City economic development staff told the Magnolia Community Redevelopment Area advisory committee that a property rehabilitation funded by a CRA commercial improvement grant has been completed at 130 Northwest 17th Street.

Marie Mesidue, economic development specialist, said the applicant, Jack Eason, used grant funds to reroof the building, install fencing and attic work and replace HVAC and associated electrical systems. Mesidue told the committee the grant amount for that project was up to $17,690.21 and that staff are finalizing documentation to process the grant reimbursement. Committee members inspected before-and-after photos shown during the meeting.

Roberto Ellis, economic development manager, reviewed project-area work the CRA will pursue next. He said staff identified three underground storage tanks on Parcel G and are procuring a vendor to remove them. Ellis said the city will re-advertise an invitation to negotiate (ITN) for a mixed-use redevelopment opportunity on a parcel north of the Baker property; staff emphasized they will evaluate proposals for financial capacity, design appropriateness within zoning rules and demonstrable experience developing similar projects.

Staff also said they will issue an ITN for a single-family lot on Northwest 17th Street. Mesidue described minimum specifications the city will ask prospective developers to meet: a minimum of roughly 900 square feet of livable space and a two-bedroom, two-bath layout, with units targeted to remain affordable for low-income households. Mesidue said the ITN for the single-family lot was expected to be posted within about a week and that staff would share the link with committee members when it is available.

The committee discussed a request from the historic Jewish cemetery adjacent to Parcel G to acquire a portion of city-owned property to address encroachment and to regularize boundaries. Ellis said the CRA would be compensated for the parcel at fair market value. Committee members raised questions about flood risk on the site. Staff said the parcel is identified by FEMA as being within a flood zone and that development would require special accommodations. Mesidue said the city is contracting a consultant to complete a study on how development could be treated on that site and that engineering staff are following up on possible steps to request FEMA map adjustments.

Committee members urged staff to prioritize a broader drainage and corridor study for North Magnolia to resolve long-standing detention and grading issues that some residents said date to the roadway’s original construction.

Other operational updates included replacement and centralized storage of seasonal banners and routine project tracking for CRA parcels. Staff requested feedback and indicated they will return with procurement and ITN materials as they are finalized.

Ending: Staff asked the committee for feedback and said items requiring formal action would be brought back to the CRA board for approval when ready.