City to accept $2.497 million state grant for vacant rental property improvements, plus EV charging grants

Acting Commissioner Nazarete told the Finance Committee the department will accept several grants, including a time‑sensitive state award of $2,497,000 to support the city’s vacant rental property improvement program.

Nazarete said three of the department’s items concern accepting grants for EV charging and charging infrastructure; the vacant‑property award was singled out as time‑sensitive and had been submitted as a late file that must be approved by the ninth (date referenced in the meeting). “Oh, yeah. 2, yeah, 2,497,000,” Nazarete said when asked about the dollar amount.

A committee member noted the file was late but that the award’s deadline required prompt acceptance. Nazarete apologized for the late filing and asked members to approve acceptance per the grant terms.

The committee recorded acceptance of the grants and asked staff to circulate grant documents to members. The meeting did not record further details on program eligibility, match requirements or specific use categories for the vacant‑property award; staff said those details will be provided with the grant paperwork.