City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 28, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Release of Capital Improvement Program Contingency Funds for Land Acquisition of 1201 and 1203 Janney’s Lane for Public School (MacArthur Elementary) Purposes.
BODY
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ISSUE: Release of Capital Improvement Program Contingency Funds for the purchase of the 1201 and 1203 Janney’s Lane properties as part of the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School modernization project.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council allocate Capital Improvement Program Contingency Funds in the amount of $1,015,000 for the purchase of the 1201 and 1203 Janney’s Lane properties as part of the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School modernization project.
BACKGROUND: As part of the Approved FY 2018 - FY 2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), City Council approved the creation of a blue-ribbon task force to make recommendations in regard to the development of a joint City and Schools plan to address the facility capacity and maintenance needs of the City’s and Alexandria City Public Schools’ (ACPS) public buildings. The committee was designated the Joint City/School Facilities Investment Task Force (the “Task Force”).
Among the recommendations of the Task Force, were to establish and appropriate contingency funds for the acquisition of land for City and School facilities. The City Council Approved FY 2019 - FY 2028 CIP included $60.0 million in land acquisition contingency funding authority, including $40.0 million in funding authority appropriated as part of the FY 2019 Capital Budget.
As part of the on-going planning of the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School modernization project, ACPS staff have identified abutting properties immediately adjacent to the MacArthur school (1201 Janney’s Lane, with its rear outlot addressed as 1203 Janney’s Lane) comprising nearly 25,000 square feet available for purchase that will be used to provide ACPS with needed flexibility in designing and constructing an appropriate educational facility with corresponding site requirements to accommodate capacity and structural issues. The Planning Commission conducted its 9.06 review on June 25, 2019 and found this acquisition consistent with City Master Plan documents. Because the City owns the land on which the current MacArthur Elementary is located, the City would be acquiring 1201 and 1203 Janney’s Lane so as to keep the ownership of the current site as well as the two to-be-acquired lots the same.
FISCAL IMPACT: City Council appropriated CIP budget authority for land acquisition in
FY 2019. The City will draw upon existing bond funds for this land acquisition opportunity at 1201 and 1203 Janney’s Lane. The $1,015,000 reflects the $968,000 acquisition price plus estimated closing costs.
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Laura B. Triggs, Deputy City Manager
Morgan Routt, Director, Office of Management and Budget