the appropriate urban
revitalization plan, they are forwarded to the City Assessor who inspects the properties,
determines the assessable value of the new improvements and transmits this
information to the County Auditor. The City Assessor must receive applications by
March 1 to approve the tax abatement.
DISCUSSION
The residential tax exemption is for a period of 10 years and represents 100% of the
assessed valuation added by the qualifying improvements. Twenty six residential
applications were received and thirteen were denied due to ineligibility or incomplete
projects or applications. Those who submitted incomplete applications were
encouraged to reapply.
The following thirteen residential applications were reviewed and approved:
Cathedral Urban Revitalization Area
330 Jones Street — Maria Woodside
Jackson Park Urban Revitalization Area
1783 Heeb Street — High Performance Properties
Upper Main Urban Revitalization Area
1392 Main Street — JK Investments
Washington Neighborhood Urban Revitalization Area
394 E 16th Street — Terri Mae Lenhardt
1633 Elm Street — Theresa Caldwell
2135 Jackson — Karen Brokus
1777 Washington Street — Alberto Luna
1787 Washington Street — Danika Carstens
1496 White Street — High Performance Properties
1591 White Street — William and Julie Reichle
West 11th Street Urban Revitalization Area
472 Loras — MK Properties
1185 Center Place — Bruce Bettcher
1222- 1240 Locust — TJ IV LLC
In the Washington Neighborhood Urban Revitalization district only, commercial
improvements are eligible tax exemption for a period of 3 years for improvements that
increase the assessed value by fifteen percent and do not add additional rental units or
convert structures from single family to two or more residential units. Two commercial
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applications were approved and one was denied due to ineligibility. The following
commercial applications were reviewed and approved:
Washington Neighborhood Urban Revitalization Area
1689 Elm St — loannis Karavergos
1732/1734/1736 Central — CA Rich Properties LLC
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that all eligible applications included in the attached resolution be
approved and forwarded to the City Assessor for final review and determination of the
amount of property tax abatement.
ACTION STEP
The Action Step is for the City Council to receive and file eligible tax abatement
applications and this staff report and adopt the attached resolution.
Prepared by Erica Haugen, Community Development Specialist
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RESOLUTION NO. 37-14
RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY
PROPERTY OWNERS IN RECOGNIZED URBAN REVITALIZATION AREAS AND
AUTHORIZING THE TRANSMITTAL OF THE APPROVED APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY TAX
ASSESSOR
Whereas, Chapter 404 of the Code of Iowa, the Urban Revitalization Act, permits cities to
abate property taxes for improvements made to properties in designated revitalization areas; and
Whereas, the Urban Revitalization Act requires property owners to submit a written application
for abatement by February 1 of the assessment year for which the abatement is first claimed,
and further requires the City Council to approve all applications that meet the requirements of
the adopted Urban Revitalization Plan and forward the approved applications to the City
Assessor for review by March 1 of each year; and
Whereas, pursuant to the requirements of said Urban Revitalization Act, the following Urban
Revitalization Areas were established: Washington Neighborhood, West 11th Street, Upper
Main, Cathedral, and Jackson Park; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, as of February 1, 2014, received tax abatement applications
from the following property owners in the aforementioned urban revitalization districts;
Cathedral Urban Revitalization Area
330 Jones Street — Maria Woodside
Jackson Park Urban Revitalization Area
1783 Heeb Street — High Performance Properties
Upper Main Urban Revitalization Area
1392 Main Street — JK Investments
Washington Neighborhood
394 E 16th Street
1633 Elm Street
2135 Jackson
1777 Washington Street
1787 Washington Street
1496 White Street
1591 White Street
Urban Revitalization Area
— Terri Mae Lenhardt
— Theresa Caldwell
— Karen Brokus
— Alberto Luna
— Danika Carstens
— High Performance Properties
— William and Julie Reichle
West 11th Street Urban Revitalization Area
472 Loras — MK Properties
1185 Center Place — Bruce Bettcher
1222- 1240 Locust — TJ IV LLC
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, as of February 1, 2014, received tax abatement application
from the following property owners for improvements completed to a commercial property,
resulting in eligibility for a three year tax exemption in the aforementioned urban revitalization
districts, therefore;
Washington Neighborhood Urban Revitalization Area
1689 Elm St — loannis Karavergos (three year eligibility)
1732/1734/1736 Central — CA Rich Properties LLC (three year eligibility)
Whereas, the Housing and Community Development Department and Building Services
Department have reviewed the above - described applications and inspected the properties, and
have determined that the applications and the improvements conform to all requirements of the
City of Dubuque's Urban Revitalization Plans.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the above - described tax abatement applications meet the requirements of the
City of Dubuque's Urban Revitalization Plans.
Section 2. That the above - described tax abatement applications are hereby approved by the
City Council, subject to the review and approval of the City Assessor.
Section 3. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward the above -
described tax abatement applications to the City Assessor.
Passed, approved and adopted this 17th day of February 2014.
Attest:
F: \USERS \CDBG \Urban Revite\Annual Apps\2014 \UrbanRevitRes14.doc
Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Mr. Rick Engelken
City Assessor
Dubuque Co. Courthouse
720 Central Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dubuque
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All- AmerlcaClh
II 1 1 IF
2007 • 2012 • 2013
City Clerk's Office
City Hall
50 W. 1310 Street
Dubuque, IA 52001 -4864
(563) 589 -4120 office
(563) 589 -0890 fax
ctyclerk@cityofdubuque.org
www.cityofdubuque.org
February 18, 2014
Re: City of Dubuque Resolution No. 37 -14
For your records, enclosed is a certified copy of City of Dubuque Resolution No. 37 -14
adopted by the City Council at the February 17, 2014_ regular session.
RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT APPLICATIONS
SUBMITTED BY PROPERTY OWNERS IN RECOGNIZED URBAN
REVITALIZATION AREAS AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSMITTAL OF THE
APPROVED APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY TAX ASSESSOR
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you.
vin S. Firnstah
City Clerk
Enclosure: Resolution No. 37 -14
cc: Erica Haugen, Assisted Housing Specialist
File