Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Legal Services Department

 

TO: 

David Corliss,  City Manager

 

FROM:

John Jay Miller, Staff Attorney

 

CC:

Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager

Toni Wheeler, Interim Director of Legal Services

 

Date:

January 4, 2007

 

RE:

Hearing to adopt Neighborhood Revitalization Plan and Program  for the 8th and Pennsylvania District

 

On January 9th, the City Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of a Neighborhood Revitalization Plan and Program for the 8th and Pennsylvania District. Staff has prepared a draft Neighborhood Revitalization Plan and Program, for the City Commission’s consideration which contains the statutory requirements for creating a Neighborhood Revitalization Area and Plan. 

 

A Neighborhood Revitalization Plan is required by The Kansas Neighborhood Revitalization Act, K.S.A. 12- 17,114 et seq., in order to establish a property tax rebate program to encourage improvements to property within the Revitalization Area.   The proposal would establish a plan and program for the redevelopment of the 8th and Pennsylvania District.  The basis of this plan is that this is an “area in which there is a predominance of buildings or improvements which by reason of age, history, architecture or significance should be preserved or restored to productive use.” K.S.A. 12-17,115.

As currently proposed the developer would only be eligible for rebates on an amount no greater than the cost of the public improvements and the rebates would be phased upon the completion of stages of the redevelopment.  In conjunction with the Plan staff has prepared a draft Developer Agreement which will formalize the development, construction and implementation of the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan and the public and private improvements.  Staff has met with Harris Construction and Cinco Hombres, LLC, and they have been given drafts of the agreement and plan to review. 

 

 

The draft Neighborhood Revitalization Plan and Program, and project estimates  are attached for your review and adoption. A draft Developer Agreement is also attached for your review and would need to be approved at a future date.    

 

Action Requested:  Hold public hearing, pending discussion and conclusion of the public hearing, approve Neighborhood Revitalization Plan and Program.