Information Items:
Higher Offer Received for the Coliseum Property
Staff Resource:
Curt Walton, 704-336-5019 -- cwalton@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The City's contract with the Charlotte Bobcats allows the sale of the Charlotte Coliseum property "no earlier than the later of 60 days after substantial completion of the arena or 30 days after the team begins playing home games in the arena." The grand opening of the arena was October 20, so the property may be sold on December 20 or later.
As part of the corporate underwriting of the new arena, Crescent Resources agreed to pay $16.5 million as the opening offer for the coliseum property. Staff was preparing to post the legal advertisement of that offer for upset bids on Monday, October 31; however, before doing that the City received on Monday an offer of $17.82 million from Comstock Partners, a real estate development company located in Virginia. Comstock's offer is 8% higher than Crescents and includes none of the contingencies included in Crescent's offer. Therefore, Comstock's offer of $17.82 will serve as the opening bid in the upset bid process and that process will begin on Friday, November 4, with the initial bidding period ending November 14, 2005. As a reminder, the Coliseum property is required by State law to be sold by competitive bid.
Comstock's development plan proposes the following for the 154-acre site:
1. A total of 1,600 residential units, comprised of single family, townhouses, condominiums, and apartments.
2. A total of 260,000 square feet of retail.
3. Between 90,000 and 180,000 square feet of office.
Compared to the plan proposed by Crescent, the Comstock plan has much more residential and retail, along with less office. This is very much in keeping with the input we received from neighbors during the 2004 re-zoning public input process. Comstock would have to pursue additional rezoning of a portion of the property to increase the number of residential units to 1,600, although that rezoning is not a contingency in the offer. Comstock is already working with Planning staff to review the development plan.
Whenever the upset bid process ends, the recommended highest bid will come to City Council for approval.
International Cab Company -- Company Certificate Revocation
Staff Resource:
Joe Vanderlip, 704-398-6793 -- jvanderlip@ci.charlotte.nc.us
As of October 13, 2005, International Cab Company's company operating certificate was revoked for six (6) months for multiple violations of the Passenger Vehicle for Hire (PVH) ordinance. Violations included using counterfeit certificates of insurance to obtain PVH vehicle permits and for removing several vehicles from service without notifying the PVH Office. All International Cab driver and vehicle operating permits are null and void. International Cab is not authorized to operate any taxicabs within the City of Charlotte.
International Cab had 46 taxicabs with current PVH permits. Only 13 of the 46 cabs had active insurance policies of some form. None were insured for operations within the Charlotte territory.
The PVH ordinance specifies a 6-month duration for a revocation and provides a 10-day period for the owner to appeal the decision, before the revocation becomes effective. Staff held a revocation hearing on October 3, 2005. The company owner declined to appeal.
Section 8 Information
Staff Resource:
Stanley Watkins, 704-336-3796 -- swatkins@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee received an update on the Section 8 Program during their October 25 meeting. This topic is a referral from the Council February retreat. As a follow-up to the meeting, staff was asked to provide an article that appeared in the Autumn 2005 publication of the Journal of the American Planning Association, The Effects of Revitalization on Public Housing Residents: A Case Study of the Atlanta Housing Authority and the Section 8 information by Quality of Life categories. Attached is the information requested.
Proposed Fire Station Site in the Arboretum Area
Staff Resources:
Jon Hannan, 704-336-4925 -- jhannan@ci.charlotte.nc.us
and Tim O'Brien, 704-336-3149 -- tobrien@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On September 26, 2005, during the Council Dinner Briefing, staff presented the need for a fire station in the Arboretum area. Staff found a vacant lot located at 8325 Providence Road that meets the site selection criteria but the acquisition of the site has met some resistance from the Greenwood Homeowners Association. Therefore, prior to the presentation to City Council, the neighboring homeowner associations were asked to submit any potential fire station sites that they might feel could better serve the area. We received 16 potential sites from two neighboring property owners. The chart and map attached details the assessment of the sites and confirms the fact that the City needs to acquire the vacant lot located on Providence Road. The request for condemnation of the lot will be presented during the November 14, 2005 Council Meeting.
Compensation for the property will be based upon the fair market value of the lot as well as reimbursement to the Greenwood Homeowners Association for their loss of homeowner's dues once the City acquires the parcel out of the subdivision. Finally, since our appraisers could not find any evidence that a fire station adds to or subtracts from the value of homes near fire stations, compensation will also include $500 per lot in the subdivision as recognition of the Homeowners Association intangible loss of the restrictive covenant that the property is to be used for residential purposes.
Federal Legislative Agenda
Staff Resource:
Boyd Cauble, 704-336-2009 -- bcauble@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Attached is a memo from the Holland & Knight team, the City's DC lobbyists, updating the status of our requests for federal assistance with City projects. The appropriation process in continuing under a procedure called "continuing resolution," which continues government spending at the current fiscal year level. The continuing resolution expires by November 18th and Holland & Knight feels the appropriation bills that have not been completed will be finalized by that date.
Media Request for CMPD Take Home Vehicles
Staff Resource:
Keith Parker,704-336-3855 -- kparker@ci.charlotte.nc.us
CMPD received a media request for information on take home vehicles. The information provided (attached) includes the name, rank, and job assignment of each officer provided with a take home vehicle, as well as the make, model and year of the vehicle. Take home vehicle assignments are reviewed and evaluated to ensure that their use is justified based upon job requirements, productivity, and cost to the City. CMPD is in the process of conducting its evaluation and will make whatever changes are necessary based upon the results of that review.
