Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board backs $750,000 for Saint Mary Academy historic rehab predevelopment
Summary
County will provide $750,000 from ARPA interest earnings to the City of Monroe to support predevelopment work for the Saint Mary Academy redevelopment, a National Register-listed 270,000-square-foot building proposed for mixed uses including 114 residential units and commercial space.
The Monroe County Board approved a $750,000 allocation drawn from ARPA interest earnings to support predevelopment planning for the Saint Mary Academy rehabilitation in the City of Monroe.
Mark Cochran (S8), introduced by county staff as the acting city manager, and county staff outlined a project team that includes developer Keith Mazarin and partners such as the Monroe Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and Quinn Evans Architects. Cochran said the property, built in 1932 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is about 270,000 square feet and has been vacant since 2001. He described a schematic plan that would convert the upper three floors into about 114 residential dwellings and the lower floors and gym into roughly 32 commercial spaces.
Project partners said the development has already secured some public and foundation support (EPA revolving loan grant and Ralph C. Wilson Foundation funding for schematic design) and expects to pursue state and federal historic tax credits. County staff said the $750,000 would be paid to the city as the lead fiduciary to support structural testing, engineering, historic rehabilitation planning and construction phasing.
Commissioners discussed property ownership, site boundaries and next steps; the board approved the allocation on roll call. Staff said the county’s role would be largely financial under a draw request process and that the city would act as the project fiduciary.
