HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1995 0719 CC REG ITEM 11FCITY OF MOORPARK
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Richard Hare, Deputy City Manage
DATE: July 5, 1995 (CC Mtg. 7/12/95 ;1
SUBJECT: Consider Use of Property at 661 Moorpark Avenue
Overview
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The property at 661 Moorpark Avenue which currently has a yellow house located on it, is
contiguous to the public works/parks maintenance yard and backs up to an alley which connects to
the west end of High Street. Staff has investigated several uses for the property and recommends that
it be used for public parking and to increase the size of the public works/parks maintenance yard area
allowing staff traffic onto High Street using the alley at the west end of the parcel. This report
requests the City Council's approval of this use.
Background
The City Council authorized the purchase of this property on April 5, 1995, for $221,238.
Consideration was given to having the Library Services Agency (LSA) use the land to the south of
the library in the expansion of the library, including a portion of the site. This did not occur.
Once that issue was settled, the City Council authorized staff to proceed with the improvements to
the property adjoining the library for construction of an interim public works /parks maintenance yard.
This cleared the property to the west of the library building so that the library expansion and new
parking lot could be constructed
The yellow house at 661 Moorpark Avenue has been considered for several uses. It could be repaired
for $10,000 and rented for approximately $800 per month. This gives a 13 month payback for
improvements. The repairs would include painting, electrical wiring, the reconstruction of the
chimney, fireplace, doors and windows. The house would not have air conditioning. Staff does not
recommend this alternate because it perpetuates a nonconforming use
The house could also be converted to additional city office space but the cost for installation of
handicap facilities and air conditioning, plus the office furnishings would far exceed the cost of
preparing the house for rental and would cost as much or more than construction of new office space.
It is estimated that the cost would be $50,000 to $70,000 to create five additional offices or four
offices and a reception area. These offices could be used for Building & Safety/Engineering offices
which would open the 18 High Street office for the exclusive use of the Police Resource Center. The
reverse of this use would be to keep Building & Safety/Engineering at 18 High Street and to move
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the Police Resource Center to 661 Moorpark Avenue. 'This would provide significant additional
space either way.
If the building was placed on the private market for retail or office space the rental would be
approximately $1,500 per month and the payback for improvements would be between 33 and 46
months.
The other possibility for the property would be to clear it of the structures and to use the front half
of the property for public parking and the back half of the property for the expansion of the public
works/parks maintenance yard. This would provide for needed off - street public parking to serve the
shops on High Street and Moorpark Avenue, as well as parking for the public works/parks
maintenance yard. It would also allow enough area for an entrance and exit from the maintenance
yard to High Street which improves the traffic circulation into and through the yard. The cost for
clearing the property would be approximately $5,000 including needed fill dirt for the existing
basement. The construction of a parking lot would be approximately $20,000, for a total conversion
cost of $25,000.
Discussion
The long term goal for the High Street and Moorpark Avenue area has been to encourage commercial
and retail office space development. This requires parking space as well as building space. If the
structures were converted to retail or office use the current parking would be inadequate. Parking
is typically a problem in older downtown areas and High Street is not an exception. There is no on
or off-street public parking along Moorpark Avenue or High Street in the area close to the existing
retail stops.
Staff feels the goal of increasing parking for the High Street and Moorpark Avenue shops and the
goal of increasing parking, storage and improving circulation for the maintenance yard can both be
met. Improvement to the business activity on this key corner will help in maintaining property values
and sales tax revenue from the entire High Street and Moorpark Avenue business corridors.
Funding
If the property is to be used for public parking and parking for the public works/parks maintenance
yard then gas tax funds could be used to fund half of the cost of the facility ($12,500). The
construction of additional parking and the removal of blight would also qualify this project for
redevelopment funds which could offset the remainder of the costs, ($12,500).
Recommendation (Roll Call Vote Required)
Authorize staff to proceed with clearing the property at 661 Moorpark Avenue and the design of a
parking facility and yard expansion on the property. Appropriate $25,000 for the project to fine items
903 (improvements other than buildings) with 50 percent paid from redevelopment bonds
(01.4.170.903) and 50 percent paid from gas tax undesignated reserves (03.4.142.903).
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