Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus, in partnership with The Ohio State University Medical Center and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, have substantial interest in and are committed to the vision of enhancing the quality of life on the near east side of Columbus by creating a healthy, financially and environmentally sustainable, community where residents have access to safe and affordable housing, quality healthcare, educational and employment opportunities.
The parties have agreed to work together in order to facilitate that vision: Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT). The principal goal of PACT is to develop a community plan through the services of a master planning entity aided by the input of the PACT governance structure, advisory committee and sub-committees. This plan, “Columbus Near East Side Blueprint for Community Investment,” was published in 2013.
The partners seek to attract high quality residential redevelopment and have asked the City’s Land Redevelopment Office to hold the properties until a plan to redevelop each property is realized. This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with PACT to hold the properties and transfer properties to PACT redevelopment. The legislation authorizes the Director of the Department to execute any and all agreements and deeds necessary for conveyance of title of properties acquired under the agreement and, in addition, convey title to properties acquired under the Land Reutilization Program which are located within the PACT boundaries. The properties will be held by the City’s Land Redevelopment Office, who will receive reimbursements for costs associated for holding the property and sale proceeds for properties acquired under the Land Reutilization Program.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation. The Land Redevelopment Office will receive funds to reimburse costs associated with holding property and proceeds from the sale of properties acquired under the Land Reutilization Program.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into an agreement with Partners Achieving Community Transformation ("PACT") for the transfer of properties located in the PACT target area; to authorize the acceptance of properties to be held and managed by the Land Redevelopment Office; to authorize the transfer of properties located within the PACT boundary to PACT and/or its subsidiary, Blueprint Community Development LLC; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to execute any and all agreements and deeds necessary for conveyance of title; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus in partnership with The Ohio State University Medical Center and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority have substantial interest in and are committed to the vision of enhancing the quality of life on the near east side of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to work collaboratively by creating a healthy, financially and environmentally sustainable, community where residents have access to safe and affordable housing, quality healthcare, educational and employment opportunities and created a plan, “Columbus Near East Side Blueprint for Community Investment”; and
WHEREAS, the parties created a nonprofit entity, Partners Achieving Community Transformation, Inc. ("PACT"), to implement this plan; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to enter into an agreement to allow the City’s Land Bank Program to hold and maintain properties for PACT; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition of vacant properties for redevelopment will be used to assist in implementing the plan’s recommendations for housing renovation and infill development; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into said agreement with the PACT to allow for acquisition and rehabilitation of vacant property, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Partners Achieving Community Transformation, Inc. for the transfer of properties located in the PACT target area.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to execute any and all agreements and deeds necessary for conveyance of title of properties held in the City’s Land Reutilization Program to Partners Achieving Community Transformation, Inc. or its subsidiary, Blueprint Community Development LLC.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the city of Columbus will accept title to properties acquired by Partners Achieving Community Transformation, Inc. (PACT), or its subsidiary, Blueprint Community Development LLC, and that no further legislation is required for subsequent acquisitions and transfers on individual properties acquired or transferred to PACT. The properties will be deeded to and remain with and be maintained by the city's Land Redevelopment Office until such time they are ready for disposition.
SECTION 4. That for good cause shown, the provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to the sale of city-owned realty are hereby waived.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.