Title
Arizona State Parks Heritage Grant for Rehabilitation of the Edison Impact Hub City-Owned Property (Ordinance S-48768)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute all necessary or appropriate documents and agreements, including granting a preservation and conservation easement, to carry out the terms of an Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund grant in an amount up to $300,000 for the rehabilitation of the City-owned Edison Impact Hub (EIH), formerly known as the Crippled Children’s Hospital located at 1855 E. Garfield St., within the Choice Neighborhoods Edison-Eastlake Community (EEC). Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Report
Summary
In December 2019, the Housing Department (Housing) purchased the former Crippled Children’s Hospital building from the Arizona Department of Economic Security to provide services to residents of the EEC. Vacant since 2017-18, and in major disrepair, this historically significant property is comprised of approximately 16,450 square foot building with an additional 8,410 square foot courtyard. Housing intends to restore the eastern portion, originally constructed in 1942 that served as the Crippled Children’s Hospital until the 1970s, and will demolish the western portion of the building, constructed in the 1960s and deemed unsalvageable.
To help offset rehabilitation costs, estimated at approximately $10.9 million, Housing applied for, and was awarded, a $300,000 Arizona State Parks and Trails Historic Preservation Heritage Fund grant. Grant funds will be used for the following improvements:
- Preservation and rehabilitation of 47 original steel casement windows;
- Installing new barrel roof tiles;
- Reopen three of the four infilled courtyard breezeways and install new lath, smooth stucco, and paint finishes;
- Install replacement steel casement windows in the restored courtyard window openings; and
- Replacement of 13 non-period exterior doors, including the entry doors with period-appropriate designs and the original arched front entry opening will be restored.
In exchange for the grant funds, the City will voluntarily grant and convey to the Arizona State Parks Board a preservation and conservation easement for 20 years of public use. Construction on the EIH is anticipated to commence in spring 2023 and is expected to be completed approximately one year later. With the adaptive reuse of this historic site into the EIH, it will serve as an amenity to residents of the EEC and the greater community with an array of services in health, education, employment, and small business assistance including a community kitchen and a medical and behavioral health clinic. To maintain the historical integrity of the site, Housing will apply for historical designation listing in both the Arizona Register and National Register of Historic Places.
Contract Term
The contract with the Arizona State Parks Board is anticipated to be executed in summer 2022. The term of the preservation and conservation easement will be for a period of 20 years following completion of the EIH rehabilitation project as evidenced by the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund. The grant’s matching funds requirement of $120,000 is available through other federal and Housing Department funds allocated to the EIH project.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
- On June 8, 2021, the City Council approved $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to retrofit the site into a community services center.
- On Sept. 2, 2020, the City Council approved the rezoning of the site to Walkable Urban Code, via Ordinance G-6729.
- On Oct. 4, 2017, through Ordinance S-43959, City Council authorized applying for and implementing a $30 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhoods (CN) Implementation Grant for the EEC, that also included approval to apply for and accept grants and to expend matching funds, in-kind and other funding sources to support and implement the CN Implementation Grant.
Location
1855 E. Garfield St.
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Housing Department.