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Sandpoint urban renewal board hears plan to expand downtown revitalization, may seek up to $6.3 million
Summary
Sandpoint staff told the Urban Renewal Agency on July 7 that federal grant awards and requirements have expanded the downtown revitalization scope south to Superior and raised the SURA funding request from roughly $4.5 million to about $6.3 million; staff said construction will be delayed until fall 2027 for federal reviews. The board also reviewed a $24 million FRA grant application for the Great Northern corridor and began FY27 budget work, including Northern District project allocations.
Chairman Eric Paul convened the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency meeting and invited city staff to update the board on downtown revitalization and related funding on July 7.
Eric Bush, the staff presenter, said the city accepted a Small Urban LTAC grant and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that together allow the project footprint to expand south to Superior but require federal environmental and cultural‑resources reviews. "We won't start construction until fall of 2027," Bush said, adding that staff paused some design work while federal review is completed and council members decide the intersection alignment at Church and Superior.
The grants include a $650,000 CDBG award for site amenities — benches, trash cans, bike racks and street trees — and a $1.8 million LTAC small urban grant specifically for the Church Street/Bridal/1st intersection, Bush said. Staff and a finance presenter noted federalizing a project can add roughly 10–30% to capital costs; as a result, the SURA contribution request would increase "from, I think, $4,500,000 approximately to 6,300,000 total," a staff member said.
Staff flagged a legal question about whether SURA may fund "tie‑in" work outside the SURA boundary — for example continuing stormwater or sewer lines to make the system function — and asked the board to seek counsel on the nexus and allowable scope. Mayor Jeremy Grama and staff also said if the city receives certain federal railroad grants, SURA may be asked to contribute to a larger Great Northern corridor project.
On the Great Northern corridor, Bush said the city applied for a Federal Railroad Administration rail grant (rail crossing elimination/CRISI‑type funding) to complete work from Baldy Mountain to Woodland Drive and estimated a roughly $24 million federal request to fund stormwater, road reconstruction, utility improvements, a shared‑use pathway and rail crossing upgrades. Staff said that if the federal grant is awarded, SURA's ask could be up to $6.2 million; if the grant is unsuccessful, a reduced phase‑1 scenario limited to stormwater and road rehabilitation would ask SURA for $4,055,000.
The board also opened discussion of the FY27 budget. Staff reported a Northern District total of $4,455,000, broken into roughly three line items: art projects (~$100,000), the Great Northern allocation (~$4,055,000) and a $300,000 right‑of‑way/property purchase intended to extend the Dover Trail and provide connectivity near the hotel and adjacent parcels. Staff said Boyer/Baldy sidewalk work has $500,000 in the FY26 budget and is expected to be expended by Sept. 30, and that phase 3 of downtown will include a consolidated wayfinding design that could be applied citywide.
On downtown economic development, staff proposed a $25,000 marketing line to create a social‑media and trade‑show presence aimed at attracting aerospace and other employers; commissioners asked how the city would sustain the presence after initial funding. Chairman Paul asked for a volunteer to help develop the budget; he named Commissioner Barry to assist and the board scheduled further review and a public hearing on the budget at a subsequent meeting.
Procedural items included approval of the June 2 meeting minutes by voice vote with no opposition. The meeting adjourned at 8:02 a.m.
