03-12-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Item No: 7A Meeting Date: Mar 12, 2007 Type of Business: Business Administrator Review: ____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Mounds View Economic Development Authority From: James Ericson, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Consideration of a Request for Demolition Assistance for the Property Located at 2617 Sherwood Road Introduction: Gary and Margaret Krig are the owners of the property located at 2617 Sherwood Road. Purchased in 2006, the Krigs desire to demolish the building and construct a new home in its place. To help achieve their redevelopment vision, the Krigs have requested funding through the City’s Housing Replacement Program. The program has two funding options, the first being an acquisition of the property from a willing owner with the City coordinating the demolition and marketing of the site to a developer for a new home, the second option providing only demolition assistance to existing property owners who would like to tear down their older, blighted home and construct a newer home in its place. The intent of the second option is to encourage residents to stay in the community while promoting new housing to enhance property values (and tax base) for the subject property and neighborhood in general. Discussion: The house located at 2617 Sherwood Road has been the source of many enforcement actions over the years, prior to the Krigs’ ownership. This report will not detail the past enforcement history of the property or its previous owners, except to say that the home was posted unfit for habitation with approved court orders to abate all code violations or face condemnation by demolition. An offer was made by the City to acquire the property in 2005 however the offer was rejected. Minimal work was subsequently done by previous owners to avert demolition and the property was sold to the Krigs in 2006. Staff received a letter from Gary and Margaret Krig, the new owners of 2617 Sherwood Road, requesting participation in the Housing Replacement Program (HRP). The Krigs have requested Option #2 of the HRP. Option #2 provides for funding by the EDA for the demolition of an existing home for the purposes of constructing a new home on the same lot. The property is located a block west of Long Lake Road (see attached location map). The owners do not presently occupy the property. Staff has completed an inspection of the proposed property to verify the eligibility as outlined in the HRP policy. Item G of the HRP policy states: G. Property Eligibility Criteria Program Staff shall evaluate each property for which an application is received to determine its eligibility for the Program based on the criteria in this section. Program Staff shall prepare property fact sheets for each property for which owners have expressed an interest in participating in the Program, and shall make a drive by inspection. Properties will be evaluated based on the following criteria outlined below. To be eligible for participation, the house on the property must have one of the characteristics noted in 1, 2, 3 or 4 below.