Redevelopment commission approves contract amendment, appraisals, demolition access, side-lot awards and INDOT right-of-way

The City of Gary Redevelopment Commission on March 11 approved several resolutions and claims that advance property appraisals, site access for demolition, contract amendments and side-lot transfers.

Director Chris Harris presented Resolution 7667 authorizing a contract amendment with the redevelopment consultant (referenced in the discussion as Crow/Pro LLP) to allow continued financial consulting and support for the commission's annual report to the State Board of Accounts. Harris said the original contract was $50,000, that an invoice of $4,365 is being presented now and that approximately $45,000 remained on the contract. The commission approved the resolution on a roll call vote with Commissioner Clemens, Commissioner Boreham and President Stallings voting yes.

The commission also approved Resolution 7668 to award appraisal/valuation contracts for a set of city lots the commission is vetting with interested developers. Harris said these appraisals will help move the property-disposition process forward; the motion passed on roll call.

Resolution 7669 authorizes site-access agreements to allow demolition of two blighted residential parcels the commission acquired in the tax-sale process in the Black Oak area (both described as less than an acre combined). Harris said the agreements permit a nearby developer to clear the lots at no cost to the redevelopment commission to encourage new development; the commission approved the resolution.

Resolution 7670, a professional-services contract with JQOL for topographic and boundary surveys, was tabled at Harris's request.

Resolution 7671 implements the city’s adjacent-property (side-lot) program and awards lots to applicants who completed due diligence and appeared to speak at the meeting. Present applicants who spoke and were congratulated by the commission included Brianna Henley (1124 Hamilton St.), Antoinette Williams (825 Oakheart St.), Tremont Turner (2701 Central Drive), Desiree Riley (2473 Jefferson St.) and a trustee/owner noted as Larry Clemens (2104 Adam St.). Harris indicated three applicants who did not appear will be asked to attend the next meeting before the commission disposes of property to them. The commission passed resolution 7671 on roll call.

Resolution 7672 approves right-of-way easements requested by the Indiana Department of Transportation for small portions of five parcels (listed in the backup as 377 Jackson Street; 421 West 4th Avenue; 456–458 Pennsylvania Street; 200–218 East 5th Avenue; and 1 Stadium Plaza) to support pedestrian and intersection improvements related to an ongoing project. Harris said INDOT's standard payment for such easements is $1,000; the commission approved the resolution on roll call.

Claims approved at the meeting included five items: the $4,365 invoice tied to the contract amendment, recurring security and consulting invoices (American Eagles and Innovative Planning), a Bailey Edward Design invoice of $73,800 charged to the non-reverting fund, and an American StructurePoint invoice for $499.17 that staff believed might be the final billing for the 15th Avenue and I-65 comprehensive study. The commission approved payment of the claims on a roll call vote.

Every formal vote recorded in the transcript shows Commissioner Clemens, Commissioner Boreham and President Stallings voting yes; no recorded nay votes or abstentions appeared in the roll calls recorded in the meeting transcript. No further binding appropriations for Main Street programming were made during the March 11 meeting; staff said those would come through future budget or TIFF items.