Title
Resolution - A Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement Between the City of Mansfield and Halff Associates Inc., for Development Strategies for Historic Downtown Mansfield, for $125,000
Requested Action
To authorize a professional services agreement for Development Strategies for Historic Downtown Mansfield.
Description/History
Following the Gateway Study that was authorized in 2012 by Council, a Tax Increment Reinvenstment Zone No. Two was created and many public improvments recommended by that Study have been made, including improvements to North Main, South Main (underway), Pond Branch Trail, and Wayfinding (underway). The Council Sub-Committee has recommended that we look at additional opportunities to assist with redelopment of the Historic Downtown.
An RFP was advertised iin May. Of the six submittals, Staff interviewed four consultants for the Development Strategies to find the best firm and team that could accomplish the identified tasks:
• Understand the City’s goals for downtown.
• Evaluate current parking conditions in the downtown area including supply and demand for public and private parking; assess current operational practices for the City’s parking programs and identify potential improvements; estimate future parking demand in the downtown area based on known and projected future development; and develop strategies for meeting expected future parking demand.
• Develop a market analysis to evaluate current land uses, businesses, publicly owned properties, zoning, infrastructure, transportation network, parking and pedestrian facilities and present development strategies to attract new users and strengthen existing desirable uses, including residential, commercial, retail, entertainment and mixed uses. Because the study area is Historic Downtown Mansfield, the historic fabric of the downtown area should be considered in the development strategy.
• Update the Historic Downtown TIRZ # 2 evaluations, including the current returns and status of values, and projections for future revenue.
• Analyze the City’s real estate holdings and facilities in TIRZ #2 and make recommendations for the future development of these properties.
Halff Associates, Inc. was selected by a 10 member committee including staff from management, Economic Development, Planning, Engineering, Museum, Library, Convention and Visitors Bureau and Parks.
This Development Strategies process will include working with the Revitalization of Historic Downtown Mansfield Sub-Committee, City Staff, City Council and downtown stakeholders to understand current conditions and desired goals for the area. The process will take approximately 10 months to complete and Halff will present the findings to City Council.
Justification
This Development Strategies will look further into the specifics and beyond things outlined in the Gateway Study and will assist with the continued efforts for Historic Downtown Redevelopment.
Funding Source
General Fund Bond Proceeds
Prepared By
Lisa Sudbury, AICP, Interim Director of Planning
817-276-4227