By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
More Airbnb apartments are planned for development in downtown Hays.
Hays developer Tim Speno, One Twenty Seven Investments, wants to renovate the second floor of the building at 1012 Main into three short-term rental units.
Speno is requesting the city of Hays apply for $300,000 in grant money through the Kansas Department of Commerce's Community Development Block Grant Commercial Rehabilitation program to assist with the redevelopment project.
The state program is designed to assist private property owners in the rehabilitation of blighted structures.
The developer is required to provide 25% in matching funds, or $104,315. The total project cost is estimated at $464,505.
The city is the official applicant and has no financial obligation.
The building, initially constructed in 1917 as the Hays Building and Loan Association, has housed various businesses over the years and is currently home to Eclectic Threads Quilt Studio.
The renovation will involve exterior masonry, interior plumbing, HVAC, and roof improvements to create three rentable units. The quilt studio will continue to operate on the ground floor.
"That's one of the huge successes of downtown areas is having people live there and being a vital part of the downtown, so I love seeing this," said Sandy Jacobs, mayor.
The grant application process will be similar to a request made by another Hays developer, Adam Pray, for Chestnut Suites, which is currently under renovation at 1108 N. Main.
More planned new housing was discussed during a rezoning request for 2707 Canal Blvd. from commercial general to a residential multi-family district.
The owner, Aaron Dreher of AD3 LLC, Hays, plans to build units designed for short- or long-term rentals that are fully furnished for traveling nurses or similar business professionals.
The Hays Area Planning Commission has already approved the rezoning request for the .607 acres of undeveloped land directly east of little Dillons, 515 W. 27th.
Dreher owns the property to the north and south of the area requested for rezoning and plans to leave the south end, which fronts 27th Street, available for potential commercial development. That site was previously occupied by the Stop 'N Shop convenience store.
Jesse Rohr, public works director, presented three recommendations for minor changes to the Unified Development Code for small accessory structures, such as gazebos or garden sheds.
Proposed are the elimination of side and rear setbacks for accessory structures 120 square feet and smaller; the elimination of the maximum number of two accessory structures that can be placed on a single parcel; and the elimination of restrictions on the size of accessory structures in agriculture districts, which are on the edge of town.
Rohr also recommended a general nuisance abatement for 206 E. 14th.
"We've had no contact from the owner (William Call)," said Rohr. "There's been little to no improvement in the past two months."
All four agenda items will be voted on at the June 26 city commission meeting.