Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Space Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff says council directed pursuit of privately held parcel for park; details limited while real estate work continues
Summary
Parks staff told the board the Oct. 7 City Council resolution directed staff to pursue acquisition of a privately held parcel for a future park site (council vote 6–1); staff said due diligence (appraisal, Phase I) and private negotiation details currently limit what can be discussed publicly.
Wilmington — Parks staff told the advisory board on Oct. 15 that the City Council passed a resolution on Oct. 7 directing staff to pursue acquisition of a privately held parcel for a potential future parks and recreation site.
Speaker 4 said the council vote was 6–1 and that Councilman Spears voted against the resolution. Staff said the property remains privately held by multiple parties and that the city must complete its due diligence — including an appraisal and a Phase I environmental assessment — before it can discuss terms publicly.
"It's privately held among more than one entity ... the city has to do its due diligence with an appraisal and Phase I environmental," Speaker 4 said, explaining why staff could not provide more detail at the meeting.
Staff cautioned that public expression of interest by a government entity can affect price or negotiations. The board discussed candidate sites owned by the city that might be prioritized for open-space preservation, including a triangular parcel adjacent to 10th and Banning and property near Maids Park and the police and fire training facility; staff encouraged board members to review shared GIS maps in preparation for a future meeting where a recommendation to council could be developed.
Staff said they are not at liberty to disclose certain property-holder details while negotiations and private-party matters are pending.
