Council adopts Grapplers Gate urban renewal plan and approves RFPs for Mohawk/Comanche site

The Council Bluffs City Council adopted a resolution determining an area to be an economic development area and approved the Grapplers Gate urban renewal plan. The council also approved requests for proposals and minimum development requirements for roughly 2.22 acres at the southeast corner of Mohawk Street and Comanche Street. Courtney Harter, Community Development Director, explained the urban renewal designation uses the Greenfield rule for housing: the designation carries a 10-year reimbursement clock and a set-aside requirement for low- and moderate-income households. Harter told the council the set-aside flows currently amount to just over 44 percent for eligible units under the program and that the development agreement will require the developer to certify publicly deeded infrastructure costs up to the negotiated reimbursement cap (approximately $800,000 in the staff discussions) and to deliver the agreed affordable units to receive TIF reimbursement. Elizabeth Hunter of Snyder & Associates, the project engineer, attended to answer technical questions about the site and plan. The council approved the resolutions creating the Grapplers Gate urban renewal area, the related tax-increment financing enabling language, and documents soliciting proposals for the Mohawk/Comanche parcels. Ending: Staff said the development agreement will include detailed cost certification, affordable-unit requirements and a reimbursement schedule tied to actual verified infrastructure costs; the city will solicit proposals and return to council with responsive offers.