HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council approved an action plan for housing rehab funds during Tuesday’s meeting.
Earlier this year the city was awarded $265,500 in community development block grants for housing rehab projects. The funds will help rehab 10 properties in the Creekside neighborhood. The area covers 6th to 8th Avenue and between Main and Adams Streets.
The hope is to provide enough funding to add about 20-years od usable life to the homes under the program according to Planning Director Ryan Hvitlok. So far 21 applications have been turned into the city from residents eligible for the funding.
The program is also intended for landlords to make improvements to rentals. The landlord must match the grant with 25% of their own funds and must freeze the rent on an improved unit for a period of three years.
Hvitlok says they hope to begin taking bids for the projects in July and have work on the qualified homes starting in late July or early August.
Also Tuesday, The Council approved the contract work for renovating the main runway at the Hutchinson Airport. The project will be fully funded by the FAA as part of the CARES act. The project includes sealing the runway and new markings. The project costs $587,671 and is expected to begin in later this summer.