Redevelopment agency approves multiple High Street residential grants and sets caps on program

The Redevelopment Agency and Ely City Council on Aug. 28 approved five residential grant awards to BKA Investments LLC (B.J. and Kenna Almberg) for several High Street parcels and adopted new program parameters to limit per-cycle awards.

Kenna Almberg, who described herself as a local realtor, told the council she plans to rehabilitate multiple properties on High Street to provide nine rentable units and improve a long-neglected block. The agency approved awards for APNs 001-156-01 ($6,165.50), 001-156-02 ($14,730.00), 001-156-03 ($14,317.50), 001-156-04 ($16,804.00) and 001-156-05 ($11,216.00). The motion carried 4–1 with Councilman Terrill Trask voting no.

After approving the applications, council members debated and then unanimously set additional Redevelopment Agency rules: a commercial cap of $80,000 per grant cycle, a residential cap of $20,000 per grant cycle, and a limit of one application per applicant per program (residential and commercial) every two years.

Council supporters said the funds will help remediate eyesores, add rental housing and demonstrate private investment possibilities for downtown. Critics argued council should have predefined limits before award decisions and expressed concern about allowing a single applicant to receive multiple awards in one cycle.

City Treasurer Janette Trask confirmed approving these awards would leave approximately $16,767 in the residential budget for the fiscal year after these disbursements. The council discussed that these programs had been funded over many years from collected property taxes and that staff outreach had been limited to date.

The council's actions combine immediate grants for property rehabilitation with new rules intended to clarify eligibility and caps going forward.