LA GRANDE — The Urban Renewal Agency and Urban Renewal Advisory Commission will meet for a joint special session to allocate project funding on Monday, July 8.

Six project proposals were submitted for consideration, according to the agenda packet. All projects requested $75,000 or less in funding.

Proposals were submitted by Appliances and More, Conklin Property Investments, K. Voelz Winery, Preseason Playground, Quilt Barn and All Phase Electric.

The adopted budget for the program allocates $350,000 for projects not located within the La Grande Business and Technology Park and, across all six proposals, a total of $450,000 was requested. However, only $417,964 of the requested total is eligible for funding.

Each project has already been assessed and scored by staff. Points are awarded for a variety of different categories, including business visibility, project readiness, reduction of blight, return on investment, impact to the central business zone and ratio of private investment to public dollars.

Highest scoring project

Currently, the highest scoring project is Conklin Property Development, 216 Chestnut St., with 155 points. The applicants — Nate and Tamara Conklin — plan to develop a new mixed-use space in the building that formerly housed EONI at the corner of Chestnut Street and Jefferson Avenue.

The project will create a new office space for State Farm Insurance, which the Conklins own, along with a new area called Railroad Station. This space will include hookups for food trucks with an adjacent taphouse and restaurant area, a shared-use commercial kitchen and possibly a retail or maker space.

“This project has been identified as a potential catalyst project in the Jefferson Avenue Redevelopment planning efforts,” the staff report said.

The project will be completed in four phases, but the application only pertains to the first three. The first phase is already underway with the remodel of the Chestnut Street side of the building into the new office space.

Phase two will entail the development of the food truck pod on the north side of the building and phase three will build out the interior space with the shared commercial kitchen and the maker space.

The final phase, which is not included within the scope of the current application, would focus on the exterior facade and window restoration.

The project received a blight score of 20 — out of a maximum of 30 — as there is a combination of exterior and interior damage, deterioration and dilapidation, which needs to be addressed for more than purely aesthetic reasons.

The estimated project cost is $805,000 with $730,000 in private investment. A total of $453,060 of the project costs are considered eligible uses, so the Conklins are eligible for the maximum funding allocation of $75,000.

Second place

The second highest scored project — with a total staff score of 132 and a blight score of 20 — is K. Voelz Winery, 1104 Jefferson Ave.

The project is an adaptive reuse of the former Napa Auto Parts building. Owner Kimberly Voelz is working to turn the space into a tasting room and plans to eventually expand to include full winery production.

The application includes a roof replacement, asbestos abatement, installing a fire alarm system, Americans with Disabilities Act improvements and exterior paint.

This project is consistent with the Jefferson Avenue Redevelopment Plan through the focus on small scale manufacturing and locally made products.

Not including the price of purchasing the building, the estimated project cost is $278,293 with $203,293 in private investment. Voelz is eligible for and has requested the $75,000 maximum allocation of funding.

Taking third

Coming in with the third highest staff score is a new construction project by All Phase Electrical Construction. The applicant is looking to build a two-story residential development in an empty lot on the north end of Adams Avenue.

The development, 301 Adams Ave., would create five short-term vacation rental units and nine long-term residential units. The project includes complete site development, such as site clearing and excavation, utility work, new building construction, curbs, gutters, sidewalk, parking lot and landscaping.

The project scored 120 points and a blight score of zero. However, staff noted that the overgrown vacant lot is located on the northeast entry into La Grande and the development of the property would enhance the corridor.

The residential development has the highest estimated project cost at $2.2 million, with a private investment of $2.125 million. The applicant requested and is eligible for $75,000 in funding.

Remaining projects

• Preseason Playground, 712 18th St., received a staff score of 114 and a blight score of 10. Applicant Geoffrey Robinson is looking to implement an adaptive reuse project — turning the former home of Self Service Furniture into a new fitness and physical therapy center.

• Appliances and More, 212 Greenwood St., scored a 93 on the staff score and a 10 on the blight score. The project would allow owners Jay and Kristin Wilson to replace the windows and doors on three sides of the building.

• The Quilt Barn, 1708 Jefferson Ave., received a staff score of 50 and a blight score of zero. Business owner LaRae White is looking to convert an existing storage building into a retail store front.

Ranking the projects 

While the projects have been assigned staff scores and blight recommendations, the final ranking is still subject to change. During the joint meeting, members of the agency and commission can allocate an additional 65 discretionary points per project.

Once the proposals are evaluated and ranked, the available funding will be allocated to projects starting with the highest ranked proposal and working down the list. Projects will receive the full amount of funding requested until the budget is exhausted. Members of the agency and commission are also not obligated to award the full $350,000 of budgeted funds.

The Monday, July 8, Urban Renewal Agency and Urban Renewal Advisory Commission special session, which is open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. at La Grande City Hall, 1000 Adams Ave. The meeting also will be streamed live on the EO Alive website and Facebook page.