Item3b_Response_to_ARA_letter — original pdf

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Summary of Public Feedback At the Urban Renewal Board’s meeting on October 18th, item 2e on the agenda was related to the attached letter from the Austin Revitalization Authority. The Board received 110 emails, the majority of which contained the text below. Emails that contained additional text expressed the same sentiment that the Board should not accept an unsolicited proposal. Board Members: I am writing to voice STRONG opposition to ARA’s request to circumvent the public RFP process and submit an Unsolicited Proposal to develop and own Urban Renewal Agency’s Block 18 property at 1100 East 11th and Juniper Streets (location of Kenny Dorham’s Backyard). · ARA has been the City’s ‘developer of choice’ for this section of East 11th Street for 20 years. · Though they are already the developer/owner of more commercial real estate space on East 11th Street than any other entity, during these 20 years their efforts to address cultural preservation, arts/culture/entertainment and the creative industries is totally lacking. They have primarily engaged in commercial development and ownership activities. · Were it not for passage of the September 2 Council Agenda item #48 (support for the African American Cultural Heritage District and establishment of the Kenny Dorham Center), ARA already had a pre-packaged commercial mixed-use development plan ready to submit for this property as an Unsolicited Proposal. That plan was NOT for an exclusively dedicated creative industries arts and cultural hub institution. · ARA is a nonprofit community development corporation whose stated mission and goals, in part, are affordability, small business development/ownership, historic and cultural preservation, and revitalization of a dynamic entertainment and cultural street scene for what was once Black East Austin, yet it seems their quest continues to be development and ownership of property. What is the evidence that they have even approximated these other aims after 20 years? · ARA’s most recent development on Urban Renewal property (on Juniper St) resulted in townhomes, priced between $750k-$1M. 16-18 units, with 2 ‘affordable’ units. After approximately 5 years, those 2 ‘affordable’ units are yet to be occupied. Why would the Urban Renewal Board turn over to ARA yet another parcel of publicly-owned commercial real estate in what is designated as the core of the Cultural Heritage District? · If the public process for developing Block 18 is to be circumvented, it makes sense for the Urban Renewal Board, Austin Economic Development Corp, and the Creative Spaces Bond Committee to work with the East Austin Creative Coalition (conceptual originator/designer of the cultural center model) to develop a world-class cultural institution and home-base for the sustaining cultural arts organization who developed the idea. East 11th Street does not need another developer-owned mixed-use building, the need is for a generational cultural arts INSTITUTION. · 20 years ago Harold McMillan, founder DiverseArts and the East Austin Creative Coalition, conceived, designed, and planned the structure of the African American Cultural Heritage District AND the Kenny Dorham Center Cultural Institution. At that time, he presented these plans to ARA for development as ARA projects. At that time, the Austin Revitalization Authority chose not to pursue either of these projects as part of their mission to Revitalize·Respect·Restore. Unless the disposition of Block 18 is to be totally restructured, ARA should compete in the public process like everyone else. It’s better to take a little more time and get it right. We’ve waited 20 years, another 18 months is insignificant at this point. Thank you for your consideration on this very important issue.