The Habitat for Humanity townhouse project proposed in the parking lot on Water Street in Plymouth received many negative comments during the March Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. Because of those comments the city decided to look for an alternative site and Monday night during the City Council meeting City Attorney Sean Surrisi told members a new site has been located.
The new location is a lot on West Garro Street, formerly the Pop Stop in the same block as the Neighborhood Center. Surrisi said the design concept has also changed. Instead of new townhouses the proposal is four single family homes, similar to a project completed on West Harrison Street several years ago.
The lot which is directly to the west of the old Eagles Lodge parking lot is privately owned so the request presented Monday evening was for $50,000 that would be donated to Habitat allowing them to contract with the property owners. The $50,000 would cover the purchase of the property and a good portion of the site prep work. The attorney said there is a large concrete slab that needs to be broken up and removed for the site.
City Councilman Don Ecker asked where the funds would come from for the request. Surrisi said it would have to be identified within the city funds. There was no recommendation presented with the proposal.
The City Attorney said with an approval he would present an additional appropriation hearing request at the next meeting to include this $50,000 along with the Stellar Community Funds of $10,000, the funding of $142,600 for the Aquatics Center; $300,000 for the Garden Court Supportive Permanent Housing project and any other department additional appropriation requests pending.
Councilman Jeff Houin asked for assurance that the $50,000 requested was contingent upon Habitat for Humanity being awarded the grant for the project.
Attorney Surrisi said the grant consultant is fairly confident the project will be awarded because this application involves three communities, Argos, Bourbon and Plymouth.
Monday evening the Plymouth City Council approved the request for $50,000 for the Habitat for Humanity housing project on West Garro Street.
