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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Ruthy Harris, Property Standards Manager
DATE: April 4, 2022
SUBJECT:
Resolution authorizing approval for disposal of 514 Claim Street.
PURPOSE:
Requesting authorization to dispose of 514 Claim Street. (Pin#15-22-427-015) The goal of the Request for Proposal is to dispose of the property for a substantial rehabilitation of the property which will be financed by the new owner.
BACKGROUND:
In 2015 the property located at 514 Claim St was damaged due to a fire. It has remained a blight to the community since.
On October 27, 2021, City of Aurora, an Illinois municipal corporation, Plaintiff, vs. Estate of Ivar Forsner, et al., Defendants, a Judgement was entered which provided that the City of Aurora was granted a Judicial Deed, thereby extinguishing all other ownership interest.
An informal solicitation was sent out in September 2021 to demolish the garage located on the site, which was completed by Fox Excavating.
The City is requiring the location to remain an owner-occupied residential home upon completion of the renovations.
DISCUSSION:
A Request for Proposal was posted February 2022 for qualified firms to acquire the property and perform the required renovations to the property. On March 2, 2022 a mandatory site visit took place. Two responses were received by the due date and time on March 11, 2022.
A committee scored and evaluated the proposals based on Project Understanding, Work Plan/Detailed Deliverables, Background and Experience, Cost, References, Developers Standing with the City and Estimated Completion time for the project.
After review and evaluation, the committee selected Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity as the most responsive, responsible proposer to convey the Property located at 514 Claim Street, including rebuilding the garage.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This property is currently owned by the City. There are no staff or fiscal impacts at this time. Approval is requested in order to begin remodeling this property and abate the current violations on the property.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Authorize a resolution accepting the proposal from Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity to dispose of 514 Claim Street for the sum of $1 in exchange for a substantial rehabilitation of the Property. Project milestone commitments are provided for in the Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity response.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the sale of real property commonly known as 514 Claim Street, Aurora, Illinois to Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc. for nominal consideration.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, on or about October 27, 2021, the City took ownership of certain real property located at 514 Claim St., Aurora, Illinois ("514 Claim St.") pursuant to a judicial deed issued in the matter of City of Aurora v. Estate of Ivar Forsner, et. al.; and
WHEREAS, the physical structure constituting a residence at 514 Claim St. ("the Residence") is currently in a state of extreme disrepair and in need of complete rehabilitation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the rehabilitation of the Residence is in the best interest of the neighboring properties; and
WHEREAS, the City has sought proposals from qualified not-for-profit entities to purchase 514 Claim St. from the City for nominal consideration with the commitment to rehabilitate the Residence and bring it into compliance with all applicable building codes, standards, and regulations as an owner-occupied single family residence, including, but not limited to the construction of an accessory structure to serve as a garage; and
WHEREAS, an evaluation committee consisting of City representatives has reviewed the responses to the request for proposal received on/before March 11, 2022 and finds that Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity is best qualified to perform the work required to successfully rehabilitate the Residence;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, pursuant to its home rule powers and those provided under State law, as follows: the sale of the 514 Claim St. to Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc. shall be and hereby is authorized; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the sale authorized by this Resolution shall be and hereby is expressly made contingent on the following conditions:
FIRST, that prior to sale, the Corporation Counsel shall cause a restriction, in a form acceptable to the Corporation Counsel, to be recorded against 514 Claim St. in favor of the City ensuring that the property shall forever be used as an owner-occupied single-family residence and for no other purpose: and
SECOND, that the contract for the sale of 514 Claim St shall be prepared and approved by the Corporation Counsel and shall be expressly conditioned on the purchasers agreement to perform all of the obligations set forth in its response to the City's Request for Proposal the purchase of 514 Claim St. and the rehabilitation of the Residence, dated March 11, 2022 (a true and accurate copy of which is attached as Exhibit A and made a part hereof), and contain specific timelines and milestones for the rehabilitation to commence and be completed acceptable to the Corporation Counsel; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Corporation Counsel, personally and through his respective assistants and appointed special counsel, shall be and hereby is vested with the full authority to take all actions and sign all documents necessary on behalf of the City to carry the purposes of this Resolution into execution and to complete the sale of 514 Claim St.