Agenda Item # 1

Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting

March 27, 2018

Agenda Report # 91


TO: Mayor and Councilors

SUBJECT: Acquisition of Georgia Ports Authority Property located at
INITIATED BY: Community Reinvestment Department

Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into a sales agreement for the property located at 800 and 824 Lumpkin Boulevard (021 001 001 and 021 001 002), and any residual rights along the riverfront, from the Georgia Ports Authority.

Background: The property located at 800 and 824 Lumpkin Boulevard is currently owned by the Georgia Ports Authority. The Georgia Ports Authority wishes to quit claim these properties to the Columbus Consolidated Government.

These properties currently house an above ground storage tank farm with secondary containment, an above ground piping system, a rail unloading area, a truck loading rack, and two buildings totaling 34,000 square feet of office and warehouse space. The Georgia Ports Authority did not renew the lease agreement with Omega Partners, and now the property is unoccupied and not currently being utilized.

In August 2015, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment was conducted on the property, followed by a Limited Site Investigation in January 2016. Both studies were funded by the Ports Authority. Terracon Consultants took fourteen (14) soil samples in order to evaluate potential impacts to the soil, including samples immediately adjacent to fuels tanks. No contamination was found in any of the samples except for lead located at one location, which contamination was limited to a 725 sf area on the northeast corner of the site where past dumping occurred while the property was under the ownership of Columbus, Georgia. The groundwater sample taken did not indicate the presence of lead. 220.76 tons of impacted soil was excavated and removed from the old dumping site for a cost of around $60,000, which amount was paid by the Georgia Ports Authority. In August 2016, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) notified the Georgia Ports Authority that the property would not be listed on the Hazardous Site Inventory and no additional work was recommended/warranted.

In August 2017, the City received a quote to demolish the structures on the site which estimated the cost to be approximately $636,857.52. The Georgia Ports Authority has agreed to pay the City $300,000 upon closing of the transaction which the City proposes to use towards the demolition or for any other purpose related to the restoration of the property.

Analysis: Acquisition of this property will cease any continued use a fuel storage site and will allow the City to remove the tanks/structures on the site, which will enhance the appearance of riverfront property and allow for future redevelopment to occur.

Financial Considerations: The City will provide funding towards the demolition of the tanks/structures or other improvements on the site in excess of the $300,000 being provided by the Georgia Ports Authority.

Legal Considerations: Council must approve all real estate transactions.

Recommendations: Approve a resolution to enter into a sales agreement for the property located at 800 and 824 Lumpkin Boulevard (021 001 001 and 021 001 002), and any residual rights along the riverfront, from the Georgia Ports Authority.

Port Authority map.pdfPort Authority map.pdf


A RESOLUTION
NO. ________

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF 800 AND 824 LUMPKIN BOULEVARD, AND ANY RESIDUAL RIGHTS ALONG THE RIVERFRONT, FROM THE GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY.

WHEREAS, the Georgia Ports Authority owns the property located at 800 and 824 Lumpkin Boulevard (021 001 001 and 021 001 002) and has offered to quit claim this property to the City;

WHEREAS, the property is currently an above ground storage tank farm, and the City seeks to remove the structures on the site and return the property to a more desirable and community friendly use;

WHEREAS, the estimated cost to remove the tanks and other structures from the site is approximately $636,857, and the Georgia Ports Authority has agreed to contribute $300,000 towards these costs.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

The City Manager is authorized to enter into and execute an Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Real Property to obtain the properties located at 800 and 824 Lumpkin Boulevard, along with any residual rights along the riverfront, from the Georgia Ports Authority in substantially the form on file with the Clerk of Council. This Council hereby further declares its intent to reserve any funding received at closing to be used on this project.
__________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________, 2018 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ____________ members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.



_______________________________ ________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor