By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The possibility of riverfront housing took another step forward recently when Decatur City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city, the Decatur Redevelopment Commission and the Housing Resource Hub.
Affordable housing is a critical need in Decatur, and the city is looking at the possibility of developing housing along the west side of the St. Mary’s River off First St.
The city and the redevelopment commission have now signed the MOU, and once the Resource Hub signs on the agreement will be official and on the books.
Then, the Fort Wayne-based Resource Hub will begin to look at some of the possibilities of developing affordable housing on city-owned land off First St., from Monroe to Jefferson streets.
Another area to be looked at is the city-owned parking lot off Monroe St., near the Chamber of Commerce office.
The redevelopment commission has put up $50,000 to hire the Resource Hub, which specializes in developing and implementing workforce housing strategies, housing development, and home-buyer programs.
The city is moving on the subject now as it would like to get some concrete plans together to be used to seek a READI grant.
Indiana launched the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) this year, dedicating $500 million in state appropriations to, it says, “promote strategic investments that will make Indiana a magnet for talent and economic growth.”
State officials say the READI program is designed to “encourage neighboring counties, cities and towns to partner to create a shared vision for their future, mapping out the programs, initiatives and projects that are critical for them to retain talent today and attract the workforce of tomorrow.”
Ron Storey and Tim Ehlerding of the city’s redevelopment commission unveiled some specifics of the commission’s plan at a recent meeting of city council.
“We have a desperate need for apartments in Decatur, a study showed that,” Ehlerding told council.
He emphasized that the housing in the plan would be mostly apartments, “market-rate apartments, not subsidized housing.”