Title
Review Draft Community Renewal Plan and Draft Downtown Redevelopment Request for Proposal
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Briefing only; no action requested.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a timeline review and update on the draft Community Renewal Area (CRA) Plan and draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for the former Griswold’s property.
Staff Contact:
Renée Sunde, Economic Development Director, Community Planning & Development Department, 360.753.8591
Presenter(s):
Renée Sunde, Economic Development Director
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department
Background and Analysis:
Former Griswold’s Site - 308-310 4th Ave East
The City closed on the purchase of the former Griswold’s Property located at 308-310 4th Avenue East on June 2, 2016.
A draft RFP has been completed that will seek proposals to partner in a mixed-use development with the subject property. The City is most interested in proposals that will return this property to productive economic use quickly. At the same time, the City is interested in the longer-term vision for the surrounding properties and sees the redevelopment of the former site as being potentially catalytic for future downtown redevelopment and in strong alignment with the Downtown Strategy.
Community Renewal Area (CRA) Plan
As a next step in the City’s CRA process a draft Community Renewal Area Plan has been completed that will comply with Community Renewal Law (Chapter 35.81.RCW. This plan will build on previous planning efforts that established blight and determined a boundary in downtown Olympia, through a resolution adopted on February 2, 2015. The Plan may include a consecutive number of identified CRA projects (i.e. Projects #1, Former Griswold’s, Project #2, WSRA)
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The City hosted a Neighborhood Meeting, June 8, 2016 at City Hall and feedback has been considered in the draft CRA Plan and Redevelopment RFP.
There is much interest from neighbors as the City looks to redevelop this property in downtown. Downtown businesses surrounding this project will benefit from removing a blighted building that has not been available for community use with an attractive building in Olympia’s historic downtown area. The Subject property is of historic interest in that it once housed a movie theater but is not on the historic register or within a historic district.
A Public Hearing has been scheduled for July 12, 2016.
Options:
Debrief and Status Update Only
Financial Impact:
None at this time
Attachments:
Draft Community Renewal Area Plan
Draft Redevelopment Request for Proposal
Flyer - Upcoming Public Meeting