ORDINANCE appropriating $599,000.00 out of Public Library Consolidated Construction Fund, approving and authorizing purchase and/or condemnation of land and other interest in real property and payment of the costs of such purchases and/or condemnations, with  associated costs for Appraisal Fees, Service Fees, Title Policies and Services, expenses associated with Recording Fees, Court Costs, and Expert Witness Fees for and in connections with construction of the new Houston Public Library North Regional Library financed by the Public Library Consolidated Construction Fund - DISTRICT A - PECK

RECOMMENDATION: Appropriate funds to deposit the amounts of the Awards of the Special Commissioners into the registry of the courts and pay all court and miscellaneous costs and title policy expenses for the new Houston Public Library (HPL) North Regional Library for Parcel GY23-003 to the Walker Estate;  Parcel GY23-005 to the Southern Estate; Parcels GY23-007, GY23-014, and GY23-016 to Joseph Khuat; Parcel GY23-009 to the Johnson Estate; Parcel GY23-011 to the Adams Estate;  Parcel GY23-013 to Paula Salvador; and Parcels GY23-012 and GY23-017 to Clelia Castro.

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:  The General Services Department recommends appropriating funds for the court awards, court and miscellaneous expenses, and title policies for the acquired property. HPL desires to use the land for the new North Regional Library on the north side of Victory Dr, immediately across from Sylvester Turner Park, located at 2801 N. Victory Dr.

The initial effort by the City to acquire the property via Purchase and Sale Agreements was unsuccessful. Ordinance 2023-161, passed March 14, 2023, approved and authorized the acquisition by dedication, donation, purchase, or, if necessary, condemnation for public necessity and convenience of the vacant property at 0 Victory Drive. After considering the process of condemnation, the sellers decided to proceed with the sale of the properties to the City through Condemnation.

The following is a breakdown of expected costs:

$ 565,000.00   Estimated Court Awards and Court Expenses

$   24,000.00   Estimated Title Policies

$   10,000.00   Contingency

$ 599,000.00   Total

FISCAL NOTE:   No significant Fiscal Operating impact is anticipated as a result of this project.

WBS No.: E-000266

DIRECTOR’S SIGNATURE/DATE:

____________________________

C. J. Messiah, Jr.

General Services Department

____________________________

Rhea Brown Lawson, Ph.D.

Houston Public Library

Ordinance No. 2023-161; Dated March 14, 2023

$599,000.00

Public Library Consolidated Construction Fund

Fund 4507

Enid M. Howard, Council Liaison                     

General Services Department