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Flint neighborhood redevelopment: city staff outline storefront grants, housing projects and graffiti cleanup; committee tables for later update
Summary
Community Development and the Redevelopment Authority updated the subcommittee on projects in the Flint neighborhood, including storefront grants, housing deals and a $1.6 million EDI HUD set-aside for infrastructure; the committee voted to table for further updates.
City staff and the Fall River Redevelopment Authority briefed the Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism on Tuesday about ongoing redevelopment efforts in the Flint neighborhood and Pleasant Street corridor, including storefront improvement grants, housing projects and graffiti-removal plans. After the presentation the committee voted to table the resolution and requested further updates.
Michael Dion, director of community development, summarized progress on storefront and housing efforts and discussed project timelines. "We're probably looking at, 2 years away," Dion said when asked about the timeline for demolition and property acquisition tied to the urban renewal plan, adding that the urban renewal plan is "going through the MEAPR" process.
Dion said the city has obtained a set-aside from an EDI HUD project of about $1,600,000 for road and infrastructure work on Pleasant Street, and the Redevelopment Authority has agreed to a $10,000 matching grant tied to a vacant storefront tax-credit program that would provide $50,000 in tax credits to incentivize businesses to occupy vacant storefronts.
The update included project details and addresses: Dion said 1446 and 1454 Pleasant Street closed recently and will contain 13 residential units (six market-rate and seven workforce units). Additional properties referenced for redevelopment or sale included 1438, 1270/1288, 1616 and 1783 Pleasant Street; staff said timing and scope vary by parcel.
Staff also described a graffiti-removal initiative. Dion said the city is coordinating with property owners and has waiver certifications in place to remove graffiti across a stretch from County Street up Easton Avenue and Pleasant Street down to Alden Street. The city also reported a Love Your Block grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies: "We were awarded a two-year grant for just a $100,000," Dion said, and the city has a full-time Love Your Block coordinator for the Flint, Gloria Sadler.
Why it matters: The presentation ties multiple funding sources—federal EDI/HUD set-asides, bond-bill requests, storefront grants and private developer activity—to near-term efforts to stabilize storefronts, improve public infrastructure and add housing in the Flint.
Action: After the presentation, a motion to table the resolution for further updates was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Committee members asked staff to provide additional detail on timelines, parking and demolition sequencing at a future meeting.
What's next: The committee will revisit the Flint update once staff compiles additional information, including project schedules tied to the urban renewal plan and grant/bond bill outcomes.
