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Grapevine culinary incubator: URA-owned site ready for interior buildout; funding and operator recruitment next
Summary
The URA now owns 833 Forest Parkway (the Grapevine) and staff proposed URA-funded interior 'white box' renovations (about 11,000 sq ft) to create a dual kitchen incubator, vendor stalls and flex space; staff recommended rebidding prior construction documents, using available CDBG funds, and issuing RFPs for construction and an operations manager.
Staff reported URA acquisition of 833 Forest Parkway (the Grapevine culinary incubator) and described completed exterior work paid with SPLOST funds (painting, pressure washing, parking-lot restriping and some roof repairs). The building is currently a shell, and staff proposed a URA-funded 'white box' interior renovation to enable a dual kitchen incubator, three vendor spaces, a coffee vendor using the drive-through, a bar and flexible meeting/performance space totaling roughly 11,000 square feet.
Plans are final and approved and staff proposed rebidding prior construction scopes to save time. A portion of the project may be supported with Clayton County CDBG funds (staff said about $100,000 of eligible CDBG remained) and staff projected a ballpark construction/soft-cost estimate near $3.5 million pending a rebid. Staff recommended issuing an RFP for construction and an additional RFP to recruit an on-site restaurant-management operator or broker and to explore broker agreements to recruit operator tenants with 'stickability.'
Board members asked about demonstrated operator interest and on-site management; staff recommended leaning on brokers and third-party operator/management firms to run day-to-day operations and protect URA interests via a strong operational agreement drafted by counsel. Staff will circulate the project video, construction documents and recommended RFP timelines and return with a procurement schedule for board review.
