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Home My WebLink About~Master - Approving Memorandum of Understanding with Ames Regional Economic Alliance to identify a developer for City surplus land located at the Harrison and Welbeck intersectionRESOLUTION NO. 25-122 RESOLUTION APPROVING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH AMES REGIONAL ECONOMIC ALLIANCE TO IDENTIFY A DEVELOPER FOR CITY SURPLUS LAND LOCATED AT THE HARRISON AND WELBECK INTERSECTION FOR THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA WHEREAS, the City owns a property located on the west side of the intersection of Welbeck and Harrison in north Ames. The property was originally anticipated to be used as right- of-way for a street crossing of the railroad tracks, but no companion right-of-way was created on the west side of the tracks at this location; and, WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed potential housing opportunities for this land on May 14, 2024, and subsequently directed staff to proceed with issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for development of the site; and, WHEREAS, the RFP process did not yield a proposal for housing development at the site. Staff found that it was difficult to attract interest in the site based upon the property size and the proposed timing of its development; and, WHEREAS, since that time, staff has been in contact with the Brenda Dryer from the Ames Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) to discuss opportunities to support additional housing construction within the City. It should be noted that she has worked successfully with other communities in Story and Boone Counties to assist builders with submitting applications to the State for Workforce Housing Tax Credits to construct ownership housing; and, WHEREAS, to accomplish the new housing development, the parties are proposing entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allows AREA to exclusively seek out a qualified developer and builder for the site. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the Memorandum of Understanding with Ames Regional Economic Alliance to identify a developer for City surplus land located at the Harrison and Welbeck intersection is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 25th day of March, 2025. _________________________________ ___________________________________ Renee Hall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Betcher Seconded by: Junck Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Rollins Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 25th day of March, 2025.