Story posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009
City Applies For Stimulus To Remove 'Blight'
By TOM ROBB Journal & Topics Reporter
Des Plaines city staffers applied for a $90,160 federal stimulus grant last Friday "for the removal of blighted structures within the city" after aldermen passed a resolution at their Monday, June 1 meeting.
Grant guidelines say 70% of the money must be spent to benefit low and moderate-income persons. The projects must be carried out on an "expedited basis" and include restrictions including a prohibition against any spending on casinos, golf courses and swimming pools.
A city report said staffers had only three days to prepare the documents and receive approval from the city council before submitting the grant request to the federal department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Because of the short time between learning that the grant was available and the deadline to submit the application, City Manager Jason Bajor said staffers did not have time to compile a list of what properties might be removed or to even understand fully what structures might qualify for removal.
HUD reduced the public comment period from 30 days to seven days because of the expedited time line for grant submissions.
Des Plaines accepted public comment on the proposal from Wednesday, May 20 until Monday, June 1.
A city report said the goal of the Community Development Block Grant Blight Clearance Program was to, "benefit residential neighborhoods by removing dilapidated structures that otherwise may further prevent economic investment."
When the Journal & Topics asked for a definition of "blight," Bajor responded, "That's a good question, we need to look at that."
He said what might be considered blight by the city might have the same legal definition by the federal government.
Webster's dictionary defines "blight" as "the state or result of being deteriorated or ruined."
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