Potential city purchases would expand Washington Park
If you go
The plan commission will make recommendations on purchasing and selling properties at 6:30 p.m. today in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St. The recommendations will be forwarded to the council on June 22.
Photo
The city of Janesville is considering buying this house at 417 Washington St. to expand Washington Park.
Photo
The city of Janesville is considering buying this house at 417 Washington St. to expand Washington Park.
JANESVILLE — Two potential city purchases in the Look West district could address two foreclosed homes, one of which is in bad condition, and expand Washington Park.
Some of the money would come from the federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act passed in 2008.
The city wants to buy a dilapidated home at 417 N. Washington St. next to Washington Park for $39,000, tear it down and expand the park.
The Neighborhood Action Team has recommended the purchase. The city would pay for the purchase through its Parkland Acquisition Fund.
The purchase meets a goal of the Look West and Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Revitalization Plan to reduce density, said Al Hulick, development specialist. It also meets a goal of the city's park plan to buy properties as they become available to expand undersized parks. The plan recommends that parks be a minimum of 2 acres. Washington Park is about 1.67 acres. The property is 15,000 square feet and would push the park past the minimum limit.
The property is in poor condition and has been in foreclosure since November 2008.
Staff also proposes that the city buy property across the street at 414 N. Washington St. for $40,750. That is a foreclosed, single-family home in good condition, Hulick said.
Once minor renovation is completed, the city would market the house to a low- to moderate-income person or family. The city would put a deed restriction on the property so it remains owner-occupied.
The money to buy the home would come from the Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program, which staff applied for in January through the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. The program allows cities to buy foreclosed properties to rehabilitate, redevelop or demolish. Janesville anticipates receiving $987,146.
Both purchases are consistent with the recently approved Look West and Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Revitalization Plans, Hulick said.
The city also proposes to sell property it owns at 1728 N. Washington St. to Brian Bailey, owner of the Watering Hole, 1700 N. Washington. The property is about .8 acres and is undeveloped. Bailey would build additional parking. He may also develop an outdoor volleyball court, but that would come forward as a separate item before the plan commission.
The site was formerly owned by the Riverside Plating Corp., which operated until 1993. The city took ownership in 2007. The site has been declared clear of environmental contamination.
The city is requiring Bailey to relocate his Parkside Drive entrance farther from the North Washington Drive intersection to increase visibility and safety at the intersection, Hulick said.
Jun 17, 2009 at 11:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
When the electorate votes for councilmembers they are voting for anyone one of them to be council president. What more do you need? Don't be so nitpicky.
Jun 16, 2009 at 6:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
Im not sure your entirely correct in this case on the democracy stuff . If this was a real form of government WE the people would elect the president . In Janesville yes we vote for the council members , but WE need to be voting for the council president too .If we had a real from of government that the people could vote in ,then we all could trust the cities decision more often .
Jun 16, 2009 at 3:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
The president of the city council is Bill Truman. Truman is a truck driver and resides in the Fourth Ward. The president of the council is effectively the mayor. He or she and the other councilmembers are elected by the people. Then the councilmembers elect the president. It's called democracy.
Jun 16, 2009 at 1:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
I wish I had run , but Im not an important person( or wealthy) in janesville . So my guess is that I would`nt have a chance . Thank you for the thought . The big question is would you vote for someone with views such as mine ?
Jun 16, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
bobwood, did you run on the last council ballet?
Jun 16, 2009 at 11:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
whine, whine, whine does anything make you people happy! I think not!
Jun 16, 2009 at 11:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
The sand below the old Riverside plating was bright orange when they cracked the concrete during the clean up back in the 90's. The houses near Washington park don't look dilapidated. Why can't they both be used for low income housing? Does the park really need to be enlarged? I don't know why a house has to come down so the park fits the recommendation. It's undersized because it was built that way. So if the house is gone, what will take its place? More grass? A flower garden? A community garden? If we change things based on recommendations, I would recommend disbanning the city council and electing a mayor. I would also recommend no new development of anykind in an area not already developed. I would also recommend the city of Janesville to quit paving the riverbanks and wetlands and crying when it floods.
Jun 16, 2009 at 9 a.m.
Suggest removal
Just one more example of janesvilles super powers at work .Yea we need a bigger park .That will help all the people in town who are out of work .Looks like we will have more space for the homeless now.
DISASSEMBLE THE CITY COUNCIL replace them with people from the community who are not buissness owners , or FORMER POLICE CHIEFS , or people like STEEBER who has no clue .Just plain ol people with or without jobs . Common sense something the council does not have .
Jun 16, 2009 at 1:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
Go ahead Jerrie and all you others POST YOUR PICTURES NOW!!!!
Jun 16, 2009 at 1:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
I just woke up and I see I have nobody going against me here....... I can't hardly wait until pictures that are under what the democratic wants you to see.....
Jun 16, 2009 at 12:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
That house doesnt look in "poor condition".
Jun 15, 2009 at 5:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
Why doesn't the city just build the Watering Hole a parking lot, as they to could bring in tour buses for volley ball tournaments? It should be the same for all the businesses in town here..... Traveling teams families would come and spend money locally (sound familiar) Maybe we could build an indoor facility for volleyball so it could be used year round while we are at it! If I were Mr. Bailey I would be A little ticked I'm not being offered the same perks as others, afterall what makes them so special and his business is just overlooked much like most of us others here in town?
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.