Sausalito moves toward renovation of donated house

Sausalito will hire an architect to undertake a $200,000 renovation of a dwelling bequeathed to the metropolis.

The Metropolis Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to immediate city personnel to obtain an architect to create renovation designs for the household. The city will use reserve resources to finance construction.

The home’s previous owner, Dorothy Gibson, gifted the just one-bedroom, 1-bathtub, 1,200-sq.-foot dwelling at 429 1/2 Johnson St. to the metropolis right after her dying. The residence is deed limited and have to serve as reduced- or moderate-money housing for whole-time metropolis staff members, like first responders.

The council has also regarded as giving at the very least just one home as portion of a pilot plan to a individual in transitional housing using the Marin Housing Authority voucher plan. That particular person also would be in an employment system with the city.

Improvements currently being considered contain a 1st-ground restroom compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act the set up of a bed room on the 2nd floor and a attainable conversion of a downstairs garage to livable space. The town explained that with the improvements the household could accommodate two or a few lower- to moderate-profits flats. A person of the flats might be considered an accessory dwelling unit or a junior accessory dwelling unit.

Public Works Director Kevin McGowan explained the function could also involve updating the electrical procedure and incorporating kitchenettes on the reduced level of the home. He reported ADA updates would also be essential on the outside stairs in order for occupancy to be permitted there.

A residence inspection done in April 2021 indicated that added do the job may be needed on the roof, siding, furnace and deck.

The price of the building is estimated to be $167,812.50. The advancement of the strategy is anticipated to take 3 to six months.

Councilmember Jill Hoffman reported she attained out to the Rotary Club, Lions Club and Sausalito Wonderful about how they could support with building.

“I would expect we would get enable from our community in get to convey development fees down,” she stated.

Vice Mayor Melissa Blaustein urged the council to look into grants or other alternatives to guide with the funding.

The city’s serious estate manager, Mike Wagner, said he explored funding solutions through financial institutions, but the believed project charge was far too reduced. He explained expenditures affiliated with securing financing would be prohibitively high-priced.

The city approximated sector-level rent at $5,000 to $6,000 for every month. For the reason that the residence must be very low-income, the city expects to obtain among $1,650 to $1,980 for every thirty day period.

Gibson, an author and social worker, died in 2019 at the age of 95.