PACE board reviews 18 property applications; 12 meet eligibility threshold, scores announced

The Madison City PACE board reviewed presentations from owners and contractors representing properties across the city and announced scores at the end of the meeting. Board chair Jim Bartlett reminded applicants that the PACE board recommends grants to the Board of Public Works and does not itself approve grants.

Applicants presented rehabilitation and dilapidation projects for addresses that included 808 East Second Street; 412 East Third Street; 123 Central Avenue; 518 Jefferson; 309 East Third Street; 821 Walnut; 215 East Street; 304 Jefferson; 1016 West Second; 409 East Main; 809 West Second; 402 East Fifth; 210 West Second; 806 West Main; and 200 Ferry Street, among others. Presenters described work ranging from window and siding replacement to foundation repairs, tuckpointing, porch rehabilitation and structural stabilization. Several applicants said the properties are their residences; others said they intend to move in after work or to sell following rehabilitation.

Board members and staff asked applicants whether projects are visible from the street or alley, whether a property has been declared unsafe, and whether work has been or needs to be approved by the historic board of review. Applicants and contractors often confirmed visibility, described historic materials (for example, sash windows and original woodwork) and noted when properties had been vacant for years. For one application the applicant said the property had been declared unsafe; for others staff noted the presence or absence of inspection letters could affect scoring.

Toward the end of the meeting staff tallied scores. The board chair reminded members that the program’s minimum score for eligibility is 36 points; projects scoring at or above that threshold are eligible to be recommended to the Board of Public Works, while projects below that threshold are not eligible. The chair read the scores aloud and staff recorded them. The board’s recommendations and supporting materials will be forwarded to the Board of Public Works for final action.

Votes at a glance (scores announced; eligibility = score >= 36):

- 808 East Second Street — 38.5 (eligible) - 412 East Third Street — 41 (eligible) - 123 Central Avenue — 40.5 (eligible) - 518 Jefferson — 41.75 (eligible); applicant reported total project roughly $200,000 and PACE-eligible portion about $56,406 - 309 East Third Street — 38.5 (eligible) - 821 Walnut — 43.5 (eligible) - 215 East Street — 44 (eligible) - 304 Jefferson — 42 (eligible) - 1016 West Second — 43 (eligible) - 409 East Main — 42 (eligible) - 805 East Second — absent (no score recorded) - 809 West Second — 40.5 (eligible) - 412 East Fifth — 33.25 (not eligible) - 806 West Main — 30.5 (not eligible) - 210 West Second — 30.85 (not eligible) - 200 Ferry Street — absent (no score recorded)

Several projects were explicitly described as dilapidated and had been declared unsafe by inspectors, which the board noted increases their score on the dilapidated rubric. A number of applicants said they plan to live in the properties once rehabilitation is complete; others plan to sell. Multiple presenters described using local contractors and preserving original architectural features such as sash windows, brickwork and historic siding.

Next steps: staff will package the scored applications and supporting documentation and forward recommendations for eligible projects to the Board of Public Works for formal consideration and final approval. Projects that scored below the minimum will not be recommended by the PACE board.