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Anamosa Council OKs CDBG application, $250,000 local match and architect for downtown facade program
Summary
The City of Anamosa approved a slate of actions to pursue a $650,000 CDBG grant for downtown façade improvements, designated a target area as slum/blighted, selected Martin Garner Architecture, and committed a $250,000 local match; council also approved a related budget amendment and pay requests tied to the project.
The City of Anamosa City Council voted on Dec. 23 to move forward with a downtown revitalization package that includes submitting a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application seeking $650,000 in federal funds to support façade improvements.
Tom Bruce, a planner with the Central Iowa Council of Governments, told the council the project’s total cost is presently estimated at $1,776,039 and that the city would commit a $250,000 local match if the resolution is approved; he said property owners of 12 buildings would share the remaining $867,039 in costs. Bruce said a building survey found about 90% of properties in the target area qualify as fair condition and in need of façade work. "The proposed project, cost presently estimated to total $1,776,039," Bruce said, "and we'll be requesting grant assistance of $650,000." (Tom Bruce, planner, Central Iowa Council of Governments.)
Council simultaneously adopted Resolution 2024-74 designating a portion of the Central Business District as a slum/blighted area, finding that rehabilitation, conservation or redevelopment is necessary for public health, safety or welfare. Council then approved Resolution 2024-75 to approve the grant application, adopt the findings required by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), select Martin Garner Architecture as the project architect and commit the $250,000 local match.
Council also approved a budget amendment request to the Iowa Economic Development Department for phase two of the downtown façade improvement project and cleared pay requests that include invoices tied to design and bidding work for related projects. Utility Superintendent Steve Agnes described the Elm & Hickory sanitation work as design and bidding services tied to the larger infrastructure improvements connected to downtown revitalization.
Next steps noted in the hearing record: city staff will submit the application to IEDA (Bruce said it will be submitted no later than 01/31/2025) and continue documenting the community development housing needs assessment required for HUD/IEDA review. The public hearing component required for the CDBG application was opened and closed during the meeting.
Why it matters: If funded, the package would provide federal assistance plus a local match to cover façade renovations in the downtown core, a project the planner described as aimed at addressing predominating slum and blighting conditions in the targeted area.
