TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Tom Kisela, City Manager
1. Subject
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Professional Services Agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. for urban design services to develop a design concept for the West Katella Avenue area.
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2. Summary
Professional Services Agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. to develop a design concept to facilitate redevelopment in the West Katella Avenue area.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Approve the transfer of $55,000 from 952.9810.56020.20247, Building and Improvements -SAORA Capital, to 952.9810.51670.20541, Prof & Consulting - West Katella District.
2. Approve the agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. in the amount of $55,000 for urban design services; and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City.
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4. Fiscal Impact
The total expenditure for this agreement is $55,000 and will be funded through NW & SW Merged 2003 Taxable Bonds (FUND 952).
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 2: Be a fiscally healthy community
e: Create an environment to attract, retain, and expand economic opportunities.
6. Discussion and Background
The West Katella Avenue area is bounded by the Santa Ana River on the west, the water channel on the south, Batavia Street on the east, and the properties on the northside of Katella Avenue on the north. Although the area is surrounded by industrial development on three sides, its close proximity to the Honda Center, Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), and Santa Ana River create the potential to develop a visitor serving entertainment and hospitality district. Recognizing this development potential, several years ago the City Council re-zoned many of the properties in the area with an urban mixed-use zoning that provides flexibility for property owners to develop a mix of commercial, hospitality, and residential uses in response to market conditions.
Just across the Santa Ana River in Anaheim, planning has begun on the OC Vibe project which will include the Honda Center and surrounding properties. This multi-billion-dollar development will be phased over several years and is currently slated to include multiple entertainment venues, restaurants, office spaces, public parks and trails, 1,500 housing units, and two hotels. The City of Anaheim is working with several partners including the City of Orange to develop the OC River Walk along the Santa Ana River between Ball Road and Orangewood Avenue. This project would transform the Santa Ana River into a regional destination for recreation and entertainment and include a pedestrian bridge across the river from OC Vibe to West Katella Avenue in Orange.
The City of Orange Economic Development Strategy includes creating a district that is complimentary to OC Vibe and OC River Walk in the West Katella Avenue area. Unlike OC Vibe, where one developer controls all of the properties in the development, the West Katella Avenue area is made up of dozens of properties with various property owners. Creating a vibrant, cohesive district will necessitate working closely with property owners and other stakeholders in a multi-step approach:
1. Visioning Process to develop a design concept and framework for the area.
2. Development Feasibility Analysis to provide an analysis of what types of development are economically feasible in the area.
3. Place Branding to develop a brand and marketing for the area.
4. Place Making to develop signage, street trees, and other aesthetic elements for the area.
The proposed agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. (CityThinkers) would provide for urban design services to facilitate the visioning process with property owners and other stakeholders to develop a design concept and framework for the area. A key aspect of this approach is engaging the various property owners in a way that helps them see the development potential for their individual property while contributing to the development of a vision for the entire district.
City staff solicited proposals from various urban planning and architectural firms for this effort and are recommending the selection of CityThinkers due to the strength of their proposal and relevant experience with similar visioning efforts. If approved by City Council, staff would begin the process of soliciting proposals for the remaining three parts of the project. It is anticipated that the visioning process for the area will take between four and six months to complete.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Professional Services Agreement with CityThinkers, Inc.