TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Jay Reinstein, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Cynthia Blot, Economic & Community Development Director
DATE: August 6, 2018
RE:
Title
Update on Catalyst Site 1 Activities
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
District 2
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 2: Diverse & Viable Economy
Executive Summary:
This is an update on the status of the acquisition property in Catalyst Site 1. The attached map shows the boundary of the area and parcels owned by the City.
Background:
In January 2013, the City began acquiring property in Catalyst site 1 of the Murchison Road Development Plan area. The acquisition of property is complete.
In November 2016, an Economic and Business Development Strategic Action Plan was completed by Red Rock Global. The Plan identifies four pathways, four focus areas and a number of action steps listed below.
Four Pathways:
1. Quality Education/Schools
2. Large Scale, High Quality Active Recreational spaces
3. Drive More People Downtown
4. Focus Development, Marketing and Public Spending
|
Focus Areas |
Status |
Activities |
|
1. Upper Murchison Road (I-295 to Country Club Dr., Bragg Blvd to Ramsey St) |
|
|
|
a. Large scale master planned development with retail, a sports complex, and hospitality. |
Partially Complete / In Process |
FCEDC is working with private property owners, the City, County, and Mayor’s coalition to identify and bring to market new development opportunities. 135 acres have completed due diligence and 750+ acres have been identified as potential sites for development, with interested property owners. |
|
2. Lower Murchison Road (Country Club Dr., to intersection of Bragg Blvd and Rowan Street) |
Ongoing |
Property Acquisition Complete on Catalyst Site 1. Reviewed other options for land acquisition on surrounding sites. Issued a RFP for consultant expertise in validating community interest, site limitations and developer interest to move towards siting a catalytic project. |
|
a. Creation and Branding of a recreation and entertainment area Downtown that focuses on families and fans. |
Ongoing |
Cool Spring in partnership with the Arts Council and the City are working to stand up an Arts & Entertainment District. |
|
b. Integrate the numerous existing natural features, parks and museums. |
Ongoing |
RFP issued for design assistance for Veterans Park II that will be constructed once the old Rowan Street Bridge is removed. Funds available for an urban trail from downtown up Murchison Road corridor towards FSU. Money provided as part of the Parks and Recreation Bond for further development of the MLK Jr. Park. |
|
c. A collegiate age recreational areas centered on Washington Park, FSU and Cat Site 1. |
Ongoing |
The City and FSU are finalizing a feasibility study for the development of a joint Wellness Center in the Murchison Road-Filter Plant Road area. |
|
d. Fan based experience center. Fun Zone type of Fan experience. Maybe a huge Ferris wheel. |
Not started |
No direct activity yet on this recommendation. |
|
e. Family based experience focused on children, anchored along Hay and Gillespie. |
Ongoing |
Ongoing activities being pursued with Cool Springs to stand up the Arts & Entertainment District and continued work by the Arts Council and City on public art displays. Will increase when baseball stadium is complete. |
|
f. Creative Training and Employment Center at the current Fayetteville State University Business Center. |
Ongoing |
FSU opened the Construction Resource Office (CRO) in April. The CRO is designed to increase access to bid documents and eliminate the costs associated with acquiring documents for contractors. The CRO provides full access to estimating and bidding software, scaled copies of plans, copies of specs, access to the internet and access to general office equipment. |
|
3. Center City Action Park (intersection of Blount St. and Gillespie) |
Ongoing |
Property Acquisition Near Completion |
|
a. Contemporary and cool community of small live/work urban loft offices intertwined with green space and food truck pads. |
Ongoing |
With funding support from the General Assembly an Urban Plan and a Parking Plan are underway. Both plans will inform the Council on how best to position the City for growth in the downtown and lower Murchison Road areas. |
Issues/Analysis:
The desired outcome of the action plan was to attract a developer. An RFP was issued in June 2018. No developers responded to the RFP.
Budget Impact:
Funding is currently budgeted for Catalyst Site 1 and 1A only.
$1,625,000-Total Budget
$574,222-amount remaining.
Options:
For informational purposes only.
Recommended Action:
N/A
Attachments:
Red Rock Global 2016 Action Plan
MAP-property acquired