Grant request for Case Feed building too large: CDA
JANESVILLE — Community Development Authority members on Wednesday refrained from giving a developer the $450,000 commitment he was looking for to redevelop the former Case Feed building at 922 Rockport Road.
Gideon Ngobi proposes redeveloping the historic building into a mixed-use project. He anticipates the historic property would be valued at $500,000 with office space on the first floor and a residence for a low- to medium-income family on the second.
In the warehouse area, he would provide space for a community learning center and give one year of free rent for other neighborhood organizations.
The CDA voted to deny the request because Ngobi is not the current owner and because the CDA doesn’t have that much money, Jennifer Petruzello, neighborhood services director for the city, said. The CDA makes recommendations to the council on how the city spends its federal block grant money.
The entire block grant allocation to the city in 2008 was $535,000 and a similar amount is expected in 2009. Members did not feel comfortable funding the project for $450,000, Petruzzello said.
The CDA already has allocated its 2009 budget. It has $57,000 for neighborhood blight elimination projects, and there was some discussion among board members to use that, Petruzzello said. But members wondered how neighborhood groups would pay their rent after the first year, she said.
The CDA is anticipating an additional $145,000 in stimulus money. But the city doesn’t know what strings will be attached to that money, she said.
Staff recommended that Ngobi look for non-city funding and submit a new, reduced proposal in the summer as part of the CDA’s normal allocation process.
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Mar 24, 2009 at 12:04 p.m.
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hmmm... that, 'Buy me a drink, Sailor,' part seems awfully familiar. I think I've heard this story somewhere before!
Mar 22, 2009 at 5:07 p.m.
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(Location: The EasySpeak)
"Bartender, how 'bout some leftovers from the kitchen?"
"Sorry, but the kitchen's closed after 9pm."
"I know it's closed, that's why I want leftovers."
"We can't sell any food after nine."
"Sell? who said anything about 'sell.' You can't charge me for leftovers, it's against the law, I'll have your license!"
"Look, you, you'll have to behave or you'll be shown the door. What're you drinking?"
"Show me the door, ahh! Try it. I'll have the governor and the National Guard here by midnight. Leftovers, please."
"We can't give you leftovers, it's against code."
"CODE, ha, that's good one!!! You don't tell me about codes, ha ha ha. Look, buster, do you know who I am?!"
"Ma'am, are you going to have a drink or not?"
"C'mon, buddy, I can use some wings."
"Why is that? Did they finally reposes your broom?"
"Aruphh." (then turning to the guy on her left) "WHAT'RE YOU LOOKING AT?!!!"
(eye-roll)
(then turns to the guy on her right) "Hey, sailor, buy me a drink!"
--------------------------
--This drama was based on a true incident.
--Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Mar 21, 2009 at 2:18 p.m.
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"Have you seen the printout of my letter to the editor? the one where I complain about the Gazette?"
"I think it's over there under your pile of foreclosures."
Mar 21, 2009 at 7:22 a.m.
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"We gotta get the feds here to investigate the corruption."
"Are you insane???!!! Put that phone down!!!
Mar 20, 2009 at 11:08 p.m.
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LMAO - ohhhhhh, that was just what I needed!
...seriously, it was like being a fly on the wall - I could like even smell the incense man
Mar 20, 2009 at 1:23 p.m.
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I can imagine the substance fueled bull session that hatched this crazy plot:
"Here's what we'll do, dawg, we'll ask for $450,000......"
"450 large, are you joking?!"
"No, no......, hear me out, and quite bogartin' that thing, hand it over to me."
"Here you go, girlfriend."
"OK, thanks, we ask for 450 but settle for $96,000, you dig?"
"Oh yeah, I feel ya girlfriend, you're a sharp one, eh eh eh."
Mar 20, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.
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hannah, was it something we said?
Mar 19, 2009 at 3:46 p.m.
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I would like to see it house a city art center where artists rent spaces to set up their work to sell as well as an area for speakers to come and talk or demonstrate their art techniques. The state used to have grant money for these projects and I believe they still do. Grass roots music fests could also be a part of it and perhaps the bar across the street would go in partnership to at least let us use their parking lot or the park is close also. Music could be a big part of it also. This has been done in other cities but not with music as a partner. Spring Green has Bob fest at the general store every year to pay tribute to Bob Dylan with great success and a local beer is served also. the Janesville art League could get involved. Artists could rotate manning the store and in return, their time would earn them a reduction in space rental fees. Perhaps space upstairs could be rented as studio space also. Even a coffee shop may want to get involved. But the secret is to make it a unique space and a draw for tourists and advertised as such.
Mar 19, 2009 at 3:02 p.m.
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Not enough parking for a community center. The apartment upstairs is huge. I can't really see this part of town needing office space. It needs more affordable residential housing.
Mar 19, 2009 at 2:48 p.m.
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What if they put the tunnel under the bulding, then would it be okay?
Mar 19, 2009 at 1:10 p.m.
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Oh, that's funny! Reading the original article I thought Mr. Generosity was going to donate the ground floor space of the historic building to the community center - of course not! For $450k the city will get the use of a warehouse for a year - that must be one PIMP warehouse! Can't imagine why that didn't sell...
Mar 19, 2009 at 11:55 a.m.
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carlitosway, the bike tunnel is not funded by the CDBG money. They're entirely different funding programs.
Mar 19, 2009 at 10 a.m.
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Awww...so sad Andrea...there goes your commission. Onto another one of your schemes.
Mar 19, 2009 at 9:52 a.m.
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And the bike tunnel cost and request is not to large?
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