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Council authorizes staff to pursue ICDBG public‑facilities application to support developer’s affordable housing project
Summary
Moscow City Council authorized staff to prepare an ICDBG public‑facilities application to extend infrastructure to a proposed two‑phase affordable rental housing project north of the Warbonnet area.
Moscow City Council on Sept. 2 authorized staff to prepare an Idaho Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) public‑facilities application to support a proposed affordable rental housing project that a developer has proposed north of the Warbonnet neighborhood.
City grants staff presented preliminary information from the developer and a nonprofit development corporation proposing a two‑phase project on roughly 10 acres that could include about 92 affordable rental units (one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom apartments) targeted to households at 30%–80% of area median income, with priority given to households with children, people on housing authority waiting lists and veterans. The developer is considering site amenities including garden beds, playground and a community building with leasing office and computer stations.
Because the project would serve a specific LMI population rather than a city‑wide benefit, staff said the application would be a specified limited‑clientele public‑facilities request. The ICDBG public‑facilities program allows up to $500,000 for eligible public infrastructure such as water, sewer, power and street extension; the city’s contribution would be an in‑kind administrative match estimated at $50,000 to cover staff time and related administrative tasks.
Staff asked council to authorize the city to prepare and submit the ICDBG application as the sponsoring local government and to enter a memorandum of understanding with the development corporation if the project advances. Staff also reported a recent clarification from Idaho Department of Commerce that Buy America / Build America requirements would apply to any portion of the project funded with CDBG monies; the developer indicated it understands and is prepared to meet those requirements.
Council approved staff preparing the application and agreed staff will return to council with an MOU and fuller project details if the developer’s request proceeds to application and award stages. If awarded, ICDBG public‑facilities funds would enable extension of utilities to the site and reduce the developer’s infrastructure burden as part of an overall financing package.
