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Authorization to Extend Rondo Community Land Trust, a Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation, as Tentative Developer for HRA-owned Parcels Located at 0 Marshall Avenue and 1036 Marshall Avenue Saint Paul, District 8, Ward 1
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WHEREAS, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the “HRA”) is a public body corporate and politic established, existing, and operating under the laws of the State of Minnesota pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 469.001, et seq. (the “Act”); and
WHEREAS, the HRA is empowered by law, including the Act, to adopt and enforce this Resolution in pursuit of its mandate to engage in appropriate housing, development, and redevelopment projects; to remove or prevent the spread of conditions of blight or deterioration; to bring substandard buildings and improvements into compliance with public standards; to dispose of HRA-owned land for private development; and to improve the tax base and the financial stability of the community; and
WHEREAS, HRA staff received a request from Rondo Community Land Trust (“Rondo CLT”) for an extension to its Tentative Developer Status for the HRA-owned lots on 0 Marshall Avenue and 1036 Marshall Avenue (“Development Site”); and
WHEREAS, the HRA Board of Commissioners has designated Rondo CLT as the tentative developer for the Property (the “Tentative Developer”) with Resolution 23-636 on April 26, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Tentative Developer status was extended for 6 months via an administrative action by the Executive Director of the HRA through October 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Rondo CLT has made significant progress since the tentative developer designation and subsequent extension, including securing $2.4 million in funding from local government agencies, completing the environmental review, beginning the site plan review process and continuing to apply for relevant funding sources; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, that the tentative developer designation for Rondo CLT is extended for the Property until October 31, 2026, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Resolution and the prior resolution. The HRA and Tentative Developer expect to maintain open and regular communications to ensure significant progress is being made toward the tasks defined below.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tentative Developer must complete or cause to complete, at its own cost, certain activities with respect to the Project within the extension period. A list of benchmark activities that are to be completed by the Tentative Developer include the following:
• Continue pursuing funding from other government agencies, as applicable.
• Submit an application for General Assistance to the City of Saint Paul and HRA.
• Complete formal scope of work with architectural/engineering plans and specifications, incorporating the Sustainable Building Ordinance requirements, and including site plan, elevations, exterior treatments/materials, and interior schematics for approval by HRA staff.
• Complete site review plan review process with the Department of Safety and Inspection.
• Finalize a detailed development budget and business plan for approval by HRA staff.
• Obtain all required building permit approvals, licenses, and any other required City or State approvals for the project.
• Receive all required zoning approvals.
• Negotiate final terms and conditions of a development agreement, which will include all compliance requirements, details of the bidding process, and a sworn construction cost statement from the selected contractor for the Project.
• Submit evidence of availability of construction financing for review by HRA staff for acceptability.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the terms and conditions of a development agreement between the HRA and the Tentative Developer shall include, among other items required by HRA staff or the City Attorney’s Office, the following terms and restrictions:
1. All pre-development costs are the sole responsibility of the Tentative Developer.
2. The Tentative Developer must work with affected community groups.
3. The Property will be sold in its “as is” condition.
4. In connection with the foregoing actions, the HRA is authorized to grant the Tentative Developer access to the Property under a license agreement, approved by the City Attorney’s Office, that allows the Tentative Developer to perform its due diligence, including environmental investigation, provided that entry onto the Property shall not interfere with any HRA or City of Saint Paul operations on or around the Property.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the Tentative Developer does not timely commence or complete the specified tasks or otherwise abide by the terms of this Resolution, its status as Tentative Developer may be terminated by the Executive Director of the HRA without further action by this Board.