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CRA schedules community meeting on Fifteenth Street–MLK proposal as negotiations continue with Sankofa group
Summary
Staff set a public meeting for June 5 on a proposed development at Fifteenth Street and MLK Jr. Boulevard; CRA staff and Sankofa representatives have held biweekly negotiations and expect a development agreement for board consideration in July or August.
City staff announced a community meeting on June 5 to discuss a proposed development at the southwest corner of Fifteenth Street and MLK Jr. Boulevard as negotiations continue between the CRA and the Sankofa group.
The item matters because the proposal affects Glenwood and adjacent neighborhoods and the board has instructed staff to pursue an agreement with Sankofa; the community meeting is intended to let neighbors review design and alignment before a formal development agreement comes back to the CRA.
Staff told the board the CRA authorized negotiations on April 15 and that staff, Sankofa representatives and legal counsel have met biweekly to negotiate project scope, timelines and design. The public meeting will be Thursday, June 5, 5:30–7 p.m. at the Glenwood Community Center, staff said. Staff said they remain “very optimistic” that a complete development agreement will be ready for CRA consideration in July or possibly August, and emphasized the meeting is informational (no vote was scheduled).
Several public commenters linked to the agenda raised neighborhood concerns and preferences. Michelle Bridal, who gave her address as 409 East Ninth Street, said the Glenwood property at Fifteenth Street and MLK should prioritize modest, affordable homes, small businesses and neighborhood-serving retail rather than large apartment complexes or big-box stores. “What I’m saying is whomever you choose to look at, let’s make sure in part of their design is homes versus apartments, small business versus big box businesses,” Bridal said.
Brenda Lewis Williams, another commenter, asked the board to pause action on some site decisions until the state historic process is clarified and repeated a claim that the Daffin family had conveyed $200,000 to the city when they sold a property; she called for clarity on any verbal understandings. That claim was presented as her recollection and argument to the board and was not verified during the meeting.
Staff said the community meeting is part of the due-diligence and outreach process and reiterated they will return with a draft development agreement for board review once negotiations reach a formal draft stage.
Ending: Staff will hold the June 5 community meeting at Glenwood Community Center; the CRA will not vote at that meeting and will consider a draft development agreement at a future CRA meeting, likely in July or August.
