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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport - Mail Packet - 4/18/2017 - Memorandum From Matt Robenalt, Downtown Development Authority, Re: 2016 Year In Review2016 YEAR IN REVIEW Downtown Development Authority Fort Collins, CO As a full time convener and collaborator for the vision of Downtown Fort Collins, the DDA is pleased to share its most recent accomplishments of 2016. On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, we would like to thank our partners and colleagues at the numerous public and non-profit organizations, businesses, and property investment companies who filled our days in 2016 with visioning and planning, implementation of programs, and the thoughtful construction of the built environment. Whether it was the start up of Outreach Fort Collins or the groundbreaking for the historic rehabilitation of the Northern Colorado Feeder Supply building, the DDA’s role remains a prominent driving force in creating partnerships that achieve outcomes that are greater than the sum of its parts. Together, we make the downtown better! The DDA strives to wisely and responsibly direct the resources of the agency into projects and programs that benefit the multitude of downtown and community stakeholders. Our model for success is dependent upon the important combination of continued private investment in downtown properties and the shared allocation of tax increment financing to enhance and evolve the livability, comfort, sustainability and beauty of the downtown’s public realm. In 2016, our investments supported redevelopment of vacant infill lots into new downtown housing, the engagement of artists to showcase their talents for all to see in Old Town Square, and to facilitate the connection of our most vulnerable residents living on the street with services and permanent housing. The breadth of the DDA’s work is diverse, yet its focus is laser sharp on making Downtown Fort Collins the premier urban center of Northern Colorado. Bevin Parker Chair, Board of Directors Matt Robenalt Executive Director Introduction The Downtown Development Authority is a steward of the neighborhood at the heart of Fort Collins - Downtown. We fund projects that add to the vitality, excitement, activity, vibrancy, diversity, and attractiveness of our community. To achieve success in the economic development of the District, all DDA functions will be operated with attention to maintaining the fiscal viability of the organization; achieving the goals of the organization as developed by the community of stakeholders; and implementing these goals through the adopted plans and policies of the DDA Board of Directors and City Council. When the DDA invests tax increment funds to promote and support public and private development our aim is to Make it Happen, Make it Happen Sooner, and Make it Better. New Tax Increment Revenues CREATES The Driver The What The How The Outcome ACCELERATES ENHANCES Improves Diversity & Attractiveness of District Exciting, Active, Vibrant Downtown When the DDA Promotes/Supports Private Development, it Directs Tax Increment Investments to: Address a Market Shortfall or Failure Act as a Market Catalyst Enhance Market Outcomes make it HAPPEN make it HAPPEN SOONER make it BETTER • Environmentally restorative, responsible and accountable • Design and build circulation systems that minimize auto/pedestrian conflict and maximize convenience • Solve a market/use mismatch by bridging a 2016 EXPENDITURES total $7,052,090 Debt Service Principal $4,006,482 57% Projects & Programs $2,033,327 29% Administration $597,937 8% Debt Service Interest $414,344 6% 8% 29% 57% 6% 2016 REVENUES total $7,052,090 Property Tax Increment Revenue $4,286,046 61% Proceeds from Debt Issuance $2,034,642 29% Property Tax Mill Levy, Other $721,723 10% Interest, Other $9,679 <1% <1% 10% 29% 61% 3 2016 Year in Review Ginger and Baker 359 Linden Street Tax Increment Investment: $465,325 Owner: 359, LLC Architect: VFLA make it BETTER make it HAPPEN Located at the intersection of Linden and Willow Streets in the River District, Ginger and Baker was formerly the home to Northern Colorado Feeder Supply. Originally constructed in 1910, the mill building and grain elevator along with the 1917 hay warehouse are included in the Old Town Historic District and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The owners are launching a restaurant-retail-community gathering space through an adaptive reuse of the historic mill as well as a contemporary two-story addition for restaurant tenant “The Cache.” The public will be able to enjoy patio and balcony dining, two restaurants, pie shop, teaching kitchen, wine cellar, and tasting room. The challenges of renovating the historic mill included rebuilding of the original roof structure; removal of wooden grain bins; creating lateral stability for the existing brick structure; providing ADA accessibility; and the restoration and reuse of all historic windows and doors. The modern addition features a structural steel frame, natural stone, brick masonry, aluminum storefront