By NATE KING
Salina Post
The City of Salina announced Tuesday that it received nearly a million dollars to rehabilitate and repair a 10-block area in Salina.
This was the first time the city received a grant issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks. The $999,999 award was made possible through the partnership with local FHLB member - Equity Bank.
"This portion is sort of the second part of the 'Live Salina Plan," said Michelle Martin, City of Salina Community Relations Supervisor. "The first part was a new development, and then now we're in the phase of really working on preserving what we have."
Martin said that back in 2023, commissioners held a study session to hear recommendations regarding the next steps in fulfilling the Live Salina Plan, the city's strategic housing approach.
Until recently, no new housing units were being developed in the city, and older housing stock was not adequately maintained to keep pace with the city's housing needs.
With current employers like Great Plains Manufacturing & Schwan's announcing labor expansions and new employers choosing to locate in Salina, the City Commission requested annual updates to the Live Salina Plan through 2030.
The 2021 Live Salina Supplement, recommended attention first be given to securing new housing developments "green field" housing before focusing on steps to revitalize and preserve existing neighborhoods.
The South View Estates and Aero Plans subdivisions are underway and will yield over 500 new single-family homes, and the City recently secured $25 million in incentives from the State of Kansas to enter into an agreement with a developer to construct 500 market rate apartment units.
"Our ultimate goal is hopefully that this will be an ongoing thing, that we will be able to find funding and continue and grow this program from that initial targetted area," Martin said.
The ten-block area being rehabilitated with the grant dollars is the area within the boundaries of State Street, Ninth Street, South Street and Broadway Ave. In the next four years, 44 owner-occupied homes will need structural and safety improvements.
More information will be available online soon at: https://www.salina-ks.gov/homerehabgrants.