Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Racine public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
6 issues in development with high priority
Neighborhood TID Program application window in TID No. 27
Alder Weidner says the CDA changed neighborhood TID grant rules — like focus areas and code-violation requirements — without the council ever approving those changes, and the amended plans would let the CDA keep changing policy on its own. She wants the council, not the CDA, to control those changes.
Habitat for Humanity homes
The city is moving forward on a deal with Habitat for Humanity and the CDA to build four homes, using up to $2 million in previously authorized HOME funding plus about $237,573 in NSP program income.
Giese School Property Development
The council approved a development agreement with Neumann Companies for the former Giese School property at 5120 Byrd Ave. About $2.3 million in TID 31 money will build roads and utilities, and $1.7 million will fund $50,000-per-lot down payment assistance to help families buy the new homes.
1308 Franklin Street rehabilitation loan
A grandmother in a wheelchair whose family has owned her home for 60+ years will get a $290,000 forgivable loan for a full code-compliance renovation — an unusually large award aldermen scrutinized before approving it unanimously.
TID plan overhaul: closures, amendments and two new districts
The city wants to close TIDs 10, 16 and 27, amend several neighborhood TIDs, and create TID 32 (Lincoln King) and TID 33 (the old YMCA site at 725 Lake Avenue). The changes are needed to stay under the state's 12% cap on TID value, and closing TID 27 is what makes the new districts possible. Alders get the final vote next week.
Spring Valley Drive commercial driveway safety
Residents of Spring Valley Drive are asking the council to reverse a newly approved parking lot entrance from a Spring Street business into their sidewalk-free residential street. They cite kids on bikes, strollers, cut-through traffic and a promised commitment from decades ago that the business would never access the neighborhood street.