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<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Keis and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Corrin Wendell, Community Development Director <br /> <br />DATE: July 13, 2022 <br /> <br />RE: Metropolitan Council – Livable Communities Act (LCA) Pre-Development <br />Grant Application <br /> <br />ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: <br />The City Council is asked to consider approval of a Resolution of Support to submit a Livable <br />Communities Act (LCA) Pre-Development grant application to the Metropolitan Council. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The Metropolitan Council administers the Livable Communities Act (LCA) grant program that <br />provides funding to developers, cities, counties, and housing authorities for various <br />development-related initiatives. The LCA Pre-Development program ($2M in funding) is <br />currently accepting grant applications for early-stage development initiatives such as design <br />workshops, financial studies, project impact analyses, and community engagement, among many <br />other eligible activities. <br /> <br />City staff has reviewed the application criteria and feels that the property at 2750 Rice Street (the <br />former Pawn Shop) would be a strong candidate for pre-development grant funding through this <br />program. The program does not require matching funds and caps individual awards at $300,000. <br />Staff recommends an application to support the following LCDA Pre-development program <br />goals: <br />• Intensify land uses on the site and take advantage of connections between housing, jobs, <br />services and amenities across the region and in the project area, including accessibility <br />and universal design <br />• Development of site plans that increase density, intensity, and/or diversity of uses in the <br />project area <br />• Phasing or staging plans for an identified parcel or multiple contiguous parcels <br />• Appraisal for site acquisition <br />• Feasibility studies to determine project feasibility <br /> <br />The former Pawn Shop site, 2750 Rice Street, was purchased by the City on April 27, 2022. City <br />staff believes that a pre-development grant would be a catalyst for future steps towards <br />redevelopment. <br /> <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: <br />Staff recommends City Council approval of the attached Resolution of Support.