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Mounds View EDA October 13, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 2 Purchase Offer for the Property Located at 2665 Ardan Avenue, Mounds 1 View, Ramsey County, Minnesota with Community Development Block 2 Grant funds from Ramsey County HRA, and Approval of the Terms and 3 Conditions and Purchase Agreement. 4 5 Planning Associate Heller explained the City was proposing to use CDBG funds, which were 6 awarded to the City two years ago to purchase the blighted property located at 2665 Ardan 7 Avenue. She indicated the CDBG funds would cover the expense of the property and 8 demolition. She reviewed photos of the current home along with schematics for the new home. 9 Staff recommended the EDA proceed with the purchase of the property. 10 11 President Flaherty requested further information on who would be rebuilding the home. 12 Planning Associate Heller stated the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) would 13 contract with a local builder for this property. She noted once the house was complete, GMHC 14 would resell the home following the grant guidelines. 15 16 John Ackerman, 2673 Ardan Avenue, stated he lived next to the subject property. He questioned 17 why the home was being demolished instead of reconstructed. He did not believe the property 18 had become blighted. 19 20 Ann Ackerman, 2673 Ardan Avenue, commented that tax dollars were being used to purchase 21 and demolish the structure when perhaps the home could be sold on the open market at a lower 22 expense to the public. 23 24 President Flaherty indicated the City was working to improve and invest in its housing stock. He 25 provided further information on the grants available from the County and Federal government to 26 assist with run down and blighted properties. 27 28 Mr. Ackerman feared that the value of the new home would not match the surrounding homes. 29 He questioned why the sale of this property was being done outside of the real estate market. 30 31 President Flaherty was uncertain of the homeowners’ circumstances. 32 33 Commissioner Mueller stated the City had 73 vacant homes at this time and the homeowner of 34 the subject property approached the City for assistance with their blighted and uninhabitable 35 home. She discussed the tools available to the City through grants and federal funding. 36 37 Ms. Ackerman asked if the City would have a problem if she and her husband were to put in an 38 offer on the home. He questioned if the EDA would be willing to delay action on this item to 39 allow them to speak with the homeowners. President Flaherty commented this would be entirely 40 up to the Ackerman’s. 41 42