ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request to APPROVE the PURCHASE of REAL ESTATE Located at 3223 SW JEFFERSON AVENUE, in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $23,000.00, Plus Other Expenses Estimated at $8,500.00, as an Opportunity Acquisition for the Improvement of WESTERN AVENUE from Adams Street to Howett Street. (Council District 1)
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BACKGROUND: Construction of the Western Avenue Improvement project from Adams Street to Howett Street is scheduled to begin late Spring 2020. The design of Western Avenue follows Complete, Green Streets infrastructure policies, including permeable paver bike lanes, new sidewalks, pedestrian-scale street lighting, native landscaping and a new roadway. The construction cost is estimated at $12 million, and the cost is supported by approximately $2.3 million in federal funding.
Staff is negotiating temporary and permanent easements with more than one hundred (100) adjacent property owners to allow the future contractor to build the new improvements.
To realign the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Western Avenue, build new sidewalks and blend in the adjacent ground of the subject property (3223 SW Jefferson Avenue, PIN 18-17-308-010), regrading is required from the foundation of the home to the right of way line. The property currently has retaining walls along both the Jefferson Avenue frontage and the Western Avenue frontage. The City’s consultant has expressed concern with the structural integrity of the 90-year old home during the future construction.
Staff is in negotiations with the current owners to purchase the property for an assessed value of around $23,000, with additional financial assistance for moving payments and rent supplement payment for the current tenant, as well as closing costs. This additional financial assistance is mandated by the federal funding requirements. The estimated additional costs are as follows: rent supplement around $5,800, closing costs around $1,800 and allowable moving payment around $1,400. In total, these additional costs are estimated at $8,500.
The intent is to demolish the structure after the purchase and before the road construction.
Time is of the essence in making this decision, as the City must have all right of way approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) by March 11, 2020 to meet the schedule to use $2.3 million in federal grant funds.
Attachments (2): Location map for the subject property - 1; street view image - 1.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds are available in Community Investment Program Project W1905, Western Avenue Improvement from Adams Street to Howett Street. Future costs include the demolition of the vacant home.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: N/A
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Staff will move closer towards clearing right of way for the Western Avenue project.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Denial of this purchase may cause delays and impact the schedule of the project.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City
2. Beautiful Peoria
3. Grow Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works