TITLE
Recommendation to authorize acquisition of two parcels of land, more commonly known as 620 San Francisco Avenue, for the purchase price of approximately $2,903,848 for the Drake/Chavez Greenbelt Project; authorize City Manager to accept $1,000,000 in grant awards from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space Competitive Grant Program and execute any and all documents necessary for the administration of the grant; authorize City Manager to make the necessary budget appropriations and adjustments related to the grant and the acquisition; and authorize City Manager to execute any and all documents necessary for the conveyance of the parcels from the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency to the City of Long Beach. (District 1)
DISCUSSION
The Drake/Chavez Greenbelt Project (Project) provides for the acquisition of property adjacent to the Los Angeles River for the development of a greenbelt connecting the 23-acre Cesar A. Chavez Park to the six-acre Drake Park. The Project will add approximately 30 acres of open space to an underserved area of Long Beach through the acquisition of approximately 16 acres of privately-owned property as well as the potential conversion of 15 acres of unimproved right-of-way. The Project is currently being planned with community input for a mix of traditional parks functions, wetlands and a possible nature center with exhibits and classroom space. To date, the City has purchased 15.17 acres of the total privately-owned property required to complete the connection. Acquisition of the property located at 620 San Francisco Avenue (Site) will add 0.76 acres and complete the acquisition of all property identified for the Project (see Exhibits A and B).
The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (Agency), acting as the City's agent, is currently in negotiations with the property owners of the Site. The property owners have agreed to sell the 0.76-acre Site to the Agency for an all-inclusive amount of $2,710,000. Of this amount, $2,39...
Click here for full text