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RESOLUTION OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PURSUANT TO THE URBAN ACTION GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000,000 FOR PLANNING AND REDEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PURPOSES WITH RESPECT TO THE MILL RIVER DISTRICT
BODY
WHEREAS, the Mill River District (the “District”) is a neighborhood of New Haven (the “City”) consisting of approximately 200 acres of land located on both banks of the Mill River, roughly bounded by I-91 to the north and west, I-95 to the south, and the residential areas of Fair Haven to the east; and,
WHEREAS, a 2013 study by Utile, Inc. and Ninigret Partners carried out on behalf of the City estimated that over 38% of the land in the District is vacant or underutilized in terms of promoting jobs and industrial activity; and,
WHEREAS, the City proposes to revitalize the District through a three-phase process consisting of (i) property acquisition to support the redevelopment of blighted and dormant properties within the District, (ii) public infrastructure investments for coastal resilience, green infrastructure and completion of the Mill River Trail south of Grand Avenue, and (iii) planning, pre-development and the provision of gap financing to support the redevelopment efforts with a focus on housing developments; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4-66c of the Connecticut General Statues, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (the "State") is authorized to extend financial assistance through the Urban Act Grant Program to improve and expand state activities which promote conservation and development and improve the quality of life for urban residents of the State; and,
WHEREAS, the Project is consistent with said criteria for the use of financial assistance made available pursuant to the Urban Act Grant Program; and,
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the City make an application to the State under the Urban Act Grant Program for the sum of Five Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($5,000,000.00) and to work with the State in order to develop a mechanism in order to execute the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the New Haven Board of Alders that:
1). It is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for State assistance imposed by Section 4-66c of the Connecticut General Statutes.
2). That the filing of an application for State financial assistance by the City of New Haven in the amount of Five Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($5,000,000.00) is hereby approved (the “Application”), and that Justin Elicker, Mayor of the City of New Haven, is hereby authorized and directed to execute and file the Application with the State, to provide such additional information as may be required, to execute such other documents as may be required in the Application process, to execute an Assistance Agreement with the State for financial assistance (if such an agreement is offered) in the amount of $5,000,000.00 or such lesser amount (if any) as may be offered by the State (which Assistance Agreement may include an indemnification of the State and/or appropriate agencies of the State), to execute any amendments, rescissions, and revisions thereto, and to act as the authorized representative of the City with respect to all other matters pertaining to the Application.
3). It is affirmed that the City will work with the State with respect to the development of a suitable mechanism to best execute the Project.