R2016-32 AUTHORIZING REAL ESTATE LEASE AGREEMENT Wabash Crossing Redevelopment

Home Browse Search

Development Services Memorandum No. 16-10 DATE: March 16, 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 Suzan Stickle, Senior Planner SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing Real Estate Lease Agreement for Property Located in the 200-300 Blocks of East Central Avenue in the Wabash Crossing Redevelopment Area SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Real Estate Lease Agreement between the City of Decatur and Crossing Healthcare. BACKGROUND: Staff has been in talks with Crossing Healthcare and the Good Samaritan Inn about an exciting new project that could represent the next step in the overall development of a social services campus at Wabash Crossing. The two groups are partnering on what would be a Crossing Healthcare Garden and Prescription program, a "healing garden" of sorts whereby Crossing Healthcare would be able to write prescriptions for fresh produce to patients to be redeemed in the garden market across the street. If this lease is approved, the garden would be strategically located across the street from the new Crossing Healthcare facility on city-owned property which would increase access to fresh produce to patients and community members who in many instances don't have access. According to Crossing Healthcare, there could be a farmer's market during harvest season serving low-to moderate income individuals that would take WIC vouchers, LINK (SNAP benefits), debit, credit and cash to help "make the healthy choice the easy choice." Incentive and educational programs allowing kids to get vegetables or fruits to take home, dietitian-led produce to table classes and double your bucks worth programs will be made available to patients of Crossing Healthcare. In the true spirit of partnership, graduates and students of the Good Samaritan Mercy Gardens program would work to plant and maintain the gardens. Mercy Gardens is a collaborative effort now operating adjacent to the Good Samaritan campus offering training in a number of areas including gardening, construction trades, marketing, and sales.According to a grant proposal, Crossing Healthcare dietitians will also work with a University Extension SNAP-Ed community worker to have classes on turning the produce into easy healthy recipes for all ages. Excess produce would be donated to Northeast Community Fund and the Good Samaritan Inn. The proposed lease is for one year with the potential for a one year extension. As you know, the Decatur City Council approved an agreement with Crossing Healthcare