Laramie council hears housing pipeline update; staff flags January WCDA decision, $5M city fund and sewer limits for outlying growth

LARAMIE, Wyo. — City Manager Feazer told the Laramie City Council at a Dec. 18 work session that several housing projects are moving through planning and funding stages and that the council's $5 million housing infrastructure fund, state grant rounds and the Wyoming Community Development Association's low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) process could push some proposals into construction early next year.

Feazer said the North 4th Street project, referred to as Labonte Square, is proposed in phases and that Phase 1 would be two buildings totaling about 128 units. "We believe that we will know in January" whether WCDA awards LIHTC, Feazer said, and that an award would be "the impetus" for construction to start. He described the planned mix as deed-restricted affordable units at varying shares of area median income alongside some market-rate units.

The city manager also described a public-private plan for the old Slate School ("Project 34"). The city has submitted a full-price purchase offer and the Albany County School District postponed its decision to Jan. 14, Feazer said. The proposed partners he named included the city, the Albany County Housing Land Trust, WyoTech and Ivinson Memorial Hospital. Feazer said he would amend the offer to extend the district's deadline and cite the…