Emporia City Commissioners took the first step in a major process related to the Gazette Collective Development project Wednesday.
As part of their regular action meeting, commissioners approved a resolution declaring the city’s intent to issue $9 million in industrial revenue bonds in support of the project at 517 Merchant Street. City Special Projects Director Tayler Wash explains Wednesday’s action was not the formal issuance of the IRBs, rather it is just kicking off the process.
According to Wash, the IRBs will not be officially issued until after construction is complete. That being said, this process does provide other benefits, namely sales and tax exemptions for the property which will last for 10 years.
The city has submitted a request to the state for said exemptions which developer Rick Mitchell says are crucial to the project’s success.
Rick Mitchell, along with his wife Colleen Mitchell, purchased the former home of the Emporia Gazette a little over two years ago with plans to develop the property into a multi-use space alongside their partner Sarah Eimer. Current plans include a restaurant, office space for Mitchell Markowitz Construction, five “luxury residential units,” two short-term visitor rental units and an artist-in-residence studio.
Rick Mitchell tells KVOE News that physical work, beginning with the office space, is set to begin April 1. Current timelines have the project lasting up to 12 months.
In other business Wednesday, commissioners also approved a memorandum of understanding with Emporia State University regarding both entities’ collaborative use and upkeep of Welch Stadium on the ESU campus. Per the MOU, ESU will be responsible for overseeing public access and safety for the facility as well as providing promotional materials for the City of Emporia during select events.
The City of Emporia meanwhile, will have a $400,000 financial obligation to the stadium to help support maintenance and upkeep. Those dollars will be allocated in two installments throughout 2024.
City Manager Trey Cocking says it is a sensible agreement given the amount of major community events that take place at the stadium each year. This includes the upcoming NCAA Division II National Track and Field Championships which ESU is set to host both this year and again in 2026, which Cocking says was the main driver behind the MOU’s creation.
The MOU will remain in place through 2027 unless either entity chooses to terminate it before that time. Cocking says if ESU were to terminate the MOU before it’s original expiration, the university would incur some hefty financial penalties.
In separate action Wednesday, commissioners:
*Held a public hearing to close out the CDBG-funded project at 17 West 4th Avenue for Radius Brewing’s renovation of and expansion into the former Spic N Span dry cleaners building.
*Approved a resolution requesting Lyon County Commissioners to make certain findings regarding the annexation of property into the city limits.
Awarded a waterline project in Industrial Park III to S.R. Coffman Construction for just over $573,000.
*Approved a contract with GMLV for design of the city’s new Emporia Fire Station.
Following the action session, commissioners moved into their regular study session during which time commissioners reviewed a change to the future Emporia Recreation Center Steering Committee’s MOU. Commissioners also reviewed the results of a recent community survey and began the first session of a strategic visioning effort.
City leadership and commissioners will be discussing the strategic visioning session and city survey results when they join KVOE’s Talk of Emporia next Friday, March 29 at 11:05 am. The Emporia City Commission will next convene on Wednesday, April 3 at 11 am inside of the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
