Council reviews Hatch courtyard plan; staff say no city dollars required for initial phase

City staff and the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance briefed the council on a phased plan to build front and rear courtyards at the K1/Hatch facility during the July 27 work session.

City Engineer Richard Johnson described the building envelope work and said finishing tasks are underway; he said the city project was on track for completion in the first half of September and that Alliance operations would follow. Johnson said the EDA grant that paid for the building envelope did not cover landscaping or hardscape features, so the Alliance is proposing to make a capital investment on city property and the council should review and consent to the proposed work. Johnson told council the current plan had "no dollar ramifications for the city." (first introduced by the chair.)

Lee Lawson, speaking for the Alliance/Hatch partnership, outlined a phased courtyard approach and said Hatch has raised almost $10,000,000 for entrepreneurs. Lawson said the group is in conversations with HUD and awaiting environmental/funding clearance that could unlock additional phased work; he also noted contractors and pricing are in hand and that a November opening is possible if schedules hold. Council members recommended placing a resolution on the regular meeting agenda to authorize or memorialize consent for work on city property and asked staff to coordinate lease language clarifying where city maintenance ends and Hatch’s maintenance begins.

No formal council vote occurred during the work session; staff agreed to prepare documentation so the item can be added to the consent agenda at an upcoming meeting.