Title
Resolution to Direct the City Administrator to List for Sale 319 South Fifth and to Retain Real Estate Brokerage Services
Staff
Prepared by: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Sponsored by: Councilmember Kunselman
Body
Whereas, City Council approved a resolution (R-07-517) on November 5, 2007 directing the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to prepare a written recommendation for construction of a South Fifth Avenue underground parking garage which would include above ground, in the short-term, surface public parking, and in the long-term development which could include, but is not limited to, a residential, retail and/or office building(s) and a public plaza along either Fifth Street or the newly constructed street;
Whereas, The Downtown Plan encourages downtown's highest density development and tallest buildings to locate within the Core areas to create the critical mass of activity and density needed to support a range of central retail, service, cultural, residential and entertainment functions and transportation services;
Whereas, Urban public places must be located, designed, managed, and maintained to attract sustainable uses that add to the positive vitality of a downtown's street life;
Whereas, The Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan 2011-2015 identifies a need for additional open space in the downtown and stated the goal to "Work with the Downtown Development Authority to plan for renovation and acquisition of downtown open space, including the development of the library lot";
Whereas, City Council authorized the DDA to develop a plan to redevelop downtown city-owned parcels including the Library Lot (R-11-129) on April 4, 2011;
Whereas, The DDA followed City Council's direction and implemented a process called Connecting William Street (CWS) including an online survey that received over 2,000 responses and multiple focus groups as well as public meetings;
Whereas, The public input received by the DDA thr...
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