Pocatello Development Authority to accept donated downtown building; council acknowledges transfer outside urban renewal district

The Pocatello City Council voted to acknowledge and consent to a Real Property Donation Agreement under which Monarch Building LLC will donate the building at 244 West Center Street to the Pocatello Development Authority (PDA). The acknowledgment is required by state statute when property is transferred to the PDA outside an existing urban renewal area.

Brent McClain, Planning and Development Director, told the council the PDA intends to remove the existing structure and redevelop the site with future partners. "The owners of the Monarch are gifting it to the Pocatello Development Authority, and the Pocatello Development Authority intends to remove the building and redevelop the site with future partners at a future date," McClain said. He said the PDA's near-term priority is to make the site safe for the community and downtown.

Council members asked about demolition costs and funding. McClain said estimates range from about $100,000 to a couple hundred thousand dollars and that structural engineers are evaluating the building. "We will have a request for proposal sent out. The PDA will send out that request for proposal, probably next month, and then we will begin that process of hiring a contractor and getting some estimates," he said.

On funding, McClain said the PDA has some "non dedicated funds in their general fund" that will be used for the project, and the PDA intends to pursue mechanisms later to recoup at least a portion of those funds. "The primary goal of the PDA is to take blighted properties like this ... and make them viable again," he said.

Council Member Nichols described the PDA action as a positive step. "In my opinion, this is like a textbook perfect example of what urban renewal districts...can and should be doing," Nichols said, adding the project should increase safety, remediate blight and promote economic development.

Motion and vote: A motion to approve the PDA request to execute an acknowledgment and consent on the Real Property Donation Agreement passed on a roll call vote. Mover: Council President Lohrick. Second: Council Member Cheatham. Roll call: Lohrick — yes; Cheatham — yes; Bingham — yes; Mansfield — yes; Nichols — yes; Paulson — yes; Mangum — yes. Outcome: approved.

Next steps: The PDA will issue an RFP for demolition and contractor selection; staff said demolition cost estimates and final funding sources will be reported back to the council once procurement and engineering assessments are complete.