FAIRMONT – With the last full housing study done in 2013 and last update in 2020, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) considered a proposal to do one at its meeting on Monday afternoon.

Community Development Director Pat Oman said he has received support from the city through local housing trust fund dollars to create additional loan posts to the small city development grant, fund three loan programs to help with apartment unit rehab, and fund a housing study.

Oman said he knew the HRA is looking to build a multi-family dwelling, and to do so, consultants have said a housing study would be important in getting the necessary support.

“It’s probably been about 10 years since we’ve had a full-scale top-to-bottom housing study. When you look at that scope of work, what we are looking for is a whole review over the next five, 10, 15 years on all the population demographics for the city. We are looking for a full review of population growth, employment and economic development during that time.”

In a packet outlining potential needs and focus points for a housing study, questions include assessing price range, sustainability of rehabilitating current older structures, how to promote or attract homeowners and renters, the best utilization of public funds and how developments would fit into Fairmont’s current development strategy.

“Not only in the affordable and market rate,” Oman said. “What’s out there for seniors, families, students, young professionals and immigrants. What is going to be the market from now into the future, and if the study can document that, we can plan for the type of development we’re looking for.”

City Council Member Randy Lubenow asked what the situation is for abandoned or empty houses that could be rehabilitated.

Oman said there’s a little bit of both. Some are beyond rehabilitation, like the home next to Dairy Freeze, which has been discussed for demolition. Oman said he would like to see that home and building gone before the end of the summer.

As for houses not too far gone, Oman said one of the three supported loan programs is a zero-interest deferred forgivable loan that supports 50 percent of project costs up to $25,000.

HRA Executive Director Gail Diede said there is a current landlord in town who is looking to build multi-family homes in a formation similar to a cul-de-sac. HRA Commissioner Clare Mosloski said the trouble they ran into with that idea is the potential cost. For everything to go through on the investment side, she said they would have to charge renters $2,000 a month.

Having a current housing study on hand would determine if the homes would have renters at that price by evaluating the range of how much current Fairmont area residents can afford to pay.

At the Fairmont City Council meeting on Monday evening, the council approved moving forward with the study.

In other news

— A fence between Friendship Village and an upcoming cannabis business had its first discussion. Diede said there have been several times people have snuck into the village to consume illicit substances or have attempted to hide from the police. By having a fence, Diede said she is looking to deter people from cutting through Friendship Village and using it to consume drugs or alcohol.

As it is a federal property, marijuana is not allowed at Friendship Village. Oman said because they are a commercial business bordering a residential zone, the new cannabis business is required to have a fence or screen between their business and the residential zone. He recommended going that route first.

— Concerns regarding Friendship Village’s television and internet contract were gone through. Currently, Midco is their provider, but they have removed their cable service and now only provide internet. Diede said around 50 of the 115 people at Friendship Village use Midco internet to stream instead of using cable, and she believes they would not want the village to pull out of Midco’s service to use a different company.

To complicate the matter further, Diede said companies she has talked to would require some of the residents to upgrade their televisions before they could even use them. Mosloski thanked Diede for her due diligence in looking into the matter and committed to continuing to look for a better option.