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Wyoming Housing Network wins council support to apply for CDBG funds to repair Juniper Ridge Apartments
Summary
The council voted unanimously to submit a Community Development Block Grant application with the Wyoming Housing Network as subrecipient to repair failing exterior systems at Juniper Ridge Apartments; staff and the applicant described an estimated EIFS repair cost of $1.0–$1.2 million and the WCDA application process.
The Casper City Council on Sept. 20 approved submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to the Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) on behalf of the Wyoming Housing Network to repair Juniper Ridge Apartments.
Melissa Noah, executive director of the Wyoming Housing Network, told councilors Juniper Ridge (built in 2013) is experiencing widespread failure of its exterior insulating finish system (EIFS), which inspectors placed on a WCDA watch list. She said the scope of needed repairs to the three affected buildings is estimated at $1.0 million to $1.2 million; a full siding replacement estimate was presented to council as about $2.4 million. "This is not an expense that was ever anticipated in the development of the project, and it is more than the property can afford on its own to be able to do this repair of those 3 buildings," Noah said.
Noah described mitigation steps for environmental concerns (bird-nesting season) and said Wyoming Housing Network has federal compliance experience and capacity to manage a CDBG-funded rehabilitation; the organization reported operating approximately 481 housing units across the state, including 187 units in Casper.
Community Development Director Liz Becker said staff confirmed that CDBG funding is available in this cycle and that the city's support must appear in the minutes attached to the application. After the public hearing closed with no opposition, Councillor Pollock moved and councilors voted unanimously to authorize the city to submit the application to WCDA. Staff said if the application is successful the council will be asked to accept the grant and approve a subrecipient agreement with Wyoming Housing Network.
Noah said bids and higher-quality flashing and waterproofing details were sought to ensure the repair's longevity, and she offered to follow up with estimated service-life projections for the proposed repair materials.
Next steps: City staff will include council's minute-action support in the WCDA application due at the end of the month; if WCDA awards funds, the council will receive a grant-acceptance and subrecipient agreement for formal approval.
