Council adopts CDBG housing-needs summary and approves downtown revitalization grant application

The Nevada City Council adopted a community development and housing needs assessment and approved a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application seeking funds for downtown revitalization at its meeting on Jan. 27, 2025.

Andrew Collins of the Mid Iowa Planning Alliance, the consultant assisting the city, described the CDBG-specific needs assessment as a compilation of existing planning documents rather than a full standalone housing needs study. “Think of this not as a true community development and housing needs assessment. Think of it more of a summary and compilation of the things that are in your existing planning documents,” Collins told the council.

Collins said the CDBG application would focus on activities that benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) persons—such as housing rehabilitation and public infrastructure improvements—and on broader community goals including encouraging new housing, downtown building rehabilitation, improved connectivity and recreation projects. He said the CDBG-specific summary draws on the comprehensive plan, past studies and staff and committee input.

The downtown revitalization project described in the public hearing would rehabilitate street-facing exteriors of an estimated eight downtown buildings and up to 10 facades (eight front-facing and two side facades). The total project cost for the CDBG-funded portion was presented as $1,315,660, with the city requesting up to $650,000 from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The city contribution was listed as up to $365,074.56, and participating private building owners were expected to contribute about $300,585.56.

Officials said the target downtown area meets the federal definition of slum and blight based on a slum-and-blight assessment and that the project area lies within the city’s existing urban renewal plan. The presentation noted that about 50.1% of the requested federal funds would directly benefit low- and moderate-income persons. Staff also said no permanent household or business displacement is anticipated; if displacement did occur, the city would provide legally required assistance.

After the public hearing, the council approved Resolution No. 0612425 adopting the CDBG community development and housing needs assessment and then approved the application and funding commitment by resolution (listed in the meeting docket as Resolution No. 062 2024-2025). Council members confirmed that all downtown building owners identified in the current application had agreed to participate but cautioned that participating owners sometimes change during later phases of the grant process.

Andrew Collins identified Mid Iowa Planning Alliance staff contact information for follow-up questions and said additional application materials and maps would be available on request. Council approval forwards the grant application to the IEDA for consideration; the city expects to submit the application on or before Jan. 31, 2025.

Council members asked procedural questions about the abbreviated CDBG-focused assessment versus a more comprehensive housing needs study; Collins reiterated the CDBG document is a short-form, grant-focused compilation and that a more thorough housing needs assessment would be a separate, more intensive effort.

Both resolutions passed on Council vote; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.