Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Maintenance Easements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
HRA staff report outlines Skyline Tower parking-lot improvements; HRA to consent as mortgagee to easements and stormwater maintenance
Summary
Staff presented SR25-801 on Skyline Tower (1247 St. Anthony Avenue), a 504-unit HUD property, describing planned parking-lot reconstruction, related stormwater maintenance agreements and recorded easements. The HRA will be asked to consent as mortgagee to documents at a future meeting; no HRA funding was requested.
The HRA received an introductory staff report on planned parking-lot improvements and related legal documents at Skyline Tower, 1247 St. Anthony Avenue (Ward 1). Staff said the project does not request new HRA funds; rather, the current owner is finalizing permits and needs the HRA's consent as a mortgagee to recorded easements and stormwater maintenance agreements required by the Capital Region Watershed District and the city.
Project manager Danielle Sindelar (staff) said Skyline Tower is a 24-story HUD property built in 1971 with 504 units, many served through Section 8 and income-restricted units at 60% AMI or lower. The parking lot has not been redone since original construction and staff highlighted pedestrian-safety issues associated with a southern entrance and lack of designated staff parking. The proposed improvements would close the southern entrance, add staff parking, formalize pedestrian walkways and create a safer residential drop-off.
Sindelar explained the legal documents: (1) stormwater maintenance agreements required by the watershed district and city that place responsibility for maintaining stormwater systems with the property owner (and which would sit ahead of the HRA loan in lien position but do not themselves create new debt), and (2) a declaration of easements to document pedestrian and vehicle access across the site's four tax parcels. Staff said the first- and second-mortgage holders have already consented to the documents (JLL and MHFA were named in the presentation) and the HRA's consent as a current mortgagee would be administrative.
Commissioners praised the pedestrian safety and community benefits described; one commissioner noted the site's heavy use by families, students and pedestrians and applauded removal of a curb cut as a safety improvement. Staff said permitting work with DSI was ongoing and construction was expected to start soon (staff cited an intended mid-June start and a target to complete work before winter). No formal HRA vote was taken; staff said the consent documents will return for the HRA to sign at the next meeting and the item will also have a related public hearing at the city council meeting.
