AgdaPkt 2005-10-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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/ð-/ REPORT To the Redevelopment Agency Board From the Executive Director October 24, 2005 Subject Post Office Paseo Recommendation 1) Approve the terms of the Outlease Agreement with U.S. Postal Service and authorize the Redevelopment Manager to execute same; 2) Review, modify as appropriate, and approve the conceptual design for the proposed improvements and authorize staff to proceed with the necessary steps to finalize the design, prepare construction drawings and obtain bids to be brought back for review and award by the Agency Board. Background The City's policy of ". . . creating comfortable, enjoyable, and aesthetically pleasing public spaces" takes another step forward with the opportunity to utilize the open space adjacent to the Post Office and improve in general the Post Office site. This green space between the Post Office and Tarboosh Restaurant has historically been underutilized, flooded during the rainy season and poorly maintained. Discussions with the U.S. Postal Service ("USPS") over the past year have evolved into the opportunity for an innovative public-private partnership with the Postal Service, Tarboosh Restaurant and the Redevelopment Agency ("Agency"). This proposed partnership will strengthen pedestrian connectivity in the Downtown and enhance the economic vitality of the Downtown. The Post Office Paseo will be located between the buildings which house the Post Office and Tarboosh Restaurant and will function as a safe, well-lit pedestrian walkway connecting the Main Street parking lot to the Cinema. The Paseo design will include a mini-plaza and an outdoor dining area. The Paseo will also serve as an innovative demonstration site for best management practices (BMP's) of stormwater runoff. In addition, the project includes improvements to the Post Office employee parking lot and all the public areas surrounding the Post Office, as well as the addition of short-term parking to the west of the building, as described below. Outlease Aoreement The Outlease Agreement (see attached) between the USPS and the Redevelopment Agency enables the Agency to demolish some of the existing improvements and to construct the new improvements designed by Ron Benoit Associates, landscape architects, described below and depicted in Exhibit C to the Agreement. It will also enable the Agency to sublet a portion of the area to Tarboosh Restaurant, who in turn REDEVSHARED_2005 STAFF REPORTS_10-2005_Staff Report-Post Office Paseo