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3. Old Kings Orchard (OKO) property repurposing and Urban Ag catalyst proiect— <br /> Urban Agriculture coupled with work and life skills development is the theme of catalyst <br /> projects planned for the OKO neighborhood. The City Council has approved an <br /> agreement with OKO Community Center for an urban agriculture project and work life <br /> skills program, and recreation site on the south side of OKO neighborhood in the amount <br /> of$250,000. <br /> 4. Acquisition, campus realignment and improvement of Wee Folks Properties—The <br /> former Wee Folks building located on North Jasper street was formally a childcare <br /> facility that had to close during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. This left a <br /> significant gap in the childcare ecosystem. City staff has identified an operator that is <br /> willing to re-start a quality childcare facility in the Wee Folks building if they do not <br /> have to service a mortgage on the building. This would be one of the few childcare <br /> facilities in the urban core. This is also an effort to start implementing results from the <br /> Jasper Street Great Streets Great Neighborhoods project. The realignment of this entire <br /> area will ensure that the city is a partner in a catalyst project that includes the parcels <br /> west of Jasper and south of Condit, including the Boys and Girls Club facility,the former <br /> DMCOC building, and Hope Academy. Together they can be a neighborhood catalyst <br /> and a destination area near some of the most challenged neighborhoods in our <br /> community. Approximately$280,000 was allocated for this project, including the <br /> acquisition cost of$180,000. <br /> The proposed resolution alters Council's original allocation as follows: <br /> • $250,000 to potentially fund the Garfield Park/Garfield site catalyst project. <br /> • $250,000 to the Old Kings Orchard Community Center urban agriculture and recreation <br /> site project. <br /> • $530,000 to the Wee Folks building rehabilitation. <br /> Even though Dove made diligent efforts to expend the $250,000 approved by Council to assist <br /> individuals and families with rent and utility relief, they have been unable to disburse the funds <br /> due to HUD restrictions requiring proof of pandemic displacement. At the same time, the costs <br /> of rehabilitating the Wee Folks building have become much more expensive than first <br /> anticipated(but it is still well below the cost of building a new day care center of this size). <br /> Based on printed guidance from Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS),the <br /> following items must be addressed: <br /> - Asbestos abatement—Approximate cost is $80,000. <br /> - New Flooring—Approximate cost is $90,000. <br /> - Paint asbestos tile,handrails, doors/windows frames—Approximate cost is $60,000. <br /> - Install Fire Suppression System and Water Supply—Approximate cost is $145,000. <br /> - Installation of New Roof Top HVAC Unit—Approximate cost is $375,000. <br /> - TOTAL ESTIMATED REHABILITATION COST-$750,000 <br /> Rehabilitating the former Wee Folks childcare facility is critical to the workforce development <br /> initiative for Decatur-Macon County and will immediately provide an additional 250 childcare <br /> openings per shift(operator is proposing to ultimately run three shifts once at scale) and help <br /> eliminate barriers currently preventing people from re-entering the workforce. Again, this is a <br />