Title
Study Session Summary of December 15, 2015 - Discussion of Potential Uses of City-owned Property located on Charles Street and Mathilda Avenue near Iowa Avenue
Summary
Call to Order:
Vice-Mayor Martin-Milius called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.
City Councilmembers Present:
Mayor Jim Griffith
Vice Mayor Tara Martin-Milius
Councilmember David Whittum
Councilmember Pat Meyering
Councilmember Jim Davis
Councilmember Glenn Hendricks
Councilmember Gustav Larsson
City Councilmembers Absent:
None
Study Session Summary:
Assistant City Manager Hanson Hom summarized the status of the Downtown Specific Plan and discussed possible land use options for the City-owned Charles Street property and the process for sale or lease of the property.
Councilmembers made the following comments:
* Define the success criteria for the future use of the property.
* Seek public input from adjacent residents on the future use of the property as it will affect the neighborhood.
* Some Councilmembers expressed interest in renting out the existing dwellings during the interim period, while others felt the dwellings should be removed.
* A suggestion was made to explore having Habitat for Humanity purchase the isolated single-family lot, but it was cautioned that this might impede the future development of the block.
* Preference was expressed for holding onto the property as a long-term asset and entering into a long-term ground lease rather than selling.
* Priority should be placed on establishing a use that would provide a public benefit instead of just selling the property (e.g. for market rate housing).
* The existing residential designation in the Downtown Specific Plan should be retained, but it may not be suitable to develop the property at the maximum capacity allowed in the Plan.
* Preference was expressed for affordable housing, either a senior housing project or a mixed project with a portion targeted for seniors. Housing for developmentally...
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