URA’s Grapevine project: city-owned culinary incubator planned for 833 Forest Parkway; $100,000 CDBG available

Forest Park — Economic development staff presented a plan to renovate the city-owned Grapevine building at 833 Forest Parkway into an approximately 11,000-square-foot culinary incubator and small food hall.

Staff said the building exterior work is complete; construction documents for the interior are approved. The proposed space would include a dual kitchen incubator to help home-based food entrepreneurs scale into licensed operations, three vendor stalls, a coffee drive-through using the former pharmacy drive-through, a bar and communal seating with flexible meeting/creative space and a small performance stage.

Staff estimated a ballpark renovation budget (hard and soft costs) will be in the low millions and noted $100,000 in available Clayton County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that can be applied toward the project. Because final costs depend on rebidding and market conditions, staff recommended rebidding the previously completed scope to save time and suggested issuing an RFP to recruit restaurant and bar tenants with demonstrated traction. The URA was also advised to hire an operations/restaurant-management firm to run day-to-day activities and protect municipal interests under a written management agreement.

Board members discussed tenant recruitment, operations and the need for a strong on-site manager; staff said they will circulate renderings and a short video of the concept.

Next steps: rebid the construction scope, issue an RFP for tenants/management, apply available CDBG funds and return with a detailed cost/budget recommendation and an operational agreement for the URA to review.