HomeMy WebLinkAboutLaurel Urban Renewal Agency Minutes 06.01.2009MINUTES
LAUREL URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY
JUNE 1, 2009
THE OWL CAFk - 203 E. MAIN STREET
Members present: Shirley McDermott, Dirk Frickel, Bill Kampfer, Dean Rankin, Daniel
Klein
Others present: Judy Goldsbee, Linda Frickel, Cynthia Ware, James Caniglia, Kate
Hampton (Montana Preservation Society)
Kate has many tools and ordinances available to help growth. There is $4million
available state wide for State Preservation with no matching, $2million this year and
$2million next year.
She has created a Centennial Ranch program to honor family ranches of 100 years in
duration.
Other programs for preservation are Kaplan Fund Grants, Architectural Grants
w/matching money for bricks and mortar to help owners in need of financing for rehabs.
Randy Hafer is a good resource to redevelop buildings
Homeward has worked in Bozeman and Missoula focusing on low income housing - new
and rehab developments.
HUD, tax credits, new energy sources programs can be combined. Kate is working to
increase state tax credits from 5% to 20%, nearly passed this last session. Must follow
Secretary of the Interior standards on repair vs. replacement with like products
Butte has a CPR (Community Property Revitalization) workshop to show how to repair
old wood windows. CTEP money 10% to rehab store fronts is good "seed" money--$1 in
rent in the city yields $15 in spending.
Look at having Council set up a fund for seed money for fagade improvement - doesn't
need to be a large amount. Creates jobs, leaves a lasting legacy, increases community
benefits.
Tester talking about setting up an Amtrac run which would include Billings or Laurel, we
need to make a large pitch to have the run originate in Laurel, better turn around and
more area for the public. Would create needs for other transportation, buses, rental cars,
shuttles.
Laurel Alive or us needs to join the Montana Railroad Association. Jim Green has been
working for years to promote passenger trains.