City looks at large grant applications

Kayne Pyatt, Herald Reporter
Posted 12/17/21

City officials meet Tuesday, Dec. 14, in Evanston, for a city council work session. Evanston Community Development Director Rocco O’Neill, left, asked the Evanston City Council on Tuesday to consider applying for large grants that renovate the Hotel Evanston and make improvements at the Bear River Greenway in Evanston. (HERALD PHOTO/Kayne Pyatt)

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City looks at large grant applications

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EVANSTON — Due to Mayor Kent Williams’ absence, Evanston City Councilmember Tib Ottley chaired the work session held on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Ottley introduced Jesse Lind and Matt Larson, who were on the agenda to speak for the Purple Sage Golf Club.

“The golf club lease with the city for the building at the golf course expires soon,” Lind said. “We would like to extend the rent of a flat rate of $1,300 with the contract ending in 2028, instead of the 2030 expiration date in the current contract. We would also ask to get rid of the language of the ‘pass through lease agreement’ in the contract.”

Lind explained that the golf club is not out to make money, but the club is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the 20-year-old building. He said there are issues with the furnace and other needed repairs which make it difficult to attract an operator for the bar and restaurant. Lind said if the “pass through” agreement is removed, it would give the club the ability to run the operation and have much needed finances for maintenance costs.

Evanston City Attorney Dennis Boal explained to Lind that when the contract had been drawn up originally, the “pass through” language had been added in order to ensure the lower rent was passed onto the operator and not to make money for the club. Boal stated that the city had given the club seed money some years ago for maintenance costs. The city is responsible for the golf course grounds and maintenance for the outside of the building. Boal said the city has not even come close to recouping the $600,000 purchase agreement for the golf course.

“The only way the golf club makes any money is through membership dues and that is never enough to cover repairs and bills,” Lind said. “We have put a lot of money already into repairs and we just want to be able to put something in reserves for needed repairs.”

“Scott Ehlers and I went on a tour of the building with Jesse and Matt,” Ottley said, “and it is true that there are many needed repairs. The golf course is important to Evanston and I like the idea of extending the agreement out with the current rent.”

Ottley then moved to the second item on the agenda, the Harrison House, located at the corner of Center and 9th streets. Ottley said he and Dean Barker had gone to tour the house and said there are some concerns with water issues. 

“The house is 120 years old but, over all, it is in good shape,” Ottley said. “Disability:IN has two offices there. A lot of rewiring has been done in the past. The main concern is the slope of the yard creates water draining into the foundation and walls. We are having some tests done and, when those [results] come, we can talk about a possibility of regrading the yard.”

Evanston Community Development Director Rocco O’Neill said he wanted to make the council aware of a couple of federal Economic Development Administration grants that he and grant writer Mieke Madrid had discussed applying for with cooperation from the city.  O’Neill said the application deadline is Feb. 1. 

O’Neill then projected the Bear River Greenway master plan map onto the screen.

“The BEAR Project proposes asking for $1.8 million from the EDA Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Grant with a 20% match of $360,000,” O’Neill said. “The BEAR board would contribute $30,000 of the match and ask the city of Evanston to cover the remaining $330,00.”

O’Neill explained that the cost estimate covers Phase 5 of the Greenway Master Plan, which would include repaving areas that currently have asphalt covering. It would also open up a new area along the wetland with a boardwalk and concrete sidewalk, build a bird blind and other new features to enhance the greenway.

BEAR Project board president Alex Moscinski said, “These improvements would really benefit the Bear Ponds area and would open up all kinds of possibilities for visitors. The greenway is a wonderful draw for people passing through Evanston.”

O’Neill moved to the second item under consideration for application for an EDA grant, the Hotel Evanston. “We hope to apply for EDA and WBC (Wyoming Business Council) grants to renovate the Hotel Evanston,” O’Neill said. “The grant request would be for $7.2 million with a 5% match required.” That match would be $360,000.

O’Neill said the Urban Renewal board is considering giving the Hotel Evanston to the city and that it seemed very favorable. It would be necessary for the city to own the building in order to apply for the grant. He said that an estimate for the project and preliminary designs have already been acquired.

“A major leader in the Impact 307 business incubator program was in town and toured the hotel and was interested in the possibility of leasing it for their headquarters and incubators,” O’Neill said. “They will be in the BOCES facility starting in January. The business incubator program has helped to launch over 200 businesses from threee locations in Wyoming since 2019.”

Madrid and O’Neill provided two options for applying for grants. The first option would be to apply for the entire $7.2 million from the EDA with a 5% match from the city and use the hotel as collateral. The second option would be to apply for $5.2 million from EDA and apply for $2 million WBC grant, and the project would be dependent on the success of both.

O’Neill stated that he preferred the first option if Urban Renewal will release the building to the city. They would have to decide where the match would come from in the budget. He said he thinks it is a good project and, if the city doesn’t do something with the hotel, it will just sit there empty for another 20 years.

Madrid said she would have the first grant written and presented to the council for approval the first week in January 2022.