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October 8, 2013 <br />At a Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, there <br />were present: <br />Mayor Kenneth I. Wright, Vice Mayor Paige D. Cherry, William E. Moody, Jr., Marlene <br />W. Randall, Elizabeth M. Psimas, Dr. Curtis E. Edmonds, Sr., Danny W. Meeks, City <br />Manager John L. Rowe, Jr., City Attorney George M. Willson. <br />Councilman Curtis E. Edmonds, Sr., opened the meeting with prayer, which was <br />followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. <br />Mayor Wright called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. <br />Motion by Mr. Meeks, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to approve the minutes of a <br />Called Meeting of September 23, 2013, of a Called Meeting of September 24, 2013, and <br />of a Regular Meeting of September 24, 2013, and was adopted by the following vote: <br />Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Meeks, Moody, Psimas, Randall, Wright <br />Nays: None <br />13 - 421 -Presentation <br />• Presentation of a proclamation to Dr. Rosalynn Sanderlin and Laura Armstrong for <br />"I. C. Norcom's 100t" Anniversary Celebration Days". <br />- City Manager's Report - <br />13 - 422 -Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to designate the <br />Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing authority (PRHA) as the City's agent to <br />apply to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for a <br />grant under the Industrial Revitalization Fund Program to fund the acquisition of <br />property located at 1021 High Street by the Greater Portsmouth Development <br />Corporation. Vision Principle: A Robust Economy for Working Men and Women. <br />Background: <br />• The former Mary Jane Bakery Property is 2.957 acres and is assessed at <br />approximately $1,626,000.00. <br />• GPDC owns the adjacent vacant properties located at 1107, 1117, and 1121 <br />High Street that will be combined with the former Mary Jane Bakery Property for <br />redevelopment. <br />• The PRHA, along with GPDC, plans to demolish all buildings on the four parcels, <br />remove all interior lot lines and redevelop the single parcel with a development that is <br />primarily residential apartments and limited retail/office space on a portion of the first <br />floor. <br />• IRF grant monies are available to local governments for the redevelopment of <br />vacant and deteriorated industrial and commercial properties. The PRHA, along with <br />GPDC, wishes to pursue a grant in the amount of $600,000 and will provide a required <br />1:1 match. <br />• The PRHA is acting as an agent for the City to apply for the grant and needs this <br />resolution to demonstrate the City's support of the request. <br />Discussion: <br />• The IRF grant funding will allow the vacant property to be rehabilitated, will <br />increase City revenues, and will further the physical and economic revitalization of the <br />Downtown Corridor. <br />Financial Impact: <br />• The building has an assessed value of $1,626,000 and is currently taxed. <br />GPDC plans to demolish all buildings on the four parcels, remove all interior lot lines <br />and redevelop the single parcel with a development that is primarily residential <br />apartments and limited retail/office space on a portion of the first floor. <br />