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Council approves Habitat for Humanity development, authorizes up to $500,000 in TIF rebates
Summary
The Dubuque City Council voted 7-0 to approve a development agreement with Dubuque and Jackson County Habitat for Humanity for a 14-home project in the Mount Pleasant Place urban renewal area, including up to $500,000 in 15-year tax-increment financing rebates and a requirement to accept qualified Housing Choice Voucher applicants.
The Dubuque City Council on Monday adopted a development agreement with Dubuque and Jackson County Habitat for Humanity to build 14 single-family homes in the Mount Pleasant Place urban renewal area.
The agreement, approved by a 7-0 roll call, requires the developer to construct 14 single-family homes, two detached garage structures, 15 covered parking spaces and 18 surface parking spaces by Dec. 31, 2028. The city agreed to provide 15 years of tax-increment financing (TIF) rebates not anticipated to exceed $500,000 in total, and the developer must accept applications from otherwise-qualified prospective tenants who hold Housing Choice Vouchers.
The project will be constructed in phases; the agreement anticipates a phase 1 delivery of six low- and moderate-income units. City staff said the parcel sits within the Mount Pleasant Place urban renewal area, which the council previously designated as an economic development area.
City Manager Van Milligen and Economic Development Director Jill Connors presented staff recommendations and described the project as a means to increase the local housing supply and support workforce needs. Councilmember Resnick asked whether TIF had been used previously for housing incentives; staff responded that the city adopted a package of housing incentives after a study showing a shortage of housing and that roughly 2,400 units have been built or are planned since those incentives were adopted.
The council asked for and received clarification that most recently proposed projects leveraged incentive packages, though not every housing project used TIF. The council took no additional conditions beyond those in the development agreement.
The measure passed on a roll call vote: Jones, Sprank, Resnick, Farber, Cavanaugh, Wethal and Roussell all voted in favor.
The approved agreement requires the developer to complete the work by the end of 2028 and to provide for parking and garage structures as specified. The city will deliver TIF rebates on a semiannual basis up to the stated maximum. Future enforcement and monitoring responsibilities will be handled by city staff under the terms of the agreement.
