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Council OKs resolution to designate downtown redevelopment area for $500,000 CDBG application
Summary
Following a presentation and public comment, the council unanimously approved Resolution No. 169 to designate two blocks of State Street as a redevelopment area to support a $500,000 Idaho Department of Commerce CDBG grant application; council emphasized the designation is for grant eligibility and not a condemnation of individual properties.
Preston City Council voted unanimously to establish a downtown redevelopment area that will be the basis for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to improve two blocks of State Street between First South and First North.
Jules Velier of the CCOG told council the city has undertaken workshops, created a downtown action group and engaged Jones and DeMille to prepare concept designs; he described the grant timeline and said the council’s resolution is a necessary procedural step before the grant deadline. “The grant we're applying for is a community development block grant for about $500,000,” Velier said.
Consultant Mark (design lead) presented initial concepts focused on low-maintenance plantings, mid-level lighting, removable planters and clustered benches. He described a design theme the team developed as an “alpine” approach intended to maximize durability and minimize maintenance while stretching the grant dollars.
Multiple council members and members of the public raised questions about the required “slum or blight” language in the redevelopment documents and whether that label could hurt property owners. An attendee who identified herself as a downtown business owner said she did not want the label attached to her property. City counsel and Velier replied the HUD/Commerce designation is a technical requirement for the grant and is used to document structural conditions in an area for funding purposes, not to single out or penalize individual owners. As the city attorney summarised, the designation “is a shelf document... applicable for the grant,” and staff confirmed the grant materials and plans can be modified during the addendum phase.
Leah Thompson, a committee member, urged durable fixes for tree-root damage and said the committee would select urban-appropriate trees and irrigation solutions to prevent repeated damage. Several councilmembers discussed coordinating the project with any future Main Street widening; staff and Velier said the grant application and its initial designs can be changed later and that approving the redevelopment-area resolution does not commit the city to a final design.
After clarifying the street boundary language in the motion, councilmember (unnamed) moved to approve Resolution No. 169; the council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution and proceed with the grant application. Council members said they expect to get into the addendum and design phases next spring if the application advances.
