Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manger Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manger
FROM:	Britt Crum-Cano, Economic Development Coordinator
DATE:	June 17, 2014
RE:	Neighborhood Revitalization Area Request for 1106 Rhode Island Street

Please place the following item on the agenda for the June 17, 2014 City Commission meeting:

Receive request from Hernly Associates to purchase the property from the City, receive a development grant and establish a Neighborhood Revitalization Area on the property located at 1106 Rhode Island Street, refer the item to the Public Incentive Review Committee and set July 8, 2014 as the date for a public hearing on the proposed NRA and Revitalization Plan.

Introduction

The City is in receipt of a request from Hernly Associates, Inc. to purchase the property and establish a Neighborhood Revitalization Area (NRA) at 1106 Rhode Island Street. In addition to a purchase offer of $90,000, the applicant is requesting a development grant and the establishment of a 10-year, 85% NRA to rehab three historic structures on the property to productive use as office and rental residential space.

Located at the southeast corner of 11^th St. and Rhode Island St., two blocks east of Lawrence’s historic downtown district, the property occupies two lots (100’ x 117’ or 11,700 s.f.) with built structures including a house (built ~1872), a barn (built ~1890s), a garage and shed. Currently the property is vacant, dilapidated, and blighted, presenting safety, health, environmental, and economic concerns. However, the existing house, large barn, and garage are contributing structures to the North Rhode Island Street Historic Residential District, National Register of Historic Places and the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) determined these three structures maintain sufficient integrity and should be rehabilitated.

Requested Action