Agenda Item # 1

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

12/10/2013

Agenda Report # 55


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Property Exchange with W.C. Bradley Company - Front Avenue, 11th Street, and Bay Avenue

INITIATED BY: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager

Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute a property exchange with W.C. Bradley Company conveying approximately 3,416 sq. ft of right of way on the south side of 11th Street between Front Avenue and Bay Avenue and approximately 1,531 sq. ft. of property on Bay Avenue adjacent to the Riverclub for approximately 1.295 acres of property formerly the 1300 block of Front Avenue right-of-way.

Background: The City conveyed the Front Avenue right-of-way from 13th St. to 14th St (1300 Block). to Fieldcrest Mills in 1996 for the required right of way to construct the 13th Street bridge. This section of Front Avenue is part of the original street grid for the City of Columbus. The estimated value of the property at the time was $178,000. Adjusted for inflation the property value today is approximately $265,000. The property was later purchased by the W.C. Bradley Company along with the rest of the Fieldcrest property. The majority of the road bed remains in tact on this section of Front Avenue. The roadway has been closed to the public but has been utilized for construction staging for the Whitewater project and 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge project. The area is occasionally used by the public for special events. The property will continue to be utilized for staging purposes for the Riverwalk Extension, 14th St. Pedestrian Bridge Plaza, and Mott House Renovations.

Analysis: The City desires to reopen the 1300 block of Front Avenue at some point in the future for public use as a matter of public safety and improved traffic flow. The property is adjacent to three major construction projects; 13th -14th St. Riverwalk extension, 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge Plaza, and the Mott House Renovations. Property on the east and west side of the road is projected to be developed and critical infrastructure remains in the former road bed. The City does not intend to open the 1300 block of Front Avenue to the public until all of the current constructions projects are complete except for special events. The construction projects are projected to take 18-24 months to complete. Upon completion of these projects the City would plan to make improvements to the roadway to bring the block in compliance with the typical street section for the remainder of Front Avenue and in compliance with current UDO requirements. In consideration of the conveyance, the City will agree to W. C. Bradley reserving the right to make minor adjustments in the future to the alignment of the road at their expense based on final development plans for the adjacent property. Any adjustments will have to be consistent with the typical road sections attached. Should development plans be finalized prior to the City improvements being designed, the City has committed to work with W.C. Bradley on incorporating the alignment changes in the City improvements. This accommodation is not anticipated to impact the cost of improvements since the typical sections would be maintained. All easement recorded and prescriptive will remain in effect for all utilities and other purposes.

W.C. Bradley Company is planning to redevelop two locations on 11th Street and Bay Avenue. The proposed redevelopment will require expansion of the existing buildings at both locations. The 11th Street development proposes utilizing approximately 3,416 sq. ft. of property currently considered right-of-way for 11th Street. The exact square footage will not be determined until a survey is done of the property. This location consists of a small grass area and the remnants of an old loading dock for a warehouse. The second location is a proposed expansion of the Riverclub located on Bay Avenue. The proposed expansion will extend the building line approximately 50+ feet south and result in a relocation of the current outdoor patio area. The expansion will require approximately 1,531 additional sq. ft. on the southwest corner of the existing building. The exact square footage will not be determined until a survey is done of the property. The majority of this area is on the bank of the Riverwalk and has limited public utility. Riverfront property in the area has been recently appraised at $8-10 per sq. ft. Using these values the land value for these two properties would be approximately $40,000-$50,000.

Financial Considerations: The City would incur the cost for legal expenses and surveying of the properties. The cost is anticipated to be approximately $2,000.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: The projected advalorem tax on the property conveyed by the City to W.C. Bradley is $1,710 per year. This is only an estimate of the tax and not based on an formal assessment. The advalorem tax on the 1300 block of Front Avenue property is $2,135 per year. Until improvements are made to the property being convey by the City to W.C. Bradley, there will be a net reduction in advalorem tax revenue of $425 per year.

Legal Considerations: Council must approve all real estate transactions.

Recommendations/ Actions: Authorize the City Manager to execute a property exchange with W.C. Bradley Company conveying approximately 3,416 sq. ft of right of way on the south side of 11th Street from Front Avenue to Bay Avenue and approximately 1,531 sq. ft. of property on Bay Avenue adjacent to the Riverclub for approximately 1.295 acres of property formerly the 1300 block of Front Avenue right-of-way.



Front Ave Plat.pdfFront Ave Plat.pdf11th Street.pdf11th Street.pdfBay Avenue Property.pdfBay Avenue Property.pdf


A RESOLUTION

NO. _____


A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROPERTY EXCHANGE AGREEMENT WITH THE W.C. BRADLEY COMPANY, CONVEYING APPROXIMATELY 3,416 SQ. FT. OF RIGHT OF WAY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 11TH STREET BETWEEN FRONT AVENUE AND BAY AVENUE, AND APPROXIMATELY 1,531 SQ. FT OF PROPERTY ON BAY AVENUE ADJACENT TO THE RIVERCLUB TO W.C. BRADLEY COMPANY AND ACCEPTING APPROXIMATELY 1.295 ACRES OF PROPERTY FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE 1300 BLOCK OF FRONT AVENUE RIGHT OF WAY.

WHEREAS, in 1996 the City conveyed to Fieldcrest Mills the right of way to the 1300 block of Front Avenue in exchange for the right of way and construction easements to construct the 13th Street Bridge project; and,

WHEREAS, the redevelopment of the UpTown area has resulted in increased traffic in the area and numerous special events attracting thousands of participants. It is desirable for the City to re-open the 1300 block of Front Avenue for public safety purposes, improve traffic flow in the area and promote further economic development in the area; and,

WHEREAS, the W.C. Bradley Company is planning to develop several properties for commercial purposes in accordance with the Riverfront Masterplan and requires additional property adjacent to existing building to facilitate the development; and,

WHEREAS, it is advantageous to the City to convey the City owned right of way property consisting of approximately 3,416 sq. ft. located on the south side of 11th Street between Front Avenue and Bay Avenue, and approximately 1,531 sq. ft. of property adjacent to the Riverclub on Bay Avenue to W.C. Bradley Company in exchange for approximately 1.295 acres of property formerly known as the 1300 block of Front Avenue right of way; and,

WHEREAS, the City desires to re-open the 1300 block of Front Avenue for public use upon completion of ongoing construction projects and make certain improvements to the roadway to bring it in compliance with the Front Avenue typical section and current Unified Development Ordinance requirements; and,

WHEREAS, the acceptance of the 1300 block property by the City is conditional upon W.C. Bradley reserving the right to make future alignment modifications at their expense if the adjacent property is development in the future and after the City improvements are completed.

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

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a property exchange agreement with the W.C. Bradley Company, conveying approximately 3,416 sq. ft. of right of way on the south side of 11th Street between Front Avenue and Bay Avenue, and approximately 1,531 sq. ft. of property on Bay Avenue adjacent to the Riverclub to W.C. Bradley and accepting from W.C. Bradley approximately 1.295 acres of property formerly known as the 1300 block of Front Avenue right of way.


___________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________ 2013, 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 Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.

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