Title
Resolution Approving and Designating Rondo Community Land Trust (Rondo CLT) as Tentative Developer for the HRA-owned parcels located at 0 Marshall Avenue and 1036 Marshall Avenue Saint Paul, District 8, Ward 1
Body
WHEREAS, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the "HRA") is a public body corporate and politic established pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 469.001, et seq. (the “Act”); and
WHEREAS, the HRA has the power to engage in development or redevelopment activities under Minnesota law, relating to (a) housing projects and development; (b) removal and prevention of the spread of conditions of blight or deterioration; (c) bringing substandard buildings and improvements into compliance with public standards; (d) disposition of land for private redevelopment; and (e) improving the tax base and financial stability of the community when these needs cannot be met through reliance solely upon private initiative and that can be undertaken in targeted neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the HRA is authorized to create redevelopment projects as defined in Minn. Stat. Section 469.002, Subd. 14; and
WHEREAS, as described in the staff report accompanying this Resolution, HRA staff received a request from Rondo Community Land Trust (“Rondo CLT”) for a Tentative Developer Status for the HRA-owned lots on 0 Marshall Avenue and 1036 Marshall Avenue (“Development Site”); and
WHEREAS, after receiving the proposal from Rondo CLT, an early notification system was issued on February 16, 2023 and interested parties were given 45 days to submit competing proposals; and
WHEREAS, 45 days after the issuance of the early notification, no competing proposal was received; and
WHEREAS, after reviewing the proposal from Rondo CLT and interviewing the proposer, HRA staff is recommending that Rondo CLT (the “Developer”) be granted tentative developer status for the Development Site because the Developer’s proposal to create affordable residential housing on the Development Site (“Project”) best accomplishes the stated HRA goals and objectives for the Development Site, and the Developer has the demonstrated experience and qualifications necessary to successfully redevelop the Development Site; and
WHEREAS, this Board finds the Project serves a public purpose by 1) meeting the City’s goal of production of housing; 2) redeveloping vacant parcels of land; and 3) enhancing the tax base capacity for the City; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota that:
1. The HRA Board of Commissioners hereby approves and designates Rondo Community Land Trust as tentative developer for the Development Site for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of approval of this Resolution, subject to the terms and conditions of this Resolution. The designation of “tentative developer” means that the HRA has tentatively approved of the Developer and the Project, and that the HRA will not contract with any other person or entity for the sale and development of the Development Site while the tentative developer diligently pursues the completion of all the tasks and conditions listed below in this Resolution. The HRA does reserve the right in its discretion to approve or not approve a final design of the Project, and to decide whether to sell and convey the Development Site to the Developer.
2. During this twenty-four (24) month period, the Developer must complete at its own cost certain activities with respect to the Development Site. A list of activities includes the following:
a. Conduct soil tests for both quality and anticipated pollutants (asbestos/lead from previous homes).
b. Complete Phase 1 Environmental and subsequent Phase 2.
c. Put together a budget and sources and uses statement for funding applications.
d. Provide completed schematic design plans for the project with input from affected community groups and key City stakeholders.
e. Provide final financial model for the project.
f. Finalize site engineering.
g. Provide a construction timeline.
h. Complete the site plan review process.
i. Negotiate basic terms and conditions of a development agreement with HRA staff that will include applicable City compliance requirements.
3. If the Developer does not timely and fully complete the tasks specified in paragraph 2 above, tentative developer status shall either be extended for a reasonable period of time or terminated at the discretion of and by the HRA Executive Director without further action of this Board. An extension can be granted upon a showing that the Developer has made significant progress towards the accomplishment of the tasks described in this Resolution, and that the Developer is diligently pursuing the completion of such tasks. Upon a termination, neither the HRA nor the Developer has any further rights or obligations under this Resolution.
4. A development agreement must be submitted to and approved by this Board, but nothing in this Resolution, or the actions taken by the Developer in connection with the Project, shall be construed to require this Board to approve a development agreement.
5. The HRA will grant access to the Development Site to the Developer through a license agreement, so that the Developer can perform their due diligence, including soil testing and environmental investigation, provided that entry onto the Development Site shall not interfere with the normal operation of the City’s staff.
6. The HRA staff is directed to provide the Developer with information, documents and other assistance that may be reasonably requested from the Developer.
7. The HRA will provide prompt feedback to the Developer on the relative economic, programmatic and design suitability of the Project as requested from time-to-time.
8. The HRA Executive Director, staff and legal counsel for the HRA are further directed and authorized to take all actions necessary to implement this Resolution.