URA moves forward on acquisition processes


MONTE VISTA— The City of Monte Vista Urban Renewal Authority (MVURA) convened for their monthly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 6. The URA authorized pursuing measures to obtain tax lien properties and reviewed the status of the 117 Adams building, historical and environmental work and HAZMAT contractors for the properties being considered for acquisition through the Community Development Block Grant.  
Resolution 11-01-2018 was passed unanimously, which authorized “…MVURA Chair Jim Poston to foster and undertake the necessary transactions to provide funds not to exceed $25,000 to the Rio Grande Treasurer to begin the tax lien purchase process” for three residential properties. The MVURA is perusing the properties under their Community Development Block Grant. As previously reported in the Monte Vista Journal, the grant gives the city the funds to obtain blight properties and either rehabilitate them or demolish them, as long as two-thirds of the properties are deed restricted and sold to people who meet income guidelines (making 80 percent of area median income) thus turning eyesores into a positive path for home ownership. The other third of the properties can be sold at fair market price or used by the city, like creating a pocket park. The three properties Poston was authorized to act on are being considered primarily for demolition.
City Manager Forrest Neuerburg explained no interested parties came to the walkthrough last month posted in the city’s request for proposals for the building at 117 Adams, which was donated to the MVURA from Rio Grande Savings & Loan for economic development. Neuerburg explained the city will be using other means of publicity to get information out about the opportunity in hopes interested parties will complete the RFP before the deadline of Nov. 30. MVURA Commissioner Gary Wilkinson asked if Local Business Assist owner Ron Douglas, who the city has contracted with as an economic development consultant, had submitted an RFP. Neuerburg replied in the negative thus far. At the city council meeting on Nov. 1, Douglas stated the URA had been a roadblock to him in obtaining the building.
Another of the properties the city is considering acquiring for demolition has a burned out building on it and the city has begun the process of involuntary acquisition under the dangerous building code. Neuerburg explained the previous city attorney had started this process but was uncomfortable with completing the acquisition as the letter notifying the owner was not responded to and notice was not placed on the property. Neuerburg clarified a notice has now been placed on the property and a certified letter was sent from the current city attorney to the owner on Oct. 28, 2018, giving the property owner 30 days to appeal the acquisition.
Neuerburg explained he recently met with Arturo Alvarado, new executive director of the Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC), and retiring Executive Director Al Gold, who expressed interest in collaborating with the MVURA to find qualified home buyers for the rehabilitated homes.
Mark Garcia, consultant with the MVURA through his firm GOV-PLUS LLC, proposed contracting with Espinoza Consulting Services out of La Jara to complete the historical assessments needed for the MVURA to work with the properties they want to obtain.
Garcia stated the properties need History Colorado’s Cultural Resource Survey Architectural Inventory Form 1403 completed to determine if the property should be considered for the historic registry or not before the MVURA can move forward on rehabilitation or demolition. Garcia explained completing this could cost up to about $900 per property. Owner Dee Espinoza suggested she and her firm instead utilize the Colorado Cultural Resources Inventory Form 1417-Historical and Architectural Reconnaissance and then use that information to assess if further steps, like the 1403 process, need to be completed. Espinoza told Garcia she could complete the 1417 recon at a discount for the volume of properties, for $4,189 for sets of 25 properties, which the MVURA voted to pursue after Garcia explained the process is also likely a reimbursable expense from the state.
Garcia explained this was also efficient because there was a requirement the properties be vacant for 12 months, which is no longer the case for some on the original list of 55 properties. Garcia noted that Espinoza, a Stanford and Arizona State grad and trustee for the Town of La Jara, is highly qualified and finding a firm with the services hers can offer is somewhat rare, much less within the region.
The last matter of business discussed by the commissioners was HAZMAT contractors for removal of materials from the properties being considered for rehabilitation or demolition. The RFPs are due on Nov. 26 and the city has reached out to and received interest from several local contractors.