Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Madison updates PACE facade fund and vacant‑property registry; staff report more than 50 properties on the list
Summary
City staff reported a PACE preservation fund round with roughly $138,298 available after an anticipated $100,000 transfer, highlighted a 4:1 private-to-city investment leverage and said 51 properties are now on the vacant-and-abandoned registry; council discussed enforcement and success stories.
City staff briefed the Madison City Council on two city programs aimed at revitalizing downtown and the hilltop: the PACE (preservation and community enhancement) grant program and the city's vacant-and-abandoned-structures registry.
Brenda Haley, introduced by the mayor as the city's preservation planner, summarized the next PACE funding round. She told council the current fund balance is $89,138.65 and that outstanding requested amounts total about $350,840; after a planned $100,000 transfer from the Redevelopment Commission the available amount for the final round would be about $138,298.65. Haley said staff expect roughly 22–25 applications and emphasized that the program leverages private investment ' roughly a 4:1 ratio of private to city funds on active cases.
Council members asked follow-up questions about owner occupancy, geographic distribution of awards and program outreach. Haley said most PACE recipients have been downtown and that staff will provide a spreadsheet with case details.
Dewey (city staff) then gave an update on the vacant-and-abandoned registry. He reported 51 properties are currently listed, 23 of which were voluntarily registered; three properties have changed ownership and 14 registered properties are being assessed penalties for failing to complete abatement plans. Dewey and other staff described enforcement as a progression: registration, abatement plans, potential penalties and, in some cases, demolition or transfer of properties to new owners. He noted several successful rehab projects showcased in the staff presentation.
Council members asked about occupancy after rehabilitation, the mix of owner-occupied versus rental outcomes and whether penalties could be rebated if owners later complete work. Staff said the current ordinance does not provide a rebate mechanism but that registration fees can be waived in some cases and that waivers have been used to encourage progress.
Members of the public praised the PACE program as an effective tool for façade improvement and rehab but also suggested tightening program rules to discourage quick “flip” sales after city funds were used. The mayor and staff described interdepartmental collaboration on outreach and noted that additional data (for example, the number of rehabs that become occupied) could be added to future reports.
Next steps: staff will circulate the PACE case spreadsheet on request, continue to run the PACE round next week, and update the vacant-property registry metrics and enforcement outcomes at future council meetings.
