LIMA — Lima City Council will vote on issuing a request for housing development proposals to be assisted by HOME funding during Monday’s 7 p.m. meeting at the Lima Municipal Building. The hope is that this investment will lead to market-rate rental opportunities as well as housing for low-income renters.
The city would leverage $500,000 in HOME funds to bring in developers who would then commit to a minimum $2.5 million project in the city.
“By being able to use these HOME dollars to leverage both [low- to moderate-income] housing and market-rate housing, we’re going to be able to jump-start the market for community development,” Community Development director Amy Sackman Odum said at an Oct. 19 Community and Economic Development Committee meeting.
If approved, the advertisement for proposals would be issued on Thursday, with a deadline of Dec. 4.
“Legislation will be presented to Council in January 2016 requesting authorization to enter into contract with the selected bidder meeting City/HOME requirements,” Sackman Odum said in a letter to the council.
Should the process go forward with approved financing, construction would be scheduled to begin in June 2017, with the goal to have the completed housing project fully occupied by April 2020.
Other business will include considering reappointing Sean Carpenter to the Civil Service Board.
“According to my records the Civil Service Board term for Sean Carpenter is due to expire December 31, 2015,” city auditor Randall Bartels said in a letter to the council. “By the City Charter, this is one of two Civil Service Board positions City Council is responsible for appointing. Council can either reappoint Mr. Carpenter, assuming he is willing to serve another three year term, or they can find a replacement.”
City Council president John Nixon has sent correspondence to council members indicating that Carpenter is willing to continue serving on the board. Nixon has called on the council to approve reappointing Carpenter to the board for another three-year term.
