Evansville board approves series of home-repair, affordable-housing and public-works contracts

The Board of Public Works for the City of Evansville on March 25 approved a slate of contracts and change orders covering home repairs, affordable-housing projects, right-of-way permits and engineering work for the Third Street project.

Board members unanimously approved forgivable and repayable home-repair agreements, contracts with local nonprofit housing providers and predevelopment work for a multi-unit affordable housing proposal, along with several municipal construction change orders and permit recommendations.

City of Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) staff presented several agreements aimed at repairing and rehabilitating owner-occupied homes and developing new affordable units. The board approved a $32,040 package for work at 847 East Gumb Street consisting of a $25,000 forgivable promissory note and a $7,040 payable promissory note tied to scope items such as roof replacement, siding and plumbing repairs. The board also approved $150,000 contracts with Community 1, Inc. to repair five roofs, replace three HVAC units and rehabilitate two vacant homes in the Teepee Park neighborhood for sale to income-eligible buyers; a $150,000 contract with Habitat for Humanity for work at 1555 South Linwood Avenue to sell to an income-eligible buyer; and a $150,000 agreement with Memorial Community Development Corporation to rehabilitate a house at 660 Ravenswood Drive to rent to an income-eligible household.

Miss Foster, representing DMD, summarized the individual homeowner and nonprofit projects as “several contracts here for you,” noting the items are similar in purpose but apply to different properties and owners.

Board members also approved a…