Title
Southeast Corner of Central Avenue and Broadway Road - Authorization to Issue Disposition and Redevelopment Solicitation - District 7
Description
Request the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee recommend City Council authorization to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the disposition and redevelopment of City-owned property located at the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Broadway Road.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The City owns several vacant parcels located at the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Broadway Road (Site). This Site is comprised of approximately 3.75 acres and is adjacent to the South Central Light Rail. The Site has a mixture of zoning including C-3 - General Commercial (3.17 acres), C-1 - Neighborhood Retail (0.17 acres), P-1 - Parking (0.28 acres), and R-5 - Multifamily (0.13 acres).
In the early 1990s, the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) purchased the Site for the elimination of blight, and NSD continues to manage the Site. In 2022, City Council approved an updated list of City-owned parcels ideal for affordable or mixed-income housing development, consistent with the third initiative of the Housing Phoenix Plan, Redevelop City-Owned Land with Mixed-Income Housing. The Site is included on this list.
Community and Economic Development Department (CED) staff are pursuing rezoning the Site to Walkable Urban Code (WU Code) to be consistent with the recommendations in the South Central Transit-Oriented Development Community Plan. Rezoning the Site prior to issuing a solicitation will allow for more impactful proposals.
With approval, CED will issue a solicitation seeking redevelopment proposals for the Site. Proposers will be required to demonstrate experience successfully completing at least one mixed-use development and at least one affordable housing development within the last five years. Staff has commissioned an appraisal of the Site, which will be issued with the RFP. Proposers may offer a combination of public benefit or cash compensation for the fair market value of the Site. The RFP will seek proposals that:
- Are transit-oriented and mixed-use, which includes the project oriented towards Central Avenue.
- Provide affordable housing and ground floor commercial space.
- Restrict a minimum of 50 percent of units as affordable housing to households earning 80 percent or less of the area median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Include a small local development partner.
- Capitalize on the prominent corner location adjacent to the South Central Light Rail.
- Focused on community placemaking, including public art
- Support NSD initiatives and long-term plans.
- Implement the recommendations and community vision outlined in the General Plan and the South Central Transit-Oriented Development Community Plan along with other relevant City plans.
Procurement Information
Responsive proposals will be evaluated by a panel including City staff and Community representatives. The evaluation criteria will be:
- Concept to Activate the Site 0-375 points
- Return to the City 0-350 points
- Proposer's Qualifications and Experience 0-275 points
The Concept to Redevelop the Site will also include a review of the proposed architecture for the developments, which shall be scored as part of the points given to any project. Additional points will also be given for sustainable development including micro-mobility and on-site generation
Following negotiations with the recommended proposer, staff will present business terms to the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee for review and recommendation followed by the full City Council for approval.
Financial Impact
This action will have no financial impact on the General Fund.
Public Outreach
Staff presented and gathered public feedback regarding the rezoning and potential RFP at a community meeting held March 11, 2025.
Location
Southeast corner of Central Avenue and Broadway Road. Assessor Parcel Numbers 113-33-001A, 113-33-002, 113-33-006A, 113-33-007B, 113-33-007D, 113-33-007E, 113-33-008, 113-33-009 and 113-33-010B.
Council District: 7
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers John Chan and Alan Stephenson, and the Community and Economic Development and Neighborhood Services departments.