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CRA board directs staff to pursue sale or long-term lease of 447 Harrison Avenue while reserving pedestrian easement
Summary
The Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to move toward selling or leasing the portion of the downtown breezeway building not needed for the public walkway, reserving a permanent easement and asking staff to work with the Downtown Improvement Board on terms and a draft RFP.
The Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency on Jan. 27 voted to pursue a sale or long-term lease of the portion of the property at 447 Harrison Avenue not required for the public walkway and to reserve a permanent pedestrian easement.
The board discussed whether the CRA should complete a full build-out of the downtown breezeway, which was acquired to create a pedestrian connection between Harrison and Grace avenues. Maria Williams, executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board, told the CRA the walkway has already been created and said it “just makes sense to sell the remaining portion of the building, maintain the walkway as an easement, get it back on the tax rolls, and not spend more money on it.”
Staff said the current construction estimate for the complete renovation based on 90% plans is $483,148 and that $48,103 has already been spent on site cleanup and the safer breezeway; engineering invoices total about $31,998.75. Board members asked staff to obtain an appraisal and to include protections for the city, such as an easement and reversion or lease provisions if the buyer or lessee fails to maintain the public function of the walkway.
During deliberations, a board member moved to pursue a sale and directed CRA staff to work with the Downtown Improvement Board and affected business owners to draft terms and a request for proposals or a negotiated transaction that would retain the public easement for the walkway. The motion was seconded and the roll call vote was unanimous: Halligas — yes; Lucas — yes; Granger — yes; Street — yes; Chairman Rowan — yes. The board asked staff to return a draft RFP and related materials for consideration at the February meeting.
Board members and staff discussed alternatives to selling, including a long-term lease that would require the lessee to build and maintain the public restrooms and protect the walkway; staff said either sale or lease could achieve the goals if the deed or lease preserved the easement and included contractual remedies for nonperformance.
The board also asked staff to report the original acquisition valuation (staff noted a property swap with an approximate value in the $500,000 range) and confirmed $48,103 in site work and roughly $31,998.75 in engineering costs have been spent to date.
The CRA’s motion directs staff to pursue negotiations subject to statutory notice requirements and to return with appraisal and draft procurement documents for board approval.
