Acquisitions Focus on Phase MI-5 Northeast Tieback Levee Properties
In the NDR action plan, a focus has been on the acquisition of properties needed for flood mitigation projects. Reducing flood risk to the community is essential to Minot’s long-term recovery.
A key phase of flood protection for the north-side of the Mouse River is moving forward. Homeowners targeted for buyout in the Phase MI-5 Tieback Levee project have recently been contacted to start the process for acquisitions of their properties.
Normally public informational sessions are held to outline the buyout process, but with concerns surrounding COVID-19, it was decided to get input from impacted residents to determine the best way to proceed with the meetings. Surveys were sent out to the homeowners to judge their preferred method of meeting for an initial informational session.
Property owners were asked to choose amongst three meeting options including a public meeting in a large enough venue to comply with social distancing and follow CDC guidance, an entirely virtual public meeting or individual meetings either virtually or in-person. Based on survey results, a meeting or series of meetings will be scheduled.
This MI-5 phase will start on the east end of the Phase MI-1 Fourth Avenue project by 3rd Street NE and continue to the east and north, tying into the high ground to the east of 13th Street. Major features of Phase MI-5 include earthen levees, arterial road changes, a dry storm water pond, floodwalls, a city greenway feature and a storm water pump station.
A new alignment was approved this spring that places more flood protection features north of the BNSF rail line, on top of a portion of the existing Railway Avenue footprint. A public input session was held in February to inform residents of the proposed changes to the plan. The meeting was well attended with over 100 members of the public in attendance.
Following the public meeting, both the Minot City Council and the Souris River Joint Board approved the change in alignment of the project in March. The total cost estimate of this alignment is approximately $75 million.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Acquisition Program
• Overall, the City of Minot has acquired 147 properties to date: 80 properties using NDR-CDBG funds and 67 properties using State Water Commission Funds; 7 properties included in the 80 NDR properties were partially funded with State Water Commission funds. These properties are needed for on-going or upcoming flood mitigation projects. (The numbers represented here are tied specifically to NDR funding only.)
• The City has demolished 127 properties in the first three buyout areas. The 2019 Round 4 Structure Demolition and Site Restoration project has resumed and is slated to be completed in summer 2020. Bids for the 2020 Round 1 Structure Demolition and Site Restoration project have been opened and demolition is expected to start and be completed in summer 2020.
• The City’s structure and salvage auctions continue, and all sales generate program income which will be fed directly back into acquisition program future purchases.
Affordable Housing
• 76 people have applied to the Resilient Homebuyer Program: 42 remain in the process of review and eligibility verification through a lender of their choice, 27 applied but were not eligible or withdrew, and seven have closed to date. The program continues accepting applications.
• After executing an architectural services contract in February with EAPC for the Milton Young Towers resiliency project, the Minot Housing Authority (MHA) completed the plans and specs for the rehabilitation project in May; construction is slated to begin in August.
• The Blu on Broadway mixed-use affordable rental housing facility will provide 42 rental units built above a ground-level commercial space; construction is targeted to start in the summer/ fall 2020.
• The City entered into a subrecipient agreement with Essential Living to build 22 affordable housing units, which will be known as Park South II. A Request for Proposals was issued in May for construction management services.
• The City entered into a sub-recipient agreement with Lutheran Social Services Housing, Inc. to build 17 units of multi-family affordable rental housing; the future site for the affordable housing project was acquired in early January. An RFQ for Architecture and Engineering services was published in early May.
• The Minot Area Community Land Trust’s single-family affordable housing activity is anticipated to begin in spring 2020; the Disaster Recovery Office is working with the trust to provide technical assistance on HUD’s NDR regulations.
Family Shelter
• The City entered into a sub-recipient agreement with Lutheran Social Services Housing, Inc. to create a 6-unit family shelter; the future site for the family homeless shelter was acquired in January. An RFQ for Architecture and Engineering services was published in early May.
Downtown Gathering Place
• At the April 20 meeting, Council decided to defund the Downtown Gathering Place activity. The activity’s funds will be moved to the City Hall and Center for Technical Education activities, pending approval of a substantial amendment to the NDR action plan.
City Hall
• At the April 20 meeting, Council agreed to pursue the Wells Fargo building for a new City Hall location; the environmental review process is underway.
Center for Technical Education
• The CTE committee is currently in discussions with Trinity Health about the acquisition and remodeling of a downtown building for the CTE location.
Reduce Flood Risk/ Improve Water Management
A. Buyouts / Acquisitions / Demolitions / Relocations
a. Total Budget - $20,052,016
b. Spent to Date - $18,261,621
Build Affordable Resilient Neighborhoods
A. Multi-Family Affordable Housing
a. Total Budget - $20,897,000
b. Spent to Date - $3,852,100
B. Single-Family Affordable Housing
a. Total Budget - $12,807,750
b. Spent to Date - $1,460,185
C. Gathering Place
a. Total Budget - $6,000,000
b. Spent to Date - $201,366
D. Family Shelter
a. Total Budget - $3,041,500
b. Spent to Date - $630,914
Foster Economic Resilience and Diversification
A. Center for Technical Education
a. Total Budget - $1,540,000
b. Spent to Date - $40,230
B. Relocate City Hall
a. Total Budget - $3,750,000
b. Spent to Date - $9,855
Completed Projects
∙ Affordable Housing Supply & Demand Study
∙ Souris River Decision Support Tool
∙ Park South Renovations
