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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-1268 - Relating to urban renewal and redevelopment, making preliminary findings that urban Blight exists in a certain area of the city and electing to exerci/ CIT Y 0 F MAR Y S V ILL E Marysville,Washington RESOLUTION NO.~/:JtJ ~ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE RELATING TO URBAN RENEWAL AND REDEVELOPMENT;MAKING PRELIMINARY FINDINGS THAT URBAN BLIGHT EXISTS IN A CERTAIN AREA OF THE CITY;AND ELECTING TO EXERCISE URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT POWERS. WHEREAS,on June 8,1981 the City Council passed Resolution 1011 declaring a portion of downtown Marysville to be blighted, as defined in RCW 35.81.010(2);and on June 13,1983 the City Council passed Resolution 1096 approving an Urban Renewal Plan with respect to said blighted area;and WHEREAS,in the summer of 1986 a private development company known as Towne Centre Mall Associates became interested in the blighted area and proposed to acquire and redevelop the same as a retail mall.These development plans were consistent with the City's Urban Renewal Plan,and approval of the same was granted. On December 15,1986 the City Council enacted Ordinance 1503 vacating all streets and alleys which cross the proposed site of the Mall.On April 13,1987 the City Council enacted Resolution 1257 approving a binding site plan for development of the Mall pursuant to RCW 58.17.020(7).On April 27,1987 the City Council enacted Resolution 1258 selling all real property owned by the City in the mall area to Towne Centre Mall Associates;and WHEREAS,the City believed that its approval of the Mall had satisfied the need for urban renewal in the subject area,and on May 11,1987 the City Council enacted Resolution 1259 repealing Resolutions 1011 and 1096 referred to above;and WHEREAS,Towne Centre Mall Associates then proceeded with its project to demolish and/or relocate all structures,roads, utilities and other improvements in the redevelopment area,with the exception of the Davis Stationery building at 3rd and State and the Moose Lodge at 205 State Avenue,which were allowed to remain because they were not inconsistent with the approved site plan;and WHEREAS,the redevelopment project has been stopped because a tenant in a commercial building located at 1322 -3rd Street refuses to vacate the building until he has received adequate compensation from his former landlord.The dispute over the amount of said compensation has reached impasse and is presently tied up in litigation in Snohomish County Superior Court;and Resolution - 1 WHEREAS,Towne Centre Mall Associates has indicated that this delay to its project is causing severe problems which might result in a key tenant pulling out,thereby jeopardizing the financing and viability of the mall as a whole.The property would then be abandoned in its current state of demolition;and WHEREAS,it is in the public interest for the City to assure that the project continues as contemplated by the Urban Renewal Plan,and that downtown Marysville be cured of its blighted condition as soon as possible;NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MARYS- VILLE,WASHINGTON AS FOLLOWS: Section 1:Urban Renewal Area Defined. All that area of the City of Marysville,Snohomish County,Washington,bounded by Fourth Street on the north,State Avenue on the east,First Street on the south,and Cedar Avenue on the west,consisting of 6 square blocks;except the parcel at the corner of State Avenue and 3rd Street occupied by the Davis Stationery building;and except the parcel at 205 State Avenue occupied by the Moose Lodge. Section 2:Preliminary Findings of Blight. Pursuant to RCW 35.81.050,and subject to a future public hearing being called as required by RCW 35.81.060,the City Council hereby enters the following findings of blight relating to the condition of the above-described area: 1.During the months of May and June,1987 the owner of the above-described area,Towne Centre Mall Associates,began the project of demolishing all structures,roads,utilities and other public and private improvements located therein. 2.On June 26,1987,after demolition had been largely completed,all work on the project was stopped because of a legal dispute between the former landlord and tenant in a building located at 1322 -3rd Street.Said building is in the center of the proposed mall area,and its continued existence and occupancy renders the mall construction,per the approved plan,impossible. 3.On July 8,1987 an injunction was entered in Snohomish County Superior Court preventing Towne Centre Mall Associates from demolishing or relocating the building located at 1322 -3rd Street,pending the indefinite outcome of the litigation between the landlord and the tenant.The entire project is now in jeopardy.There is a realistic possibility that the project will be abandoned in its current state of demolition. Resolution - 2 .' •• 4.The present condition of the subject area is in a worse state of blight than existed in 1981 when the City Council enacted Resolution 1011.Many structures are in a partially demolished state,and others have been removed from their foundations in preparation for relocation.The public streets, alleys and sidewalks have been vacated into private ownership, and have been significantly damaged by the demolition project. They are no longer regulated or controlled by the City,and constitute a public safety hazard.The public water,sewer and storm drainage network which is in the demolition area is jeopardized,resulting in a possible public health hazard.The taxable value of all property in this 6-square-block area has been dramatically reduced with no foreseeable chance of recovery unless a redevelopment project is allowed to proceed.A sig- nificant part of the retail core of downtown Marysville is no longer in existence,resulting in a substantial economic liabil- ity which will have adverse spinoff effects on surrounding retail areas.In summary,the present condition of the subject area,if it is allowed to remain,is detrimental and constitutes a menace to public health,safety and welfare,it constitutes an economic liability,and it substantially impairs the sound growth of the City and its environs. Section 3:Urban Renewal Project. It is in the interest of public health,safety and welfare to immediately plan,promote and implement an urban renewal project in the subject area.Such a project shall require approval pursuant to the public hearing process specified in RCW 35.81.060,including a final determination that "blight"still exists at the time of such hearing. Section 4:Urban Renewal Project Powers. The City Council hereby declares it to be in the public interest to vest itself with urban renewal project powers as specified in RCW 35.81.150.Said powers shall be exercised exclusively by the City Council. CITY OF MARYSVILLE By i1 ~</f}yMAYORIfld~ Attest: PASSED ~the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this -$:-day of a 4---1987. By~m~CITY CLERK Resolution - 3 .. Approved as to Form:a.=- Resolution - 4