City staff recommend $750,000 historic‑revitalization subgrant to rehabilitate Bair Courts into eight affordable units

Planning Director Kathy Selman told the Board that the City received a $750,000 Paul Bru[n]is Historic Revitalization Grant award from the National Park Service and established a local subgrant competition to fund rehabilitation of historic properties.

Staff reported that seven property owners applied and that a tiered review process led to recommending Dame Fortune LLC to receive the full subgrant for work at Bair Courts, 637 Park Avenue. The applicant proposes to create eight apartments targeted to households earning less than 80% of area median income.

Selman said the city identified three objectives in the grant application: rehabilitate properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, create affordable housing in support of the housing strategy, and fill vacant historic buildings. The recommended award is a one-to-one match between the grant and applicant funds; staff also said a performance bond will be required to ensure project completion.

Directors asked whether application materials were included in the Board packet; Selman said all application materials and due-diligence documentation will be provided to the Board for the formal meeting packet. She added that staff completed an advanced due-diligence review focused on applicant capacity and confirmed financing availability.

The recommendation will appear as resolution R26118 for the Board’s formal action on July 7. Staff noted the award reflects criteria in the local competition and that additional applications were preliminarily reviewed but not recommended.