windows, and metal panels. WWW.VFLA.COM Before > 2016 Year in Review 4 215Architect Mathews Offices Greg D. Fisher | Fort Collins | Colorado July 11, 2016 Mathews Office Building 215 Mathews Street Tax Increment Investment: $136,280 Owners: Scout Leasing, LLC Architect: Greg Fisher make it BETTER The Mathews Office Building, a 12,000 square foot structure is located across the street from the historic Carnegie Building in Library Park and adjacent to the three-story Park View Apartments. A vacant residential structure was deconstructed to make way for the new three-story office building with the law firm Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson & Oldfather as the primary tenant. Following suggestions by the DDA Board of Directors and meetings with City of Fort Collins staff, the original design proposal was modified to incorporate more contemporary elements and reduce “faux historic” features, resulting in what the owners agreed was a much higher quality project. Materials used include composition shingles; wood fascia; precast concrete lintels, sills and frieze; stucco; brick veneer; buff sandstone banding; metal planter; and storefront windows in the entry tower and stair. < Before Original Concept DDA Approved Concept 5 2016 Year in Review make it HAPPEN SOONER Uncommon 310 South College Avenue Tax Increment Investment: $718,220 Owner: CA Property Owner Fort Collins, LLC Architect: Oz Architecture make it BETTER The project features 120 residential units, 128 on-site parking spaces, and 275 bicycle parking spaces. Architectural elements include roof deck, private patios, and interior courtyards. Materials used include brick, masonry, concrete, siding, stucco, aluminum storefront windows, prefinished metal panels, and a greenwall trellis to cover parking areas from alley views. Covered seating, planters, and trellises characterize the Paseo. Uncommon is a positive example of density for the downtown, and is representative of infill development envisioned in the 1989 Downtown Plan and current City Plan. A vibrant urban core exists when people live, work, and play in the downtown, and this project offers a high quality, urban scale residential product with ground floor spaces that extend the lively street atmosphere of College Avenue. CA Property Owner Fort Collins, LLC is building Uncommon at the southeast corner of College Avenue and Olive Street. The project is a six-story, mixed-use building that will feature ground floor retail and office space and market-rate residential housing. The Paseo, a landscaped publicly-accessible promenade on the south side of the building, will provide a link to the future extension of improvements in Montezuma Fuller Alley. Before > make it BETTER Approved by the DDA Board of Directors in December 2016, this 42,000 square foot, mixed-use building will feature 5,000 square feet of ground floor retail/ commercial office space, and 29 residential units. An existing vacant industrial building on the site will be deconstructed. The property is located on the north side of Maple Street across from City Hall and Washington Park in a zone of transition between light commercial and residential neighborhood. The residential units will include studio, 1, 2 and3 bedroom options. A total of 68 bike parking spaces and 39 parking spaces will be provided. The architectural design responds to the historic structures and existing single family structures in the neighborhood. Notable architectural features are the horizontal lap siding, large recessed balconies and expansive use of glazing. Materials include steel sunscreens and trellis elements, fiber cement lap siding, brick veneer, rainscreen system and aluminum storefront windows. At the second story a large south-facing plaza opens up to residential units on either side, providing high quality outdoor living space. The loft spaces of the six residential units on the third level are greatly stepped back from the perimeter of the building. The entire north side of the building steps down to two stories, respecting the scale of the adjacent single family residences while also maintaining solar access to the neighboring properties. 320 Maple Street Tax Increment Investment: $200,603 Owner: Development Company, LLC Architect: alm2s Architects 7 2016Before Year in Review < Poudre Garage 148 Remington Street Façade Grant - $92,604 Owner: Poudre Garage, LLC Architect: auWorkshop make it BETTER make it HAPPEN Poudre Garage is a project that emphasizes both the preservation and rejuvenation of an iconic downtown landmark with the enhancement of commercial spaces at the ground level and a three story residential addition. The 1937 building is a designated local landmark and the former home to a U. S. Forest Service facility. The street level retail will generate an active pedestrian experience, continuing efforts to invigorate the Remington Street corridor between Mountain Avenue and Olive Street and complementing this transitional neighborhood. A conscious effort has been made to celebrate the historical integrity of the forestry building while enhancing the