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City explores affordable housing on the Landing and puts library 100% design drawings to RFP planning
Summary
City manager said an affordable-housing developer responding under the state's surplus land process is negotiating to develop part of the Landing; the city also received 100% design drawings for a library renovation and is preparing an RFP to fund engineering and construction estimates.
City staff reported two development projects in early stages: a prospective affordable-housing proposal for the Landing under the state Surplus Land Act, and completed 100% architectural design drawings for a proposed library renovation.
On the Landing, City Manager Todd said the city is following the Surplus Land Act procedures required when municipal property is proposed for disposal. “We have a respondent… interested in building some affordable [housing] at the Landing,” Todd said, adding the respondent’s team met with community leaders and council members to solicit community preferences. Todd said the prospective developer emphasized creating living-wage jobs locally and building housing that addresses the “missing middle” — units that are neither deeply subsidized nor highly profitable.
Todd cautioned that ‘‘nothing’s real until we have an agreement signed’’ and said any framework would be presented to the public and council for review.
Library: Todd told the council the city has received 100% design drawings for library renovation and expansion from an architect based in Berkeley. Staff has prepared a draft RFP to ask firms to provide an engineer’s cost estimate and, potentially, to carry the project to construction and certificate of occupancy. Key open questions Todd flagged for the Library Tax Advisory Committee include how to pay — whether to borrow, rely on library tax revenue, or supplement with fundraising — and whether to pay for an engineer’s estimate up front or to ask respondents to include that cost in proposals.
Why it matters: Both items could affect land use, city finances and long-term service delivery. The Landing proposal is being framed to prioritize local jobs and housing choices; the library project will require capital funding decisions and a procurement strategy.
Next steps: The Landing proposal will proceed through public outreach and council review as required by the Surplus Land Act. The library RFP will be discussed by the Library Tax Advisory Committee, and staff will return with funding options and draft procurement materials.
Public comments and council questions during these updates were limited; no formal actions or procurement contracts were approved at this meeting.
