Council backs letter of support for downtown Catalyst grant application to add apartments

The council voted to approve a letter of support for a Catalyst grant application to rehab a downtown building on Southwest Street, a step the applicant said is required to complete the final funding package.

The applicant and staff described the project scope as adding two upper-story apartments, completing four existing units, replacing windows, tuckpointing three sides of brickwork, repainting and repairing the storefront awning. The Catalyst program allows up to a $100,000 award with matching requirements; the applicant said the proposed match includes a loan from a development group and $25,000 of the applicant's funds, producing an estimated $75,000 from Catalyst in the plan presented to council.

Councilors asked about construction timing, noise, how the work would affect the existing ground-floor businesses (including scheduling to minimize disruption), and whether the applicant had secured contractor estimates. The applicant said much of the work has been bid out in trade packages and that the grant application is due on the 15th with award announcements expected in June. One business owner in the building asked about timeline and potential operational impacts; the applicant and staff said they would coordinate construction scheduling directly with the affected tenant to minimize lost business.

Why it matters: the project targets downtown housing stock and commercial frontage; successful Catalyst funding would lower the gap for private investment in upper-story housing and storefront rehabilitation. Council voted to support the application and instructed staff and the applicant to coordinate construction schedules and finalize required bank and matching letters prior to the final application.

What happens next: staff will sign the letter of support and the applicant will complete the final application; award decisions are expected in June.