City of East Lansing Bailey Community Center Protecting Michigan’s Future Bond Fund Grant #BF89-373
Request for Partial Conversion Support Materials
Introduction
In 1990, the City of East Lansing entered into an agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to accept a Protecting Michigan’s Future Bond Fund Grant in the amount of $69,000 to replace existing windows on the Bailey Community Center (Grant #BF89-373)1. The Community Center had been constructed in 1922 as an East Lansing Public School and had been used for that purpose until the 1980’s, at which time it became a City of East Lansing public facility. The building has been used as a Community Center since then.
The Bailey Community Center is located at 300 Bailey Street, East Lansing, MI. The Community Center and surrounding parking lots comprise the southern 1/3 of Bailey Park. The Park is 3.77 acres, with 1.58 acres being dedicated to the Community Center and parking lots2. The entire Park was encumbered in the Bond Fund Project Agreement.
Concerns with the physical condition of the Community Center and the cost to continue operation of a Childcare Facility in this location prompted the City of East Lansing to pursue a Building Assessment in late 2014. The purpose of the assessment was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the existing condition of the Center and the actions needed to allow continuation of the current Center uses. The main body of the report can be found in Attachment C.
The Building Assessment identified a wide range of building needs and deficiencies. Of primary concern was the finding that the Bailey Community Center did not meet fire safety code as it related to fire suppression and emergency egress lighting. It was the determination of the City’s Building Official that the Community Center should be closed until such time as those corrections could be made.
The Opinion of Probable Cost included in the Building Assessment valued the cost of improvements required by code at approximately $240,000. When the estimated costs of these improvements are coupled with the costs of improvements that are necessary to allow existing Center uses to continue, the cost of needed improvements reaches over $475,0003. The City of East Lansing is not in a position to fund these required improvements so therefore it was the decision of City Council to close of the Community Center.
Description of Conversion
The City of East Lansing intends to convert the Bailey Community Center and surrounding parking lots from public use to limited private use, for the purpose of renovating the Center into a senior housing development. The conversion area is approximately 1.6 acres in size and includes the building and the parking lots, entrances, and hard surface play area that surround the building. Additionally, a number of trees will be removed, as will a public four-person swing-set and small multi-use play structure.
1 See Attachment A, Protection Michigan’s Future Bond Fund Grant #BF89-373 Project Agreement 2 See Attachment B, 2015 City of East Lansing Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan, Pgs 160-161 3 Author’s Note: there has been extensive discussion surrounding the need for some of the improvements stated in the plan, as well as their estimate of probable cost. For the purposes of this document, the information is presented as it is found in the Facility Assessment Report.
1 The property included in the conversion has been leased to the Capital Area Housing Partnership (CAHP), who will be responsible for the renovation and management of the proposed senior housing development and for the site improvements necessary to support the housing development4. The lease is contingent on approval of the conversion by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The conversion will remove a swing-set and small multi-use play structure from service. It will also remove a deteriorated asphalt surface and will convert the fully public Community Center building into a limited private use. Since the Community Center has been in City ownership, it has housed art, dance, fencing, ceramics and other general recreation programs, and has provided a space for the City of East Lansing Early Childcare Program.
CAHP has committed to dedicating $25,000 for the replacement of the play features that are scheduled to be removed. CAHP will also mitigate the trees removed in their final landscape plan for the site. The majority of general recreation programs have been transferred to the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, which is less than a mile away at 819 Abbot Road. The ceramics program could not be relocated to Hannah without investing in renovation of an existing space so the City of East Lansing is pursing grant funds to relocate the ceramics program.
Additionally, CAHP’s renovation plans for the interior of the Bailey Center include several public meeting and use spaces, and they have committed to pursue a private partner to provide a day care program in the completed facility.
Description of Proposed Mitigation Property
As mitigation for the conversion of the Bailey Center, the City of East Lansing is proposing to dedicate the property at the northeast corner of Albert Avenue and Abbot Road, as a park. A comparison of the two properties is shown below:
Item Bailey Center Mitigation Property Size +/- 1.6 acres 0.216 acres Value $ 195,000 $ 376,000 Location 300 Bailey St Albert Ave & Abbot Rd Current Site Cover Building, asphalt Concrete, lawn, landscape beds
Located within the boundaries of the East Lansing Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown Management Board, this property is listed with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) as one of East Lansing’s “Redevelopment Ready” Sites5. As late as 2014, a local development company was exploring options for redeveloping this property as part of a development project. Currently the property is being used as a community space but is not designated as a park. The City would propose to remove this property from the redevelopment ready site list and dedicate it as a public park, subject to the encumbrances currently assigned to the Bailey Center.
