City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 2, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing and Consideration of a Four (4) Month License Extension Between the City of Alexandria and UpCycle Creative Reuse for the Use of Space at the Oswald Durant Center located at 1605 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a four (4) month license extension between the City of Alexandria and UpCycle Creative Reuse Center, for use of space at the Oswald Durant Center.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Schedule the proposed License Extension Amendment No. 1 (Attachment 1), for public hearing on June 19, 2021; and
2. After the public hearing approve this proposed License Extension, and authorize the City Manager to execute the attached four (4) month License Extension, Amendment No. 1, with the UpCycle Creative Reuse Center.
BACKGROUND: UpCycle Creative Reuse Center, founded in 2011, is an Alexandria-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect creativity and conservation to promote artistic expression and environmentally sustainable behaviors. Upcycle envisions a community where everyone has the opportunity to experience the fun and benefits of art exploration and works collectively to reduce waste and repurpose unwanted materials. UpCycle rethinks the notion of waste, collecting cast-offs from the community to serve as creative materials. UpCycle gives people of all ages the opportunity to experiment, create and play with a variety of media for artistic use and expression.
UpCycle Creative Reuse Center has been based at the Durant Center since 2015 and the current license agreement expires on June 30, 2021.
DISCUSSION: UpCycle Creative Reuse Center uses their leased space at the Durant Center for their administrative offices, their community reuse store, and storage. The store inventory is affordable and changes constantly, providing inspiration and outlets for creativity.
UpCycle offers a variety of free and fee-based programs for children and adults in the community. The shop is currently open to the public three days per week by appointment only due to COVID-19, but operations may be readjusted over the summer as restrictions are lifted. Donations of recycled items are received on Wednesdays and Saturdays, also currently by appointment only. UpCycle has a Parknership agreement with the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and has expanded their programming to include more free community programs and additional programs at other recreation centers.
UpCycle expressed interest in renewing a three-year lease, however, due to other current and potential temporary uses of the Durant Center for COVID-19 Recovery services that limit some of UpCycle’s operations, the City and UpCycle request a four-month extension of the current agreement. This additional time will allow both parties to determine if the Durant Center is a viable location for UpCcyle over the next three years.
FISCAL IMPACT: UpCycle will continue to pay the monthly amount of $588, based on the current annual lease rate of $7,056.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed Amendment 1 to License Agreement Between the City of Alexandria and The UpCycle Creative Reuse Center
2. Current Lease Agreement Between the City of Alexandria and the UpCycle Creative Reuse Center
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
James Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
Laura Durham, Division Chief. Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities