Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

CC:

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

FROM:

Britt Crum-Cano, Economic Development Coordinator

DATE:

May 7, 2013

RE:

Additional Infrastructure Requests Related to Cider Building Redevelopment

 

Background:

Tony Krsnich (project Developer) is redeveloping 810/812 Pennsylvania Street (“Ciderworks” or Cider Building) into an arts gallery with events space on the lower level and office space on the upper level.  To support the redevelopment of the Cider building and other on-going district redevelopment efforts, Mr. Krsnich submitted an initial request for supporting neighborhood infrastructure and public improvements on July 23, 2012.  Details of this request and background on City assistance for the project were provided in the staff memo dated January 15, 2013, including requested funding of project improvements and fire sprinkler system reimbursement estimated at $896,568 and Community Improvement District (CID) special assessments estimated at $109,000 to fund the undergrounding of utility lines along Pennsylvania Street.

 

On January 15, 2013, the City Commission voted unanimously to authorize funding for improvements to support the on-going revitalization of the Warehouse Arts District/East Lawrence Historic District and authorized the City Manager to sign the Cider CID Petition on behalf of the City for the City-owned parking lot parcel.

 

On February 5, 2013, the City Commission received the petition to establish a Community improvement District to utilize special assessments to fund underground utilities along Pennsylvania Street.  The petition was authorized on February 12, 2013 via Ordinance 8834.

 

 

Additional Requests:

With on-going District improvements, the development team is requesting additional work to accommodate the overall quality of revitalization efforts in the area.  On April 9, 2013, Staff received a request for additional work from Mr. Krsnich.  The new request specifies the removal of utility poles located within the alleyway on the east side of the building and the addition of more angled parking spaces along Pennsylvania Street to accommodate current and future parking needs.  Details of this request include:

 

Removal of Utility Infrastructure in Alleyway

The original CID request specified the construction and burying of utilities along Pennsylvania Street from 8th to 9th Street.  It did not address removal of existing utility infrastructure in the alleyway located along the east side of the Cider building.  The additional request addresses that improvement, and includes removal of Westar poles with Westar and Knology lines on the east side of the 800 block of Pennsylvania Street, Westar poles with Westar and Knology lines from the north end of the alley between the 800 block of Pennsylvania Street and Delaware Street, and AT&T poles with AT&T lines from the south end of the alley between the 800 block of Pennsylvania Street and Delaware Street.  In addition, underground conduit and utility junction boxes will be required in the alley between the 800 block of Pennsylvania Street and Delaware Street to accommodate utility connections.

 

Funding Request: Developer is requesting the original CID petition (originally totaling $109,000) be amended to include the additional expenses (new estimated total at $150,000) for removal of utility infrastructure in the alley along with required underground conduit and utility junction boxes.

 

Angled Parking

After meeting with adjacent property owners and receiving their input, Staff developed engineering drawings for additional angled parking along Pennsylvania Street, between 8th & 9th Streets.  Staff determined that 15 additional spaces could be accommodated at an estimated cost of $28,000. 

 

Funding Request: Developer is requesting 15 additional angled parking spaces be installed along Pennsylvania Street (between 8th & 9th Streets) with improvements to be funded by the City via the 2013 Street Maintenance Program at an estimated expense of $28,000.

 

 

Actions Requested:

1.    City Commission to authorize additional funding to accommodate 15 extra angled parking spaces along Pennsylvania Street (between 8th & 9th Streets) at an estimated cost of $28,000 to be funded from the 2013 Street Maintenance Program (via a change order), to support the on-going revitalization of the Warehouse Arts District/East Lawrence Historic District, if appropriate.

 

2.    If the City Commission chooses to amend the CID petition to accommodate additional utility expenses, authorize the City Manager to sign the amended CID petition, on behalf of the City as a property owner, for the City-owned parking lot parcel in the Warehouse Arts District/East Lawrence Historic District.

Attachment A:

 

Map of Utility Infrastructure to be removed