Elkhart board approves $5,000 emergency grant for downtown porch repairs, opens review of small grants program

The Elkhart City board approved a $5,000 emergency grant for Premier Property Company on a voice vote with three abstentions, clearing a repair the company said was an immediate safety hazard at 130 North 2nd Street.

Lucas, the property manager and part-owner representing Premier Property Company, told the board the firm has invested "over 350,000 to bring the building back to code" in a project that converted and renovated units in the downtown structure. He said the side porch that provides tenant access to the second floor is "in desperate need of being ripped out" and that he had taken photos to document the condition for staff.

The board moved to approve the $5,000 request after hearing Lucas describe renovations, construction cost increases and a tight timeline for tenant occupancy. Board members confirmed the building is a 16-unit residential property; Lucas said some units already have occupancy permits and the team aims to complete remaining work by March and begin renovations at a second recently purchased downtown property.

The vote clearing the emergency grant was accompanied by a procedural clarification: once work is complete, the vendor should submit an invoice and staff will pay the vendor directly. Board discussion recorded three abstentions and no recorded opposition.

The grant vote also prompted an extended policy conversation about whether the standing emergency grant—historically capped at $5,000—should remain the city's primary tool for downtown building assistance. Board members and staff discussed a multi-tiered downtown building investment program that could include small façade and awning grants, larger matched façade grants in the $30,000–$50,000 range, and incentives to convert upper-floor space to residential.

One board member said the city could consider loan-like structures to secure public investments: "If it's a forgivable loan for 5 years, I don't have any real problem with that either," the member said, urging program mechanics such as liens or five-year retention periods to protect public dollars. Staff and board also discussed combining city funds with CDBG or chamber-matched private dollars and developing a formal scoring mechanism and eligibility rules to avoid repeated small awards to the same developer.

Several members raised questions about scope and fairness: who qualifies for public funds, whether retroactive reimbursement should be allowed, and whether limits should be per property or per developer. Staff indicated they are already working with an internal lead on program design and would return with concrete application criteria, scoring structures and legal remedies such as liens or forgivable-loan terms.

Other routine business at the meeting included approval of the prior meeting minutes, election of existing officers by acclamation, approval of financial statements (including Innovia and Community Foundation materials) and payment of a tax-related invoice; those motions passed by voice votes earlier in the session.

The board concluded by asking staff to draft a revised downtown building investment plan while maintaining the existing $5,000 emergency grant option in the interim. The meeting adjourned with the group confirming a quarterly meeting cadence unless urgent matters arise.