COUNCIL GOALS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

HIGHEST Priority

Continued          1. Downtown Economic Development Initiative

Description: Continue implementation of project to develop Town-owned downtown Parking Lots 2 and 5.

For prior reports refer to past Quarterly Reports on Council Goals.

September 12, 2005 Status:  The Council held public interviews with two potential developers on May 23, 2005.  On June 15, 2005, the Council authorized negotiations with Ram Development Company and appointed Council members Sally Greene, Cam Hill and Bill Strom to the Town negotiating team.  On June 27, 2005, the Council authorized an Exclusive Right to Negotiate Agreement with Ram Development Company.  The Council held design sessions with Ram Development Company on June 20 and June 29, 2005.  The Town negotiating team met on August 1, 2005; negotiations with Ram Development Company began August 2, 2005.  Additional negotiating sessions were held on August 18 and August 31, 2005.

November 21, 2005 Status: The Town Council held a work session on design issues with Ram Development Company on September 19, 2005.  The Town negotiating team met on September 19 and October 11, 2005.  The Town Council held a work session on downtown negotiations on October 12, 2005.  On October 24, 2005, the Council authorized the Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Ram Development Company.  On October 26, 2005 the Town negotiating team met with Marvin Malecha, Dean of the College of Design at North Carolina State University concerning the its design expectations for the project.  That same day, Dean Malecha began his peer review process with the Ram Development Company.

February 13, 2006 Status:  Dean Malecha held three peer review sessions on October 26, November 15, and December 15, 2005.  The Dean met with the Town negotiating team on January 4, 2006 to review progress.  Three additional sessions focusing on architectural design were held on January 13, January 25, and February 6 with the developer’s architectural team.  We expect Dean Malecha to make a report to the Council on February 27, 2006.

On December 15, 2005, the Public Arts Commission and Ram Development Company announced the selection of Mikyoung Kim as the public artist for the project.  Discussions have begun with the developer’s architectural team. 

May 8, 2006 Status: Dean Malecha presented a report to the Town Council concerning schematic design on February 27, 2006. Dean Malecha was invited to continue working with the developer as the more detailed architectural plans are produced. The Town Council reviewed Concept Plans for the developments on March 20, 2006. The Town and Ram Development Company are engaged in the preparation of a Development Agreement.

On April 9, Mikyoung Kim submitted her Public Art Master Plan for the Downtown Intiative to the Public Arts Commission.

Products to Be Produced and Timetable

• Concept Plan and Special Use Permit for parking Lot 5 and Wallace Deck; complete review Fall 2006
• Begin Construction 2007 at parking Lot 5 and Wallace Deck
• Complete Construction 2008.

September 11, 2006 Status:  Ram and Town representatives have been working on the Development Agreement and other matters related to these projects. We believe we have crafted a legal framework that would enable the projects to proceed, subject to final details. On June 19, 2006, the Town Negotiating Team met in closed session and heard a status report from Casey Cummings, President of Ram Development Company. John Stainback of Stainback Public Private Real Estate, the Town’s economic development advisor on the project, was also in attendance. The Negotiating Team is continuing to discuss this project with RAM.