Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to apply to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council for assistance funding in an amount up to $150,000.00 to conduct a Phase 2 environmental assessment at 328 Buckingham Street for a proposed residential project by National Church Residences called the Commons at Buckingham.
Commons at Buckingham is a proposed new four-story construction apartment community designed to house individuals in 100 efficiency style apartments with low-income and long-term homelessness in Downtown Columbus. Fifty of the 100 efficiency apartments will provide housing for 50 single, low income adults from the general population while the remaining 50 units will be reserved for adults with chronic homelessness. As part of the Rebuilding Lives initiative, 30 of the reserved units will meet the Rebuilding Lives definition of chronic homelessness and the remaining 20 reserved units will meet the federal definition of chronic homelessness.
The site requires additional environmental study and possible mitigation before being used as a residential site. Burgess and Niple; National Church Residences' environmental engineers for the Commons at Buckingham project, anticipates that the costs for assessing the project will be between $100,000.00 and $150,000.00.
There has been considerable community support for the project with Columbus City Council passing a Resolution of Support (Res. No. 0078X-07, May 21, 2007) and letters of support from Mayor Coleman, Council President Mentel, the Downtown Development Corporation, Franklin County Commissioner Kilroy, the Community Shelter Board and others.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to commence the Clean Ohio grant application immediately.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no costs to the City of Columbus associated with applying for Clean Ohio assistance grant fundin...
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