Title
Resolution to Approve the Purchase of Property at 215 and 219 W. Kingsley St., Ann Arbor in Fee Title for $185,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and action is a resolution to approve the purchase of adjacent properties 215 W Kingsley St. (0.07-acre) and 219 W Kingsley St. (0.06-acre) owned by Blackhawk Associates, LLC.
On Nov. 15, 2010 City Council passed resolution R-10-412 which accepted a Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As stated in R-10-412 grant funds have been awarded to (1) purchase properties 215 & 219 W. Kingsley St., Ann Arbor (one vacant and the other with a structure); (2) conduct demolition of structure, foundation and the impervious surfaces on the sites; and, (3) grade and stabilize the site. Separate from the FEMA Grant (4) a rain garden will be installed at the site with Stormwater Utility Funds that have been identified in the City’s Capital Improvements Plan. Approval of this resolution will allow the City to pursue step 1 of the process: properties purchase.
The properties contain one structure: a vacant house that is within the regulatory floodway of Allen Creek. Having undergone previous flood damage and being subject to further flood damage, the building is an obstruction to the natural flow of flood waters. Purchasing the property, deed restricting the site as permanent open space, and removing the building now, while vacant, prevents the risk that it be renovated or redeveloped into a different use. Following approval of this resolution the City will immediately pursue ownership of the properties and demolition of the structure.
Also noted in R-10-412 is that City Council approved a Flood Mitigation Plan in 2007, which recommends opening up the floodway by preventing new structures and removing existing structures from the floodway to create greenways. Acquisition of the parcels is consistent with the City’s Flood Mitigation Plan.
A Phase I...
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