Alternatives to the Proposed Conversion
Two primary alternatives to conversion were considered: 1. Perform the improvements needed to continue to operate the Bailey Community Center for public use. 2. Close the Community Center but take not further action.
4 Attachment D: Lease of Bailey Community Center 5 Attachment E: October 17, 2014, City of East Lansing Memorandum, Redevelopment Ready Sites list, Pgs. Site Location Map, Mitigation Property pages, Bailey Community Center pages 2 The option to perform the necessary improvements to keep the Center open was evaluated over the course of several months. Additional discussions and inspections were conducted to identify options to reduce the cost of the improvements, and additional funding and revenue streams were researched and evaluated. The City of East Lansing determined that it is not possible to reduce the cost of the improvements enough to bring them within a range that could be funded with additional identified revenue.
The option to close the Community Center but take no further action was vehemently opposed by the neighborhood. While it was raised as an option, it was never considered a viable one due to this opposition.
Existing and Proposed Conversion Site Plans
A property survey and existing topographic survey, as well as a proposed site plan for the Bailey Center are provided in Attachment F and G, respectively.
Location Map and Site Plan for the Mitigation Property
A location map and existing site plan for the Mitigation Property are provided in Attachment H and I, respectively. A legal description of site is provided in Attachment J. No new improvements are proposed for this site at this time.
Comparison of Recreation Usefulness
The conversion area is approximately 1.6 acres in size and includes a Community Center, parking lots and entrances, an asphalt surface on the north side of the building, a four-person swing-set and a small multi- use play structure. Attachment K contains photographs of the site conditions. The Community Center has housed art, dance, fencing, ceramics and other general recreation programs, and has provided a space for the City of East Lansing Early Childcare Program.
The mitigation property is 0.216 acres in size and is currently used as a public community space. It is bisected by a concrete and brick walkway that encircles a fountain and is lined with landscape beds and benches. There is a Peace Pole in one of the landscape beds. The space is used as a location for activities during various East Lansing festivals, including the Folk and Art Festivals.
Mitigation Property Compliance with Recreation Plan
Because of its size, the mitigation property would be classified as a mini-park. The 2015 City of East Lansing Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan indicates that there is a deficit of mini-parks in the City of East Lansing: the NRPA standard is 0.25 mini-parks per 1,000 residents; the City of East Lansing has 0.13 mini-parks per 1,000 residents6. In addition, the Plan Park Service Area Analysis indicates that there is a deficit of mini-parks in the area of the City were the mitigation property is located7. Attachment L shows how the mitigation property will begin to fill the deficit for this area.
Due Care Information
As mentioned above, the proposed mitigation property is owned by the City of East Lansing as a redevelopment ready site. It has been owned by the City since 19838. Attachment N provides a history of
6 2015 City of East Lansing Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan, pgs 49-50 7 2015 City of East Lansing Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan, pgs 46-48 8 Attachment M: Property Deed 3 the property which contains no evidence of any commercial or industrial uses. We believe no further evaluation of the property is necessary.
Appraisals
An appraisal of the Bailey Community Center was conducted by Valbridge Property Advisors in July, 2015. The Appraisal Report is found in Attachment O.
An appraisal was not conducted for the mitigation property however David Lee, East Lansing City Assessor provided the attached valuation of the parcel, Attachment P.
Public Review
On Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, the City formally advertised in the Lansing State Journal and the East Lansing Towne Courier respectively, the intent to convert the Bailey Community Center into limited public use. The advertisement, Attachment Q, made materials about the proposed conversion and propose mitigation available to the public, and announced an October 20, Public Hearing to be held at the East Lansing City Council Meeting.
Prior to that time, the proposed change in use of the Community Center had been discussed at an assortment of public meetings and hearings including, but not limited to: 1. June 3, and September 2, 2015 Park and Recreation Advisory Commission meetings 2. August 12 and August 26, 2015 Planning Commission Meetings 3. March 24, May 26, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 8, and September 15, 2015 City Council Meetings
The proposed mitigation site was not identified before the Public Hearing advertisement.
