Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to apply to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council for assistance funding in an amount up to $150,000.00 to conduct a Phase 2 environmental assessment at 328 Buckingham Street for a proposed residential project by National Church Residences called the Commons at Buckingham.
Commons at Buckingham is a proposed new four-story construction apartment community designed to house individuals in 100 efficiency style apartments with low-income and long-term homelessness in Downtown Columbus. Fifty of the 100 efficiency apartments will provide housing for 50 single, low income adults from the general population while the remaining 50 units will be reserved for adults with chronic homelessness. As part of the Rebuilding Lives initiative, 30 of the reserved units will meet the Rebuilding Lives definition of chronic homelessness and the remaining 20 reserved units will meet the federal definition of chronic homelessness.
The site requires additional environmental study and possible mitigation before being used as a residential site. Burgess and Niple; National Church Residences' environmental engineers for the Commons at Buckingham project, anticipates that the costs for assessing the project will be between $100,000.00 and $150,000.00.
There has been considerable community support for the project with Columbus City Council passing a Resolution of Support (Res. No. 0078X-07, May 21, 2007) and letters of support from Mayor Coleman, Council President Mentel, the Downtown Development Corporation, Franklin County Commissioner Kilroy, the Community Shelter Board and others.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to commence the Clean Ohio grant application immediately.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no costs to the City of Columbus associated with applying for Clean Ohio assistance grant funding. If the application is approved by the State, the City of Columbus will receive up to $150,000.00 for the purpose of conducting a Phase 2 environmental assessment at the 328 Buckingham Street site.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Development to apply to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council, for assistance grant funding in an amount of $150,000.00 for a Phase 2 environmental assessment at 328 Buckingham Street in consideration of the National Church Residences residential development project called the Commons at Buckingham; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio Clean Ohio Program will award $40 million per year, for five years, to communities throughout Ohio for the purpose of clean up and redevelopment of contaminated or abandoned properties known as "brownfields"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus contains brownfield properties which may qualify for Clean Ohio clean-up and redevelopment grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield redevelopment since 1999 through its administration of the Columbus Brownfield Redevelopment Program and its associated task force; and
WHEREAS, Clean Ohio grant funding will greatly complement the efforts of the Columbus Department of Development in helping to clean up and redevelop brownfield properties in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has identified a brownfield property, which may be eligible for the Clean Ohio emergency grant assistance fund, at 328 Buckingham Street where a Phase 2 environmental assessment will be required; and
WHEREAS, National Church Residences intends to clean up and develop the 328 Buckingham Street site to construct approximately 100 residential units; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to apply to the Ohio Department of Development Clean Ohio Council, for emergency assistance funding all for the preservation of public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Columbus Department of Development is authorized to apply to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council for assistance grant funding in the amount of up to $150,000.00 for a Phase 2 environmental assessment at 328 Buckingham Street site in consideration of the National Church Residences residential development project called the Commons at Buckingham.
Section 2. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, the ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.