Redevelopment commission debates HWC marketing and engineering package for Cable 1 property

The Attica Redevelopment Commission spent the bulk of its June meeting reviewing a proposal from engineering firm HWC to prepare a marketing and predevelopment package for the city-owned Cable 1 property.

The commission chair said HWC is "working on the agreements for how we can market the availability of Cable 1" and that the firm would present a phase-by-phase cost estimate for phase 1. She said the packet will be circulated to members before the next meeting.

Committee members pressed HWC's scope and price. One member asked, "Is there a guarantee that it gets sold? Or do you get your money back if it doesn't get sold?" Members debated whether HWC's work is chiefly engineering, marketing or both, and whether a realtor — who typically lists property for a sale-based fee — could accomplish the same outreach at lower upfront cost. The chair responded that HWC is an engineering firm that also includes marketing and developer expertise and that services are "a la carte," so the commission can choose which pieces to pay for.

Members described HWC's phase structure in general terms: Phase 1 as project initiation and due diligence (surveys, environmental review), Phase 2 as developer selection and RFP preparation, Phase 3 as predevelopment approvals and engineering, and Phase 4 as construction monitoring and closeout. The chair and others said some due-diligence items have already been completed and HWC would not double-bill for work the city already has on file; a committee member noted that prospective buyers typically update or reissue reports in their own name when they finance a purchase.

Several figures were mentioned in discussion — including "19," "37" and "57" — but speakers did not specify units or currency on the record. Members repeatedly asked for clearer cost breakdowns and assurances about what the city would pay for if no sale resulted.

The discussion also touched on how the Cable 1 parcel might connect to nearby property owners and development, with members noting outreach to Mark Little and Harrison Steel as part of early coordination. The commission explored potential housing types — single-family homes, two-bedroom patio condos or, less preferred by some members, multifamily apartments — and whether zoning should be changed while predevelopment work proceeds.

Next steps: the chair said she will circulate HWC's phase cost estimates to commissioners and that Brian will attend upcoming meetings to discuss the project. The commission scheduled further consideration of the package for its August meeting.