Loading...
IV.6. Livable Communities Demonstration Account Funding for 325 Blake Road; YoungquistSeptember 21, 2021 Council Report 2021-089 LIVABLE COMMUNITIES DEM ONSTRATION ACCOUNT FUNDING FOR 325 BLAKE ROAD Proposed Action Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution 2021-053 Identifying the Need for Livable Communities Demonstration Account Funding and Authorizing Application for Grant Funds for 325 Blake Road. Overview The City of Hopkins and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) are partnering on the restoration and redevelopment of the 17-acre site at 325 Blake Road and selected Alatus to lead the transformation of 12 acres into a mixed-use transit oriented development. MCWD will retain the remainder of the site for stormwater management and public natural space. Alatus presented its concept plans for development to the Planning Commission and City Council in August­ September 2021 and will use the feedback received for their formal land use application, which is anticipated to be submitted in October. The Metropolitan Council offers grant funding through its Livable Communities Demonstration Account Transit Oriented Development program (LCDA-TOD) for moderate to high density development projects that are located within 0.5 mile of a major transit stop. The 325 Blake Road site is located less than 0.25 mile from the Blake Road LRT Station, making it eligible for the program. Local governmental units are eligible to apply for LCDA-TOD funds on behalf of developers. Alatus would like to pursue $1,250,000 from the LCDA-TOD program to be used toward public space infrastructure, wayfinding, and public art and has requested that the City sponsor an application to the Metropolitan Council. As part of the grant application, a resolution identifying the need for funds and authorizing an application is required. If approved, the funds would be provided to the City of Hopkins and Alatus would be the sub-recipient of the grant funds. Primary Issues to Consider The LCDA-TOD grant request is consistent with the preliminary capital budget information provided by Alatus through the developer selection process and will help support the joint development vision of the City and MCWD for the site. There is no local match required for the grant program. Supporting Information •Resolution 2021-053 1"6V unity Development Coordinator Financial Impact: $ 0 Budgeted: Y/N Source: ----Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): CITY OF HOPKINS HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 2021-053 RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES DEMONSTRATION ACCOUNT FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR 325 BLAKE ROAD WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins is a participant in the Livable Communities Act’s Local Housing Incentives Account Program for 2021 as determined by the Metropolitan Council, and is therefore eligible to apply for Livable Communities Demonstration Account funds; and WHEREAS, the City has identified a proposed project within the City that meets the Demonstration Account’s purposes and criteria and is consistent with and promotes the purposes of the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act and the policies of the Metropolitan Council’s adopted metropolitan development guide; and WHEREAS, Alatus LLC has requested that the City sponsor an application for Livable Communities Demonstration Account funds for its 325 Blake Road project in the City of Hopkins; and WHEREAS, the City has the institutional, managerial and financial capability to ensure adequate project grant administration; and WHEREAS, the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the grant agreement; and WHEREAS, the City agrees to act as legal sponsor for the project contained in the grant application submitted on or before September 27, 2021; and WHEREAS, the City acknowledges Livable Communities Demonstration Account grants are intended to fund projects or project components that can serve as models, examples or prototypes for development or redevelopment projects elsewhere in the region, and therefore represents that the proposed project(s) or key components of the proposed project(s) can be replicated in other metropolitan-area communities; and WHEREAS, only a limited amount of grant funding is available through the Metropolitan Council’s Livable Communities Demonstration Account during each funding cycle and the Metropolitan Council has determined it is appropriate to allocate those scarce grant funds only to eligible projects that would not occur without the availability of Demonstration Account grant funding. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, after appropriate examination and due consideration, the governing body of the City: 1. Finds that it is in the best interests of the City’s development goals and priorities for the proposed project to occur at this particular site and at this particular time. 2. Finds that the project components for which Livable Communities Demonstration Account funding is sought: a. will not occur solely through private or other public investment within the reasonably foreseeable future; and b. will occur within three years after a grant award only if Livable Communities Demonstration Account funding is made available for this project at this time. 3. Represents that Alatus LLC has undertaken reasonable and good faith efforts to procure funding for the project components for which Livable Communities Demonstration Account funding is sought but was not able to find or secure from other sources funding that is necessary for project component completion within three years. 4. Authorizes its City Manager or designee to submit on behalf of the City and Alatus LLC an application for Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Demonstration Account grant funds for the project component(s) identified in the application, and authorizes the Mayor and City Manager to execute such agreements as may be necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City. Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this 21st day of September, 2021. By:___________________________ Jason Gadd, Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________ Amy Domeier, City Clerk