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Home My WebLink AboutIR 7308 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7308 p.1 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 9, 1988 Zi Subject: Request for Applications for the Expansion of the City of Fort Worth' s Commercial Revitalization Program PURPOSE The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide information on the request for applications for the expanded City of Fort Worth Commercial Revitalization Program. BACKGROUND On April 19, 1988, an Informal Report was presented to the City Council on the subject of the "Proposed Use of CDBG Year XIV Funds for Commercial Revitalization" (see attached) . At that time, it was indicated that a public request for applications was to be made to identify local commercial areas desiring to be selected for the City's Commercial Revitalization Program. The City Planning staff has worked with a subcommittee of the Community Development Council to develop an application package to be sent to those persons expressing interest. This package specifies the criteria which characterize a successful project and includes an application in which candidates may detail how, in their judgement, their respective commercial area best meets those criteria. Applicants could include business associations, merchants desiring to form a business association, or other interested groups desiring to participate. The application package has been finalized and the Planning Department will now begin the process of advertising this opportunity throughout the City. Listed below are the selection criteria as specified in the application package. Please note that a neighborhood commercial area does not need to meet all of the following criteria, but must meet a majority (at least five) of the criteria. 1) A minimum of three core commercial blocks; 2) A minimum of 60% of the buildings occupied (not vacant or used for storage) in the project area; 3) A project area consisting primarily of small retail businesses; 4) A demonstrated commitment to establish a business association of not already in place) which includes at least 55% of the project area businesses; LISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7308 p.2 ; so)?). To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 9, 1988 -A 0 Subject: Request for Applications for the Expansion of the City of Fort Worth's Commercial Revitalization Program (Continued) 5) A minimum of 65% of the project area business owner/operator's signatures on the Participation Agreement form who agree to support and participate in the project activities; 6) A minimum of 5 letters of support from a broad base of community organizations, institutions and local residents; 7) A strategic location in relation to the neighborhood it serves; 8) Not more than 25% of the project area real estate owned by any one individual; 9) A potential for historic preservation (a minimum of 50% of the project area buildings must have been built prior to 1945) . AM'' A special meeting will be held with interested persons and applicants on Thursday, August 25, 1988 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Central Library, Room A to explain the program and answer any questions on how to fill out the application. The deadline for submission of the applications will be no later than 5:00 P.M. on Friday, September 23, 1988. If more detailed information on this commercial revitalization program is desired, it will be furnished upon request. L..-17 AJ 1) -47-. Ir bo,,^uglas Harman City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 7277 `bi toRr,� To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 19. 2988 w is 3 ..,� Subject: PROPOSED USE OF CDBG 'YEAR XIV FUNDS FOR COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION FMPOSE The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide information on the intended use of $100,000 allocated for Commercial Revitalization in the Year XIV Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget. BACKGROUND ,For ie past eight years, the City of Fort Worth has pursued revitalization of economically declining inner-city commercial areas through a combination of intensive staff support and use of CDGB funding. The first initiative of this type was the Magnolia Avenue Streetscape Improvements Project, now entering its third phase. The second was the Polytechnic Main Street Project, which is currently in progress along five blocks of East Rosedale Street across from Texas Wesleyan College. Both of these projects have been characterized by the infusion of a limited amount of City funds in order to leverage proportionately large amounts of private investment. For example, a $1 million City investment in the Magnolia Avenue project in the past eight years has produced over $15 million in private investment. In response to the demonstrated value and need for this type of urban investment, the promotion of economic revitalization activities has assumed a high priority among staff. In addition, the overall priorities for COGS Year XIV funding from 01011 the ten Neighborhood Advisory Councils (NAC's) listed job training, placement and development as their 13 priority and commercial revitalization and redevelopment as their 06 priority . Over the past year there has also been growing interest in developing commercial revitalization activites in other parts of the City similar to the Magnolia Avenue and Polytechnic Main Street projects. Several neighborhoods have approached city staff to request technical assistance for commercial revitalization in their areas. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE The Fort Worth Commercial Revitalization Program is intended to assist in revitalization of a selected neighborhood commercial area with preference given to the CDGB Special Emphasis Areas (SEAs) and Target Areas. The goals for Commercial Revitalization program activities in this selected commercial area are as follows. To establish and foster partnerships among local business and financial institutions, the community and government to plan, finance and market improved goods and services; To improve local retail sales volumes and tax base; To improve personal safety for both merchants and customers; To increase local merchant ownership of the businesses, particularly minority and female ownership; •► To improve personal safety for both merchants and customers; To create new retail and service sector jobs; and [ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH. TEXAS ---- INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 7277 19, 1988 To the Mayor and Members of the Gilp Gouncii April Aa' Subject PRWOSED USE OF C8D6 YEAR XIY FUNDS FOR COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION To furnish necessary modern amenities and .conveniences to attract more shoppers. Specific uses for the proposed allocation of $100,000 in CDGB funds for this initiative will depend upon the unique profile of needs of the area selected. Examples of possible uses for these funds may include undertaking of market feasibility studies and preparation of commercial revitalization plans, initiation of another urban Main Street project similar to that in the Polytechnic Heights project; creation of a revolving loan fund to assist businesses; or purchase of amenities such as street furniture and landscaping to enhance the commercial area. If the Year XIY funding is approved, a public request for applications will be made to identify local commercial areas desiring to be selected for the program. City Planning staff has been working with a subcommittee of the Community Development Council to develop an application package which will be sent to those expressing interest. This package will specify the criteria which characterizes a successful project and will include an application form on which candidates may detail how, in their judgement, their respective commercial area best fits those criteria. Applicants may include business associations, merchants desiring to form a business association, or other interested groups desiring to participate. The CDBG funds will be available for use only within the city' s existing CDBG Target Areas. If more detailed information on this commercial revitalization initiative is desired, it will be furnished upon request. AV-%,n1as arman. City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS --•—