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1. Downtown BNSF Revitalization Project, Brownfield Grant, Historic Preservation Grant Opportunity201 1 st Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 406-758.7740 Fax: 406.758.7758 City of Kalispell • www.kalispell.com Office of Community & Economic Development TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Kellie Danielson,onrrunity & Economic Development Staff members involved: Katharine Thompson & Nicole Johnson SUBJECT: Downtown BNSF Revitalization Project, Brownfield Grant, Historic Preservation Grant opportunity MEETING DATE: Monday, October 27, 2008 BNSF Revitalization Project Our department contracted with Kate McMahon, Applied Communications, and David Koel, CTA Architects, to develop design concepts of what the potential redevelopment opportunities are when the rail road tracks are removed from downtown. To gain an understanding of what the community would want to see for downtown redevelopment we formed a working group of downtown residents, business owners and workers to give us input. The presentation gives a snapshot of what development is possible in connecting the various components downtown to help create an attractive, pedestrian -friendly, vibrant downtown. The contract for this project was $15,000 and is from a budget line item of $35,000 for studieslsurveys. An overview of the next steps for the project will be presented. one of the steps is to gain collaboration internally and externally on an action plan to begin the revitalization efforts. Brownfield Grant opportunity To achieve the goal of land revitalization and sustainable reuse opportunities for downtown the City can apply for EPA grants of up to $400,000 to perform community -wide assessments of property. The purpose is to assist landowners and the city in understanding what and where are the future trouble spots. Of particular interest is the property all along the downtown rail road tracks. With knowledge of what type of containments may exist, if any, the process of developing a plan for remediation can occur. The community is then further ahead in working towards the goal of promoting redevelopment once the issues are understood. There is no match requirement, but our department will need to contract with a Brownfield consultant to assist us in the grant application and provide expertise to the process. We anticipate the expenditure to be less than $3500. The few cities in Montana that have been awarded the grants all needed outside counsel. The deadline for submittal is November 14. The assessment grants tie into the BNSF revitalization project -another step in the process of preparing for the future. Historic Preservation Grant Opportunity The CD department applied for a matching grant to the Montana State Historic Preservation Office to expand the current downtown historic district. The grant is a matching grant, $1 per $1 . The department's grant submittal was awarded $12,500 by the State office. Our match is $12,500. We will present the benefits of the grant and the match to Council. We are seeking an indication from Council whether to accept or decline the grant award. our department has $50,000 budgeted for CD projects and have not committed any of those funds to date. Benefits of the Grant By expanding the current small Main Street Historic District in downtown buildings that are 50 years old will be able to apply for a historic designation. The owners will then have access to a 20% tax credit for rehabilitating the property, access to historic signage, and the opportunity to market the downtown as a historic center. For the grant project, in order to accomplish the expansion of the historic district, the City has to hire an approved consultant to survey, study, research and record the buildings history. The grant allows for 75 buildings to be studied, some on the streets adjacent to Main Street. The consultant will, with the property owner's permission, make application for the buildings to become part of the National Historic Register. Our department has presented the project to the Business Improvement District board and the Kalispell Downtown Association. We received letters of support from the KDA, The BID Board, downtown property owners, and the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce for the grant application.