Community Action’s plans for three small transitional houses on River Valley Park in Janesville get a positive recommendation from the city’s parks and recreation advisory committee despite some mixed opinions.
Committee members had reservations about relinquishing park land for non-park use, but they ultimately voted to recommend the project to the city council for approval with four members voting in favor, two voting against and three abstaining.
The proposal is a partnership between the city and the local non-profit to use one-third of the existing park area to house three homeless families temporarily and work to get them into permanent housing.
The city of Janesville would help fund the development through Community Development Block Grant and Housing and Urban Development funds, but Community Action would own the property and operate the transitional housing.
Parks Director Cullen Slapak said the structure of how the city receives park land makes it very difficult to sell the land, and he believes the project at 2300 Kellogg Avenue likely wouldn’t set a precedent.
The proposal still will receive a recommendation from the city’s plan commission before being referred to the city council for full approval.
Planning and Development Director Marc Perry said Community Action operates similar transitional housing programs throughout Rock and Walworth Counties, but this would be their first project on re-purposed park land and their first housing program with the small, 600-square-foot homes.