City Contacts
Questions regarding this report and the information contained there-in can be directed to the following individuals:
Timothy M. McCaffrey, Director of Parks and Recreation, 517-319-6867, [email protected] Wendy Wilmers Longpre, Asst. Dir. of Parks & Rec., 517-319-6940, [email protected]
Attachments
Attachment A: Protecting Michigan’s Future Bond Fund Grant #BF89-373 Project Agreement Attachment B: 2015 City of East Lansing Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan, pgs 160- 161 Attachment C: City of East Lansing Bailey Community Center Facility Assessment Report, pgs 1-17 Attachment D: Lease of Bailey Community Center Attachment E: City of East Lansing Memorandum, Redevelopment Ready Sites List Attachment F: Bailey Center Property and Topographic Survey Attachment G: Bailey Center Proposed Site Plan Attachment H: Mitigation Property Location Map Attachment I: Mitigation Property Existing Site Plan Attachment J: Mitigation Property Legal Description Attachment K: Conversion site photographs Attachment L: Park Service Area Map Attachment M: Mitigation Property Deed
4 Attachment N: Historic Use of NE Corner of Albert and Abbot Attachment O: Bailey Community Center Appraisal Report Attachment P: Mitigation Property Valuation Attachment Q: Public Hearing Notice, Bailey Community Center Conversion
5
East Lansing Parks & Recreation
APPENDIX FOUR
Bailey Park
300 Bailey Street Inventory
Size: 3.77 Acres Parking Lot X Type: Community Park Soccer Field/Mul -Purpose Field X Playground X Tot Lot X Linden W Picnic Tables X Benches 7
Bailey Park is situated in the heart of the downtown Bailey Park Bailey neighborhood. There are open lawn areas for 2.19 Acres soccer and other uses, and play structures of various
d kinds to accommodate children from 2 to 12 years of age. o
o A four foot high chain link fence surrounds it on three w
g sides, with the Bailey Community Center to the south.
Bailey
n lli
o The mixture of sun and shade is well balanced in this C park.
A por on of the South half of Bailey Park contains an Bailey Bldg assortment of asphalt paved areas that are in poor 1.58 Acres condi on and arranged haphazardly. There are play structures set up in three dis nct loca ons speci cally for di erent age groups. The separa on is for good purpose, though it makes it di cult for parental supervision.
Ann Bailey Park provides the outdoor play space for the City of East Lansing childcare and summer camp programs. It is heavily used in this capacity making its maintenance and ADA Assessment upkeep of paramount importance. The State of Michigan day care licensing requires that all playgrounds used by Rank: licensed programs meet playground safety standards.
Key Issues: CLARIFICATION: Due to ques ons raised regarding the Bailey Park boundaries, the site map on this page was changed a er the 2015 Plan was adopted by City Council. The site map now shows the full park boundary with the green space and developed space clearly marked.
160 Appendix APPENDIX FOUR
Assessment Grant History
• Open lawn areas are in good condi on and por ons None are used for soccer prac ce • Play structures are in four loca ons throughout the park and are showing wear from age and extensive use by childcare program • Playground safety surfacing is wood chips • Chain link fence surrounding the park is in fair condi on, gates are in fair to poor condi on • Assortment of asphalt paved areas are haphazardly located and sized, and are in poor condi on • Two picnic tables and one bench are metal powder coated, three benches have wood slat seats and back • The parking lot is in very poor condi on • The dumpster enclosure is in poor condi on
Needs and Opportuni es
• Conduct a playground safety assessment and develop an implementa on plan • Remove and replace asphalt surfacing to be er serve the park needs • Replace chain link fenching and gates • Replace wood benches with metal ones or replace wood slats with recycled lumber slats. • Replace dumpster enclosure
161 City of East Lansing Bailey Community Center Facility Assessment Report
December 9, 2014 6240 W. MT. HOPE LANSING, MICHIGAN 48917 517.323.0577 City of East Lansing Bailey Community Center Facility Assessment Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
OBSERVATIONS 2 Architectural Building Systems Site Amenities
ANALYSIS 7 Architectural Building Systems Site Amenities
RECOMMENDATIONS 11 Architectural Building Systems Site Amenities
OPINION OF PROBABLE COST 14 Minimum/Immediate Items Recommended Future Items
APPENDICES 16 Appendix A - Building Floor Plans Appendix B - Code Summary Appendix C - Photographic Documentation Appendix D - Building Improvements Appendix E - Prior Assessment Reports