Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Development Pro Housing Fund topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jamestown housing committee discusses Pro Housing Fund application, Furniture Mart feasibility study and local code updates
Summary
Jamestown's housing committee reviewed plans to apply for state pro-housing funding, discussed a feasibility study for the Furniture Mart building, updates required to local code enforcement language by the New York State Department of State, and next steps on the HUD Consolidated Plan.
Jamestown’s housing committee reported on plans to pursue state and federal housing resources and local code changes during the City Council work session on Monday.
The committee said it will apply to the new Pro Housing Supply Fund administered by New York Homes and Community Renewal, a statewide program the committee described as a $100 million fund intended to finance infrastructure that supports new housing developments. The committee said the city plans to seek planning or feasibility funds; the Pro Housing Supply Fund offers roughly $100,000 per project for planning and feasibility activities, and the committee named the Furniture Mart building as a likely target for an initial feasibility study.
Members said Empire State Development is holding a session in Fredonia to help applicants become competitive and that the city will gather developer interest in July to consider mixed-use options or other uses for the Furniture Mart building, including a possible conference center. The committee said Crystal, who works in the city’s Department of Development (DOD) for economic development, will attend related sessions and report back.
Committee members also discussed a state-mandated update to the local code enforcement law. They said New York state has asked the city to revise language in Jamestown’s local code enforcement program to conform with the state-level adoption; the council reporter identified three sections requiring attention: section 4 (building permits), section 9 (unsafe structures and imminent danger), and section 10 (operating permits). The committee said the city will open a 20-day public comment period and hold a public hearing during the council’s July voting session to adopt the required local changes.
On federal planning, the committee said the city is finalizing its five-year and one-year Consolidated Plan for HUD and has approved submission pending public comment. The committee noted a public session for the Consolidated Plan scheduled for the following day at Lily and Dixon Park (Faulconer and Sturges) at 5:30 p.m., and that the DOD website hosts a survey and comment forms.
The committee also reported personnel and redevelopment updates: staff said Ken Garcia (hired as building and code enforcement officer) and another principal staff hire are joining the department; and the committee discussed activity at the Atlas/Crawford building, where a company identified as Ramsey Agriculture (vertical farming/biogestion) is investing in the property and owns 65 River Street.
Committee members said they will move ahead with grant applications, developer outreach in July, the state-required local law revisions with a public comment period and hearing in July, and that Crystal and DOD staff will return with more detailed proposals and application materials.
The committee presentation included no formal council vote at the work session beyond approvals referenced later in the meeting for specific resolutions; next steps are application submission, developer outreach, and a public hearing on the local code updates.