building’s character and viability. While the historic structure is primarily brick, the facade materials for the addition will feature high-density fiber cement rain screen panel and brick masonry veneer. Windows and doors of the addition will be aluminum-clad wood. Renovated openings in the existing building will be a bronze colored storefront system with matching operable garage doors. Before Before Prost Brewing, a Denver craft brewer, leases space in the alley-facing rear of 320 Walnut Street in Old Firehouse Alley for a tap room, packaging operation and outdoor patio. The intent of the façade renovation was to recapture some historic authenticity by removing paint from the masonry using non-invasive methods, replacing damaged bricks, and tuck pointing deteriorating grout where necessary. A wooden trash enclosure was relocated to an existing concrete shed at the east side of the property to make room for a new alley patio seating area which is enclosed with wrought iron fencing. Awnings and light sconces were added to the north façade. The project is a pioneering investment on an alley that will connect to the new hotel and parking structure under construction to the southeast. Prost Brewing is accessible only from the alley and represents another example of lifting the viability of the back portion of a building as an intended outcome of the DDA Alley Enhancement Master Plan. This project was completed in advance of the DDA’s planned enhancement of the alley, which is scheduled for construction in 2018. make it ProstBETTER Brewing 321 Old Firehouse Alley Façade Grant: $7,213 Business Owner: Prost Brewing Building Owner: Fort Walnut, LLC The long-awaited downtown hotel and neighboring parking garage currently under construction in the heart of Old Town will open in late 2017. In 2015 the DDA participated in the creation of a financial partnership with the City of Fort Collins and Bohemian Companies to support development of a 3-story, approximately 320 space public-private parking garage across the alley from the Elizabeth Hotel. Elizabeth Hotel and Parking Structure Progress Report Developer: McWhinney/ Bohemian Companies Contractor: Hensel Phelps 9 2016Before Year in Review Outreach Fort Collins In 2016 the DDA, in collaboration with SummitStone Health Partners, UC Health, Homeless Gear, Homeward 2020, Police Services, and the City’s Social Sustainability department, launched Outreach Fort Collins. A community-driven street outreach team dedicated to maintaining our downtown as a safe and welcoming place, Outreach Fort Collins connects our community’s most vulnerable to the services and supportive networks they need. It is a professionally staffed, on-the-street team who build relationships with homeless and at-risk individuals, local community members, service providers, businesses and city services as a means to address and de-escalate disruptive behaviors downtown. During the first six months of operation, the team has worked with the highest frequency users of emergency services in downtown Fort Collins and has had great success with a number of these individuals, connecting them to emergency shelter, housing, mental health, and substance abuse services within the community. 140 East Oak Street – Elks Lot Design Charrette In 2015 the DDA Board determined that a concept study for the redevelopment of the DDA-owned former Elks building site was a high priority. Following a request for proposal process in August 2016, the DDA hired a consultant team led by Russell + Mills Studios to conduct a planning and design charrette and identify concept alternatives for development. The week-long charrette was attended by more than fifty participants, representing a wide variety of professionals and stakeholders. Three development concepts were generated from the engagement sessions, representing possible scenarios for retail, office, parking, and residential spaces and analysis of financial feasibility for each option. Following the Board’s direction, DDA staff will pursue affordable housing for possible future development at 140 East Oak Street. Public Engagement and Partnerships 2016 Year in Review 10 Project Acknowledgments The Old Town Square renovation project, which was completed in October 2015, received positive accolades in 2016. At the annual Downtown Colorado, Inc. conference, the DDA project received a Governor’s Awards for Downtown Excellence in the large community category for “Best Use of Public Space.” Additionally, the project was acknowledged at the 62nd Annual International Downtown Association Conference in Atlanta where Downtown Fort Collins received an IDA Merit Award for best practice in the industry of urban place management. Lastly, the project received a merit award from the American Society of Landscape Architects Colorado Chapter. Sculpture in the Square An annual juried sculpture-on-loan installation was initiated with the installation of six sculptures at the end of April. The jury, consisting of local artists, DDA staff and Board, selected the finalists from 62 submissions. Sculpture in the Square enhances the recently