#02 Acquisition of 417 N Washington Memo
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MEMORANDUM
June 9, 2009
TO: City Council
FROM: Kelly Lee, Neighborhood Development Specialist
SUBJECT: Acquisition and Demolition of 417 North Washington Street
Summary
The Neighborhood Services Department has negotiated a purchase price of
$39,900 for the 4-unit building located at 417 North Washington. The project
would include acquisition and demolition of the poorly maintained vacant home
and expanding Washington Park with the vacant lot.
Department Recommendation
The Plan Commission and the Neighborhood Services Department recommend
that the City Council support a motion to approve Resolution 2009-614
authorizing the purchase of the property located at 417 North Washington Street,
at a price not to exceed $39,900 for parkland.
City Manager Recommendation
I concur with the Plan Commission and Neighborhood Services recommendation.
Suggested Motion
I move to approve file resolution 2009-614 authorizing the purchase of 417 North
Washington Street, at price not to exceed $39,900 for parkland.
Background
The City of Janesville’s Parks and Open Space Plan was recently adopted on
June 9, 2008. The purpose of this plan is to proactively account for and anticipate
the City of Janesville’s future park and recreational needs. One of the
recommendations of this plan is that Neighborhood Parks should be a minimum
of 2 acres in size. Further, that in the event that a residential property adjoining a
substandard park come on the market, the City explore the possible acquisition
of the property for an addition to the park.
Neighborhood Services became aware of such a property located at 417 North
Washington in April of this year. This property is directly adjoining Washington
Park on the southeast corner of the park. The building is a two story, 4-unit,
2800 sq foot building on a 103 foot by 144 foot lot.
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The City of Janesville’s Look West and Old 4 Ward Neighborhood Revitalization
Plan, adopted in December of 2008, specifies density reduction as a goal of the
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plan. At the City Council’s request, Neighborhood Services approached the
Neighborhood Action Team with the potential acquisition and solicited direction
on the scope of the project. The Neighborhood Action Team determined that the
best course of action for this particular property was to demolish the structure
and expand Washington Park. Recently, the City of Janesville and the Action
Team have made improvements to the park including a historical marker and the
second community garden.
Staff toured the property and found it to be in poor condition. The property was
foreclosed in November of 2008. Neighborhood Services staff has been
negotiating with the bank owner of this property for months and an agreement
has been reached with a purchase price of $39,900.
This project would include acquisition and demolition of the property. The
estimated cost of demolition is $19,000. The balance of the Parkland Fund is
currently at $213,492. The lot would then be added Washington Park.
Analysis
A. This home is located directly across from Washington Park and across
from another property that the City is in negotiations to purchase
(Resolution 2009-615).
B. The property is zoned R-3, General Residential.
C. The 4-unit building is vacant and in poor condition.
D. The acquisition and demolition project is consistent with the City of
Janesville’s Comprehensive Plan, the Parks and Open Space Plan and
the Look West and Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.
Plan Commission Action
Al Hulick, Development Specialist, presented the written staff report.
Commissioner Zolidis asked who determines if the Parkland Acquisition
Fund is the appropriate funding source for this acquisition. Jennifer
Petruzzello, Director of Neighborhood Services, stated that the City
Council would make the final decision as to whether or not this funding
source is appropriate.
There was a motion by Commissioner Voskuil with a second by
Commissioner Perrotto to forward the acquisition of 417 North Washington
to the City Council with a favorable recommendation noting that the Plan
Commission has not reviewed the financial aspects of this transaction.
The motion carried on a 5-0-0 vote.
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Jay Winzenz, Dir. Of Administrative Services/Assistant City Manager
Jennifer Petruzzello, Neighborhood Services Director
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RESOLUTION NO. 2009-614
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION AND DEMOLITION OF REAL PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 417 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET
WHEREAS
, Wis. Stats. §§ 62.22 (1), 62.23 (17) (a), 62.23 (17) (b), 66.0101, 62.11(5) and
Chapter 32 and other pertinent Wisconsin Statutes permit the City’s acquisition, development,
ownership, protection, and conservation of parkland, open space, riverfront properties, and
development properties; and
WHEREAS,
the City of Janesville’s Parks and Open Space Plan, adopted June 9, 2008,
recommends a minimum Neighborhood Park size of 2 acres and in the event that a residential
property adjoining a substandard park come on the market, the City should evaluate the
purchase of this property for acquisition and addition to expand the size of the park; and
WHEREAS
, Washington Park, located at 431 N Washington Street, is currently less that the
recommended two acre size; and
WHEREAS
, the property located at 417 North Washington was foreclosed November 15, 2008,
and was listed for sale; and
WHEREAS
, the City of Janesville Administration has negotiated an offer to purchase 417 North
Washington Street in the amount Thirty Nine thousand Nine Hundred dollars ($39,900); and
WHEREAS
, the Janesville Plan Commission has reviewed this proposed acquisition on June
15th, 2009 and found it to be consistent with long range City plans, but not commenting upon
the financial aspects of the transaction; and
WHEREAS
, the funding source for the acquisition and demolition is park land acquisition funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
by the Common Council of the City of Janesville that
they hereby approve and authorize the City Manager and/or his designee(s) to acquire and
close upon the City’s purchase of the Property from the owners on behalf of the City; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
, that the City Manager and/or his designee(s) on behalf of the
City of Janesville is/are hereby authorized and empowered to negotiate, draft, modify, review,
execute, and enter into additional agreements, record, file and/or make minor modifications
and/or amendments to any and all documents, papers, forms, and agreements, and to take
whatever other actions as the City Manager may determine, from time to time and at any time,
necessary and/or desirable to effectuate the intent of this resolution and/or the public good.
ADOPTED:
Motion by:
Second by:
APPROVED:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Brunner
McDonald
Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
Perrotto
Rashkin
ATTEST:
Steeber
Truman
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
Proposed by:
Prepared by:
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