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CRA to recommend breezeway disposition to City Commission; ADA access remains unresolved
Summary
The CRA spent about $80,100 to create a downtown breezeway; staff will present an RFP recommendation to the City Commission May 13. Board members raised concerns that the property was purchased without a finalized plan for ADA access, which could cost an estimated $60,000–$80,000 for a lift or elevator.
CRA staff told the board the downtown breezeway project has a $550,000 budget and that the CRA has expended $80,101.76 to date on design and improvements, including a mural. The City Commission owns the property at 447 Harrison; staff will present a recommendation from the recent RFP process to the City Commission at its May 13 meeting.
Why it matters: the property was purchased and improved by the CRA but board members said the purchase happened before a final plan that addressed handicap/ADA access was approved; several board members expressed concern about the timing and cost implications.
Board discussion: Board member Street and others asked why the CRA bought the property before confirming ADA access on the Grace side. Staff and Board member Halligus said prior reviews estimated lift costs in the $60,000–$80,000 range and that, without a final long-term use, spending that amount on a potentially temporary lift was not prudent. Halligus said a long-term solution could be an elevator built as part of a future multi-story redevelopment, or a keyed-access elevator provided by a building partner.
Next steps and public recommendations: staff said the City Commission will consider whether to pursue a sale, long-term lease or public–private partnership for the site and any associated ADA improvements. Board members noted in-house improvements such as additional handicapped parking along Harrison and Fourth streets to improve access while long-term plans are developed.
No vote was taken on the disposition or on funding ADA improvements at the May 6 CRA meeting; staff will bring recommendations to the City Commission on May 13.
