Council discusses EPA grant to remediate former St. Joseph Hospital and create affordable housing

Renee Billings, economic development manager, told the council the city is pursuing an EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change grant to support redevelopment of the former St. Joseph Hospital and the adjacent Boys & Girls Home site into affordable housing and green space.

"We have a plan that turns the property into affordable housing," Billings said, describing a proposal to convert the newer portion of the hospital into about 19 housing units and add row houses and townhomes across the remainder of the 14.5-acre site. She said the application seeks "just over $19,000,000" to cover remediation tasks including asbestos and lead paint abatement and to implement green building practices and on-site stormwater detention.

Councilmembers asked for details about match requirements and demolition costs. Britney Anderson, senior civil engineer, had earlier explained that grant cost figures in packets were estimates prepared by SEH and that items such as property acquisition, relocation and demolition are not typically eligible under the specific grant and would require separate local funding. Billings said the city had programmed some C.I.P. funds that could assist with demolition but confirmed the EPA grant is described as 0% match for the current solicitation and that future rounds or program changes could alter match expectations.

Councilmembers expressed support for returning the site to a neighborhood setting and urged staff to continue pursuing funding, stressing walkability, green space and affordability. Billings said the city will await award decisions and will return with additional updates and any requirements for local match or demolition funding if those arise.

The council voted on the resolution to approve the community partner agreement to apply; the action was recorded on the consent agenda and passed as part of the night's approvals.