IMMEDIATE ADOPTION
Number
231326
Version
Original
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. TAYLOR
Title
A resolution relating to acceptance of American Rescue Plan Act funds from the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration for the Northridge Mall Demolition and Redevelopment Program.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes the Department of Neighborhood Services to accept an award of American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration in the amount of $15,000,000.00 for the Northridge Mall Demolition and Redevelopment Program.
Body
Whereas, since its closure in 2002, the Northridge Mall located on Milwaukee’s northwest side has deteriorated to a dangerous nuisance condition; and
Whereas, the City is currently in the process of razing and remediating the dangerous nuisance condition of the Boston Store portion of the former Northridge Mall; and
Whereas, the remainder of the former Northridge Mall remains in a dangerous nuisance condition, sustaining at least seven fires since July, 2022, most recently on November 2, 2023, which places a severe strain on the Milwaukee Fire Department and on surrounding jurisdictions; and
Whereas, the City of Milwaukee has an enforceable raze order on the remainder of the Northridge Mall property; and
Whereas, to abate the dangerous nuisance and bring the property back to productive use, the City would be required to abate environmental contaminants including asbestos, mercury and other universal wastes at the site, complete demolition work, relocate certain utilities, green the property, and continue revitalization planning; and
Whereas, the City expects that returning Northridge to productive use will catapult much needed economic recovery in the area surrounding the former mall, discourage crime in the area, and build on the redevelopment work put into action by the Granville Business Improvement District and other interested groups; and
Whereas, the United States Department of the Treasury has distributed to the State of Wisconsin, through its Department of Administration (WI-DOA), funds (“ARPA Funds”) from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 802, as added by section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”); and
Whereas, WI-DOA is interested in assisting the City of Milwaukee in its efforts to remediate, green, and return the remainder of the Northridge Mall property to productive use through a grant of the State’s ARPA funding; and
Whereas, a Final Rule issued by the U.S. Treasury Department effective April 1, 2022, outlines the eligible uses to include expenditure category 2.23, “Strong Healthy Communities: Demolition and Rehabilitation of Properties,” which specifically incorporates costs to secure, acquire title of, demolish, deconstruct, and environmentally remediate vacant or abandoned properties, and the costs to put such properties back into productive use; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee, through its Department of Neighborhood Services, may accept said State funding in the amount of $15,000,000 and enter into an appropriate memorandum of understanding with the WI-DOA for such funding without further approval unless the terms of the project change as indicated in the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances Section 304-81; and, be it
Further Resolved, that the City Comptroller is authorized to commit funds within the Special Revenue Fund, the following amount for the project titled the Northridge Mall Demolition and Redevelopment Program:
Project GR0002300000
Fund 0150
Org 9990
Program 0001
Budget Period 0000
Subclass R999
Account 000600
Project Grantor Share
Amount $15,000,000
Create the necessary Special Revenue Fund - Projects values; budget against the Project values; the amount required under the MOU.
Requestor
Department of Neighborhood Services
Drafter
Andrea Fowler
Department of Administration
November 10, 2023