By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
There is just one item on Thursday's short agenda for the Hays city commission work session, and it may merit a long discussion.
Atchison developer Justin Pregont is requesting financial incentives for redevelopment of the former St. Joseph's School and Parish Center, 210 W. 13th Street, according to Collin Bielser, asst. city manager.
"The developer is proposing to redevelop the property into a 12-unit multi-family complex that would target moderate income housing," Bielser said.
The project is estimated to cost about $2.2 million.
St. Joseph’s Apartments, LLC, is "requesting financial incentives from the city, including a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) as well as a resolution of support for a Moderate Income Housing Grant (MIHG) from the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation (KHRC).
"Only cities or counties can serve as the applicant for the Moderate Income Housing, so that's why the city has to pass that resolution and then it's all upon the developer to follow through then," Bielser said.
The three-story historic limestone building has been empty for about five years.
The RHID would capture all eligible incremental property tax revenues within the RHID. Those revenues would be used to reimburse the developer for RHID-eligible expenses, an estimated $1.78 million, on a pay-as-you-go basis for a maximum term of 20 years.
The city would not issue any bonds in connection with the RHID.
St. Joseph School was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, along with St. Joseph Church across the street, in 2008.
Construction on the project would begin early next year if the state grant is received.
Hays-based Paul Wertenberger Construction, Hays, has been selected by the developer as the general contractor.
City commissioners unanimously approved a rezoning request last week from Public Institutional District to Multi-Family District for the property.