Committee approves intent-to-vacate resolutions for sections of Hancock Avenue and East 70th area

The Municipal Service and Properties Committee approved four emergency resolutions on March 18 declaring the city’s intent to vacate parcels of public right-of-way for upcoming development and land assembly.

The most immediate item, Resolution 3012025, covers a portion of Hancock Avenue adjacent to West 20 Sixth Street and West 20 Eighth Street that the administration said is needed "to accommodate a new multifamily housing development" to be built by Places Development LLC. The director described the vote as the first step in a three-step legal process to vacate a roadway; Councilman McCormick signaled his support before the committee approved the resolution and directed signatures.

Three additional resolutions in the same meeting — identified by the committee as 32025, 2992025 and 2982025 — begin the vacation process for public-rights-of-way in the East 70th/Opportunity Corridor area. The Department of Economic Development requested the vacations to consolidate parcels on the former police headquarters site for future economic development. The committee noted the East 70th segments lie between Grand Avenue and Opportunity Corridor Boulevard; one of the streets was described as a "paper street" that currently has no asphalt.

Each resolution was considered an intent-to-vacate measure only; committee members and the director repeatedly characterized this meeting’s action as the initial, non-final step in the statutory three-step vacation procedure. No final transfers or conveyances were completed at the March 18 hearing.

Votes at the meeting were recorded as approvals for each listed resolution and the chair directed committee signatures for the ordinances in series.

The administration said affected parties and the public will be notified as the process moves to subsequent steps required by municipal code before any permanent transfer or disposal of public right-of-way occurs.