Juneau assembly approves $1.8M appropriation to begin Telephone Hill site work amid pushback from residents

The Juneau City and Borough Assembly on June 9 approved an ordinance to appropriate $1,800,000 and transfer additional funds to begin phase 1 site preparation at Telephone Hill, moving forward despite public testimony urging delay.

The ordinance, introduced as Ordinance 2024-01 (version b, “AY” in the meeting packet), was moved by Assemblymember Bryson and adopted following roll-call votes. Assemblymember Kelly registered an objection during debate and voted no; the clerk announced the motion carried with a recorded result of 7 yes, 2 no, 1 recused/absent.

The manager told the assembly the Telephone Hill redevelopment total cost is estimated at about $9 million, with phase 1 — demolition, site development, replatting into four lots and related site work — estimated at $5,510,000. Passage of the ordinance secures roughly $5.4 million toward the project when combined with previously appropriated funds, the manager said.

Why it matters: the appropriation authorizes CBJ to begin clearing and preparing the site before a developer has signed a final development agreement. Residents and preservation advocates argued the timing, cost and potential loss of historic structures…