R2016-20 AUTHORIZING REAL ESTATE CONTRACT Wabash Redevelopment Area

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Development Services Memorandum DATE: March 2, 2016 TO: Honorable Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council FROM: Tim Gleason, City Manager Billy Tyus, Assistant City Manager for Development Services Richelle Irons,Director of Neighborhood Services Patrick Hoban, Economic Development Officer SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing Real Estate Contract for Property Located in the 400-500 Blocks of East King Street, the 400-500 Blocks of East Central Avenue and the 800 Block of North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in the Wabash Crossing Redevelopment Area SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council approve the sale of land in the Wabash Crossing area to the Northeast Community Fund for$650 to facilitate the construction of a facility housing a food pantry, financial and furniture assistance programs and associated services. BACKGROUND: Over the last several months we have had discussions about creating a social services campus on what is currently city owned vacant land in Wabash Crossing. We believe that City Council approval of the land sale to facilitate the new Crossing Healthcare Development provided a spark for future development of similar and complimentary uses that can serve both residents who live in the area and thousands of others throughout our community who might be in need. In addition to this proposal,we anticipate bringing two agreements for your consideration in the coming weeks that could represent exciting additions to the Wabash area and serve a much-needed community need while leading to the development of land that—for years now—has stood vacant. According to its website,the Northeast Community Fund was established in 1969 as the St. John's Northeast Community Fund founded by St. John's Lutheran Church and local businesses Wagner Castings, CB&Q Foundries and Superior Welding. Today the organization assists thousands of individuals each year with services that include a food pantry, clothing and prescription medication assistance, furniture, a micro-finance program and financial counseling, among others. All services are primarily targeted towards low-income or homeless individuals and families, seniors and veterans on a fixed income. The City has been working with Northeast Community Fund to target a location for a new proposed 30,000 square foot space to provide its services, agreeing in principle to transfer city owned land in the Wabash Crossing area to the East of Crossing Healthcare to house the new facility. According to Northeast representatives the new space would: