Item 7 - HOME Fund./8th Ave. - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The RFP criteria for development of the site was established by the HPB Allocations Committee on June 23, 2004. The Allocations Committee was expanded by two members for this RFP, to include representation of people with particular expertise. Dan Herbert, a retired architect and professor, is also an at-large member of the Eugene Redevelopment Advisory Committee. Rob Bennett is a downtown property and business owner, the owner of a property management company, a developer of low-income housing, and an original member of the HPB. After the HPB approved the criteria, the City of Eugene issued an RFP for all four tax lots. The City sought a mixed-income, mixed-use development which maximized housing on the site that would meet both low-income housing and downtown development goals. It was a two-part process. The first part was a letter of intent due on September 10, 2004. Those who submitted letters could then submit a proposal no later than November 29, 2004. The process allowed time for any potential developers of the vacant building to contact and collaborate with a housing developer to submit a comprehensive development for the site. Four proposals were received in response to the RFP: · CCPA/WOW Hall, a non-profit corporation interested in purchasing the tax lot at the rear of the hall, referred to as "the back lot." · West 8th Avenue Development Group, a for-profit entity interested in re-using the vacant building for commercial purposes. · Metropolitan Affordable Housing Corporation (Metro), a non-profit corporation proposing 94 units of mixed-income housing and live-work spaces on the ground floor. · Public Private Partnerships (P3), a for-profit corporation proposing 100 units of affordable housing combined with commercial space. Copies of the four proposals are available for review in the Council Office. On January 11, 2005, the committee heard presentations from each applicant, asked questions, discussed the proposals, and rated the proposals relative to the RFP criteria. They voted unanimously to recommend the Metro proposal to the full HPB. Metro's proposal was ranked highest by each member and the Allocations Committee also unanimously recommended to the HPB that the City sell the "back lot" at fair market value (as required by grant regulations) to the CCPA/WOW Hall. Revenue from this sale will return as program income to the CDBG program for use towards future low-income housing site acquisitions. The CCPA is currently leasing the site from the City and the contract allows for the monthly payments to be applied towards the purchase. On February 7, 2005, the HPB heard presentations from CCPA, Metro, and the West 8th Development Group. The HPB conducted a public hearing and then closed the hearing following testimony. The public hearing was advertised, publicly noticed, and also mentioned in articles in the Register-Guard, the Eugene Weekly, a WOW Hall membership newsletter, and an e-mail newsletter sent out by Downtown Eugene Inc. The Downtown Neighborhood Association was also notified. An article was included in the City Council's e-newsletter on January 13, 2005. Concerns were voiced about the noise generated by concerts at the WOW Hall. Community members feared that placing housing units next to the hall would increase complaints to the Eugene Police and would ultimately impact the long-term viability of the WOW Hall as a music venue. The noise levels do not exceed the standards set by HUD, the source of the acquisition funding and one of the many funding sources for the construction. Because the site was purchased with Federal funds, an environmental L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050307\S0503077.doc