Lansing City Council asked to consider soliciting proposals to renovate Stone School for residential apartments
by Julie Berg-Raymond
Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andy Kelleher has asked the Lansing City Council to consider sending out a Request for Proposals to renovate the Stone School into apartments, using an Iowa Economic Development Association (IEDA) downtown housing grant.
“The grant is designed to create new housing opportunities in communities with populations under 30,000,” Kelleher noted during a presentation to the council Monday night, October 18, during its regular meeting. “On the surface, it’s a program to increase upper story housing in downtown buildings, and we don’t really have a strong need for that; most of our upper stories are activated. But the program also explicitly states that it can be utilized for vacant school buildings within the downtown vicinity.”
The Stone School is only two blocks from downtown, and it’s within Main Street Lansing program boundaries, so it is eligible for this funding, Kelleher explained.
“We have a housing shortage, and with summer homes and AirBnB purchases, coupled with a lack of expansion room, we don’t have a lot of construction options for new housing,” Kelleher said. “Adapting a historic vacant building to meet a pressing community need could greatly benefit the town,” he said.
Councilman Curtis Snitker asked Kelleher about the possibility of “piggybacking” this development plan with a plan for a daycare facility in the building, and Kelleher indicated that was a feasible option. “The City makes a deal with a developer for what it wants,” he said. “Some housing has to be included.”
“If we have this much flexibility, what do we have to lose?” Snitker asked. “It would be silly for us to pass this up.”
RENEWAL OF SUPPORT
The council also approved a resolution of support and financial commitment (Resolution No. 955) by the City of Lansing for the Main Street Program. In a brief report to the council, Kelleher offered the following data update: Since the program began recording statistics in 2012, Main Street Lansing has recorded 23 new business openings; 39 new jobs; $1,843,692 invested across 23 major projects; $2,412,400 spent on building acquisition; and 27,044 volunteer hours (for a total value of $771,835).
Five storefronts (involving four new businesses) have been filled this year, Kelleher noted. “Seeing so much positive business momentum after a pandemic and global shutdown is a really good sign,” he said.
Kelleher said he is lobbying the Allamakee County Supervisors to use $500,000 of the County’s $2.7 million American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Dollars toward creating a countywide façade improvement program. “This seems promising,” Kelleher noted. “One supervisor has told me he thinks the program will likely be funded, though maybe not at the level I requested. They will make decisions in December.”
Noting upcoming Main Street Lansing-sponsored events and promotions, Kelleher referred to the city council candidate forum scheduled for Wednesday, October 20 at 6 p.m. at T.J. Hunter’s banquet hall; a punch-card promotion beginning November 15, with a double-punch day November 27; and downtown trick-or-treating Friday, October 29, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with hot dogs and hot chocolate from 5 to 6:30 p.m. “This does not impact residential trick-or-treating,” he said.
In other business, the council approved the liquor license renewal for Safehouse Saloon.
WATER/SEWER REPORT
PeopleService Representative Duane Estebo reported on water and sewer matters, indicating the following: Foaming root killer has been put down manholes in town at Dodge and Gay Streets by the high school, the 300 block of Center Street and the residential area of Main Street. Estebo said he has been told the product is being discontinued, and that he will have to find an alternative. He reported he is “looking into a rotating head for the jetter to rid the mains of any roots.”
Estebo also reported the annual jet/vac process took place September 14 and 15. (Each year, 25 percent of the sewer mains are jetted and vacuumed out). “This year we also had them clean out two catch basins on Main Street by the nursing home driveway,” he indicated.
Estebo noted issues with the disinfection process at the treatment plant near the end of the month - remedied by replacing the chlorine hose that feeds the disinfection tanks; and he said a technician was called in to clean the system and adjust the flow piston. During the time when the system wasn’t working properly, Estebo noted, he was in contact with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and supplemented the gas chlorine with chlorine pellets. “During this time we were never out of compliance with the DNR,” he said.
CONTINUING MATTERS
Following a unanimous vote at its October 4 meeting denying approval of a building permit for a 24’ two-story garage at 301 Center Street - having concluded the structure would cause an obstruction of view for the resident’s neighbors - the council has received calls indicating construction has nevertheless continued at that location. City Clerk Katie Becker said a cease-and-desist order is being sent to the resident. Speaking to the council during its regular meeting October 18, the resident presented a list of concerns related to the council’s decision of October 4. The council will consult with the City Attorney regarding these concerns.
The next regular meeting of the Lansing City Council is scheduled for Monday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at Lansing City Hall.
