16-G Paris Living-Polk StreetDRAFT
F:kAttorney\LisakResolutions\CURRENT\CDC - Polk Street Prop Transfer Res.wpd
December 31, 2003
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
PARIS, TEXAS, DECLARING SURPLUS AND APPROVING THE SALE
AND TRANSFER OF PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS LOTS 21, 22, AND PART
OF LOT 23, BLOCK 1, GIBBONS PARK ADDITION, BEING NUMBERS 845
AND 855 E. POLK STREET, RESPECTIVELY, TO PARIS LIVING, A
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, FOR PURPOSES OF
DEVELOPING HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND
PROMOTING COMMUNITY-BASED REVITALIZATION; RESERVING A
PERPETUAL FIVE FOOT (5') WIDE STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY AND
UTILITY EASEMENT THEREON; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Paris received an offer of donation of property from Carol L.
Towers, attorney-in-fact, for Frances C. Miller as owner of Lots 21, 22, and part of Lot 23,
Block 1, Gibbons Park Addition, also known as 845 and 855 E. Polk Street; and,
WHEREAS, said offer of donation was made to the City of Paris because the aforesaid
owner of said vacant lots stated she was no longer able to care for said property; and,
WHEREAS, in lieu of the City mowing and clearing said lots and placing a lien on the
property, thereafter to initiate collection proceedings on the property for the lien cost, the
property owner offered to convey the aforesaid lots to the City, with the City to thereafter mow
and clean the lot and utilize the property as the City would deem appropriate; and,
WHEREAS, the City determined that the aforesaid lots would be appropriate under the
right circumstance for redevelopment and construction of housing, thereby benefitting the City
by changing a blighted property into an improved property, thus revitalizing the neighborhood
and the city; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council, by adoption of Resolution No. 2002-120, accepted the
donation of the aforesaid property; and,
WHEREAS, as a consequence, the City of Paris is the owner of that certain property
described as Lots 21, 22, and part of Lot 23, Block 1, Gibbons Park Addition, being numbers
845 and 855 Polk Street; and,
WHEREAS, it is deemed appropriate that said property be declared to be surplus property
of the City of Paris and disposed of in accordance with State law; and,
WHEREAS, Section 253.010 of the Texas Local Government Code provides that the
governing body of a municipality may provide for the manner in which any land acquired by the
municipality may be sold if the land is sold to a nonprofit organization that develops housing
for low-income individuals and families as a primary activity to promote community-based
revitalization of the municipality; and,
WHEREAS, Paris Living, a Community Development Corporation, is a 501 (c)(3) non-
profit corporation that meets all of the criteria of said Section 253.010 and has requested that the
City transfer ownership of that certain property owned by the City of Paris and described as Lots
21, 22, and part of Lot 23, Block 1, Gibbons Park Addition, being numbers 845 and 855 Polk
Street, for the purpose of building affordable single-family homes; and,
WHEREAS, it is to the benefit of the citizens of Paris that this property be transferred
to Paris Living for such purpose, thus providing affordable housing for low-income individuals
and placing these properties back on the tax rolls; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all
things approved.
Section 2. That the property described as Lots 21, 22, and part of Lot 23, Block 1,
Gibbons Park Addition, being numbers 845 and 855 Polk Street, be, and the same is hereby,
declared to be surplus property, save and except for a five foot (5') wide street right-of-way and
drainage and utility easement, running along and parallel to Polk Street, which is hereby
reserved unto the City.
Section 3. That the Mayor or City Manager be, and they are hereby, authorized and
directed to execute, on behalf of the City of Paris, and any and all instruments necessary, in such
form as the City Attorney shall determine, to convey the property described as Lots 21, 22, and
part of Lot 23, Block 1, Gibbons Park Addition, being numbers 845 and 855 Polk Street, save
and except for the aforesaid five foot (5') wide street right-of-way and drainage and utility
easement, to Paris Living, a Community Development Corporation, for and in consideration of
the sum of $10.00 and other consideration as stated herein.
Section 4. That this resolution shall be effective from and after its date of passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 12th day of January, 2003.
Curtis Fendley, Mayor
ATTEST:
Mattie Cunningham, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Larry W. Schenk, City Attorney
DEC 31 2003
P~,.,.RIS, TEXAS
A
P.O. BOX 26 · Paris, Texas 75460 i~l~II
903.7;{9.9947 · fax 903.739.2104 · parisliving@sbcglobal.net ~j,:;'<y.
December 29, 2003
Mr. Mike Malone, City Manager
City of Paris
P.O. Box 9037
Paris, Texas 75461-9037
Dear Mike:
First of all, I want to thank you, Larry Schenk, Mayor Curtis Fendley and City
Councilman Jim Bell for attending our board of directors meeting on December 10th.
As you know, Paris Living - A Community Development Corporation is a 501(c) (3) non-
profit organization. Cooperation from the City of Paris is essential to the efforts of our
organization to revitalize the downtown neighborhoods and we are most appreciative of
the willingness of those in attendance to do so.
As you know, our current target area is on the SW side of the downtown area. Our first
home, 237 SW 4th' is completed and sold. Construction has begun on the home to be
built at 247 SW 4th, just adjacent to our first home and we have a contract on it as well.
We have also acquired three additional properties in that area - two will require tear-
downs one of which is currently underway thanks to funding provided us by Keep Paris
Beautiful. We have a committed buyer for a home to build on one of these lots. We
are currently pursuing three additional lots in this area and we have confidence that we
will be able to find buyers for all the homes to be built. :in addition, we have been
working cooperatively with Habitat for Humanity and have obtained funding that will also
allow them to build two homes within this target area. ! hope you will agree that nine
new homes built in this area will positively impact the neighborhood.
In accordance with our discussion at the December 10th board meeting, it is our
understanding that two lots on the SE side of the downtown area - 845 and 855 Polk
Street - are owned by the City of Paris. We would like to ask that ownership of these
properties be transferred to our organization for future development. Our plan for
these properties would be to build affordable single-famiLy homes (approximately 1200
sq. ft) on the two lots. Upon completion, each home would be sold and put back on the
taxes rolls.
Paris Living
Letter to City of Paris - page 2
Our second target area is the SE neighborhood in which the Polk Street properties are
located. We currently own two lots in that area and hope to acquire more within the
next one-two years. Adding 845 and 855 Polk to our inventory would certainly be a step
in the right direction and would assure our ability to build additional workforce homes
within this second target area.
Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. We look forward to hearing from you
and for your ongoing cooperation.
S~nc ely, ~ ~
Linda G. Ridder
Executive Director
Cc: Larry Schenk, City Attorney