renovated Old Town Square by introducing contemporary art into the plaza. Old Town Skate Rink This holiday season, residents and visitors enjoyed a synthetic skating rink installed in the center of the Square. Skaters enjoyed the low maintenance surface in all temperatures, using regular ice skates of their own or skates rented at the rink. The Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority received a grant from Bohemian Foundation to purchase and operate the rink. Post-Renovation Old Town Square 11 2016 Year in Review Little Free Library Surrounded by beautiful plantings, a Little Free Library was installed in April. Our library, made of recycled materials by a local craftsman, is part of the national Little Free Library program which encourages “take a book, return a book.” It has been heavily utilized by visitors and local residents since installation. DDA Plaza Activities Various activities and programs encouraged public uses of the Square. During the summer artists painted flower pots and Adirondack chairs, which were then placed in locations throughout the Square. A mural was created under the Trimble Court Alley archway and utility boxes were painted by local artists. A summer outdoor movie night provided entertainment to the public. Children of all ages celebrated the start of summer with Summer Splash, taking advantage of the pop jet water feature. Community Events & Activities The renovation project expanded opportunities for public activities in the plaza, with permitted events jumping from 70 annual event days in 2014 to 124 programmed activities in 2016, representing an increase of 77%. These included large community events such as Cinco de Mayo, Bohemian Nights at New West Fest, and the Colorado Marathon; three seasonal concert series; dance and musical groups; religious and civic organizations; informational displays; art shows; and school musical ensembles. 2016 Year in Review 12 Downtown Plan Update Coordinated and participated with the Downtown Plan Update process through public events, working group meetings, public speaker engagements, and Board of Director updates. Enhanced Alleyways Provided tours of enhanced alleyways to Larimer Associates, owners of Denver’s Larimer Square, and Boulder’s University Hill Management Division staffs, providing a model for alley improvements, construction process, and ongoing maintenance considerations. Downtown Behaviors Continued involvement in efforts to keep downtown safe and welcoming, engaging in conversations with local and regional entities such as the Cherry Creek BID and participating in informational public workshops with Police Services and Outreach Fort Collins. Murals Participated in conversations with building owners and the Fort Collins Mural Project, a collaboration of local artists and art lovers dedicated to promoting contemporary art in public spaces. Mason Corridor Coordinated Urban Lab’s “Off the Rails” juried design competition that attracted concepts from across the nation to address urban design challenges on Mason Street and the BNSF rail line. Pianos about Town Coordinated with Bohemian Foundation and Art in Public Places staff to support the 6th year of Pianos about Town. Downtown Wayfinding Planned and executed year one of a three-year Tactical Urbanism Wayfinding project with assistance from DBA, Visit Fort Collins, and City. Highlights/Public Participation The Fort Collins DDA remains involved in many aspects of our community by partnering on local initiatives that have a broad impact on the quality of life in the downtown and Northern Colorado. The DDA actively participates with other regional entities and a broad range of professional organizations. 13 2016 Year in Review Chris Aronson Vaught Frye Larson Architects Steve Johnson Larimer County Board of Commissioners Angel Kwiatkowski Cohere, LLC Justin Larson Vaught Frye Larson Architects Ray Martinez Fort Collins City Council Wynne Odell Odell Brewing Jim Palmer Cushman & Wakefield Bevin Parker Maximum Painting Lee Swanson Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop Mark Williams Attorney Cheryl Zimlich Bohemian Foundation Photo Credits Richard Haro: page 11 Tim O’Hara: page 13 [au]workshop Architects + Urbanists: page 8 JR Schnelzer: covers, pages 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 14 2016 Board of Directors 2016 Year in Review 14 The DDA’s mission is to build public and private investment partnerships that foster economic, cultural and social growth in the Fort Collins central business district. 19 Old Town Square, Suite 230 Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 484-2020 www.downtownfortcollins.org project financing gap • Reduce risk of pioneering investments • Signal political importance • Public infrastructure upgrades • Sustaining the historic character by preserving and honoring what is here • Quality façade materials and timeless design in architectural improvements • Place-making with enduring impact • Support of attainable housing to diversify downtown living options Stewardship Philosophy Tax Increment Revenue Cycle 2016 Year in Review 2