AgdaPkt 2012-07-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7.B. - Page 2 Staff solicited proposals for Project Management services from five major Bay Area firms. The proposals were received on June 20 and staff requests authorization to negotiate an agreement with Vanir Construction Management, Inc. The agreement is expected to be in effect approximately three years and will be funded by the developer's deposit and the proceeds from the property sale. Secondly, staff proposed the option of offering the Winslow Street property to Lowe Enterprises for development as a residential project. The ad hoc committee expressed interest in both the opportunity to continue development of housing in the Downtown and in the opportunity of capitalizing on Lowe's interest in developing housing there, as well. Staff has confirmed with Hunter Storm that it is relinquishing its interest in the site and that it is comfortable with the City negotiating instead with Lowe to develop the Winslow Street property. One of the significant constraints to the Winslow Street property is its size. Staff believes that by modifying the conceptual location of the Depot Circle roundabout additional square footage can be added to the property. Staff has approached Lowe Enterprises about the possibility of negotiating for the Winslow Street property and providing this potentially additional development area. Thus far, Lowe's representatives have indicated an interest in this opportunity. Consequently, staff is requesting authorization to begin negotiations with Lowe Enterprises to develop the Winslow Street property as a residential project. Critical to the decision to develop this property is the location of the traffic roundabout. There is no clearly defined location of this improvement other than the conceptual plan of the Downtown Precise Plan. Staff's evaluation indicates that moving the roundabout will likely improve the development on the Winslow Street property and also, potentially, resolve an awkward sliver of property that would otherwise be a part of the Block 2 site. As shown in the attachment, by moving the roundabout slightly the developer of Block 2 is not encumbered with the box culvert and the small triangle of property just beyond it. The City would retain ownership of the culvert and the triangular section enabling better development of Block 2. The location of the roundabout must be finalized before Hunter Storm can begin their overall site planning and design. As staff has analyzed the roundabout location, it has also become apparent that by shifting it slightly some of the title and land transfer issues that arise when relinquishing street rights-of-way are eliminated for the Block 2 development. This is specifically the case with a portion of Hamilton Street that engages the Block 2 site as originally conceived.