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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/10/1998, C9 - USE OF 610 MONTEREY PROPERTY council °l;l 71 ely j ac En as Report c CITYOF SAN LUIS O B I S P O FROM: Michael D.McCluskey,Public Wor4 Director Prepared By: David Elliott,Administrative Analyst SUBJECT: Use of 610 Monterey Property CAO RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Authorize various meeting and office uses for the City property at 610 Monterey Street 2. Budget$24,000 from the unappropriated balance of the general fund for needed improvements to allow the recommended property uses DISCUSSION On May 5, 1998 the Council authorized negotiations to acquire the residential property at 610 Monterey Street,on the comer of Monterey and Nipomo Streets. Negotiations were successful,and on June 9, 1998 the City acquired the property. As a condition of sale the sellers occupied the residence rent free from June 9, 1998 to September 8, 1998. The building is now vacant. A description of the property excerpted from the appraisal report is attached. The City's Downtown Concept Plan shows eventual long term development of this site for cultural uses. Any short and mid term uses should ideally benefit the City and the community. At first Public Works considered simply renting the property to residential tenants,but the building's pristine condition and the community's short and mid term needs led to exploration of other options. Public Works is proposing the following short and mid term uses: From May 1999 to July 2000 the SLO Historical Society would use three bedrooms as offices while the Old Carnegie Library(which houses the Historical Society Museum)is being renovated. The Historical Society and its staffinembers now use part of the Old Carnegie Library for office space,but that area will not be available after construction starts. From May 1999 to July 2000 City departments would use the living room,dining room,kitchen, and outdoor areas for meetings and other sessions. Parks and Recreation Department, which manages community use of City-owned meeting rooms,recommends using the 610 Monterey building for department meetings,commission and committee meetings, staff training workshops, and NMA meetings. These uses would free up the heavily demanded Library Conference Room and Recreation Center Meeting Rooms for more community use. Using part of the building for City meetings in the short term would allow Public Works and Parks and Recreation to judge the feasibility of such use for the entire building in the mid term,pending eventual long term development. From July 2000 onward City departments would use the entire property for various meetings, eq -1 Council Agenda Report-Use of 610 Monterey Property Page 2 training workshops, and other sessions. This use would be deemed appropriate for the mid term if such a trial use during the short term proved feasible and desirable. If not,Public Works would recommend leasing the property for commercial office space. FISCAL IMPACT Any occupancy type other than residential requires various improvements to conform with adopted building codes. Also, some furnishings will be needed for meeting and conference use. Needed improvements are listed below with very rough cost estimates furnished by Community Development Department: Constructing a ramp for disabled accessibility at the entrance $5,000 Modifying toilet rooms for disabled accessibility 5,000 Installing fire sprinklers 3,300 Installing a larger water service for fire sprinklers 5,000 Upgrading structural and electrical components to improve safety 2,000 Purchasing tables,chairs, appliances,and other furnishings 1,500 Contingencies 2,200 $24,000 Most of these costs would be incurred under any assembly or office use. Surplus furnishings may be available to reduce costs. Public Works recommends budgeting$24,000 from the unappropriated balance of the general fund to pay for these improvements. The above modifications can be designed,bid, and accomplished in time to assure code compliant uses by May 1999. Adequate fund balance is available to fund the proposed improvements and retain the fund balance at policy levels. Attachment: Excerpt from Appraisal Report Use of 610 Monterey Property Improvement Description and Overview The subject site is improved with an older, conventional-style residence that was reportedly.built around 1930. It contains a total of 1,632 square feet. The property also includes a detached two-car garage(with storage room) with 520 square feet. The wood frame house has a raised concrete foundation with stucco exterior. The roof has a composition shingle cover (with gutters and boxed eaves). The windows are double hung,and there are a few sliding aluminum windows. The house comprises three bedrooms (one serves as a den), two baths,a kitchen, dining room, living room, and utility room. The interior finish includes kitchen range/oven, plaster walls, refinished hardwood floors (plus vinyl and carpet in some rooms), cedar-lined closets, tile fireplace, etc. The baths include tile wainscot. Heating is by a gas-powered forced air system. The residence appears quite well maintained with no particular problems noted. The property owners report that various reconditioning has been completed on the home in recent years. The house was also reportedly treated for termites recently (tented and sprayed). The home is generally of good quality. Given the location and zoning,it has good potential for conversion to office use if the required parking can be developed. The subject is identified in the-Historic Resources Survey as a contributing building. It is apparently not on the National Register, but it is considered significant enough to include in the survey. The property is also located in the historical preservation district. The floor plan is dated, and the location of a bath off of the kitchen and utility room is a functional deficiency. Other than that, the floor plan is generally functional and the home is quite well maintained. Yard improvements include a concrete patio with lattice cover, brick and rock patios, granite rock wall and concrete along the street frontages, concrete walks, brick planters, wood fencing and irrigated landscape. The yard areas are attractive and include various mature trees. The garage is to the rear of the house and is accessed from Nipomo Street. 23 SCHENBERGER, TAYLOR, McCORMICK S JECKER, INC.