Questions

All questions shall be submitted in writing to:

Michelle Nochta michelle.nochta@lakewoodoh.net

All questions from interested teams must be submitted in writing by the end of business on Tuesday June 11, 2019. Responses will be posted to the website by the end of business on Friday June 21^st.

Trinity RFQ -Questions and Answers – Round 1, June 11, 2019 

 Has the City of Lakewood conducted and EPA Phase I site assessment for the Trinity Church site? And, if so, will the EPA Phase I site assessment be provided to the team? Has the city conducted any structural assessments? 

The city has not conducted an EPA Phase I or any structural assessments. There is an ACM survey that was ordered two years ago by another entity. It is available on the website and is to be used for informational purposes only. 

What incentives are available? Is tax abatement available?  

The city is willing to invest in a project that delivers on the goals and objectives explained in the RFQ. Tax abatement and tax increment financing are financing tools that are not preferred. The city would prioritize funding requests that are one-time investments tied to physical improvements to the building(s) and the site, as has been the case for other projects the city has provided strategic investment in recent years. Any potential investment would likely come at the beginning of the project for improvements to the property or could be structured through the sale price of the property.  

 Below are two programs that may be relevant to proposals:  

Storefront Renovation Program – Storefront Renovation Program 

Incentives for Qualified Projects   

LOAN  

0% loan up to 80% of eligible cost, or a maximum of $50,000 per project.   

In addition, minor rebates available for architectural fees, signage, exterior accessibility improvements designed to use best efforts to meet ADAAG guidelines, and electrical code improvements.  

REBATE  

Rebates up to 40% of total eligible costs, not to exceed a maximum of $30,000 per project.  

SBA Grant – SBA Program  

The program provides small businesses meeting the following requirements with 15% of total project costs up to $50,000 as a forgivable 3-year loan. The Program Summary provides additional information and a Crain’s article about the program can be found at http://bit.ly/2BIpQiQ. 

• 10% owner equity injection; 
• 75% financing via an SBA-backed loan from a participating lender; 
• consultation with an SBA Small Business Development Center (SBDC); 
• creation of new jobs 

 

Is the city of Lakewood open to a long-term lease agreement? 

The city is open to all proposals. A deal structure that involves the transfer of the property is preferred. 

Does the re-purpose of the church require sprinklers to be installed? 

Fire code requirements are complex and vary greatly depending on the specifics of the proposal. Please consult a design and code professional to assist with the analysis. 

Will the city provide any special accommodations for parking? 

Parking will be subject to the standard review process and all applicable requirements. Please review Chapter 1143 of the Zoning Code for the requirements related to parking. There are options to seek Planning Commission review of a parking plan that does not meet the requirements of the code. Providing adequate off-street parking, on site or via shared parking agreements, is a very important component of any proposal.   

Does the city of Lakewood offer any grant programs for non-profit entities? 

The city is willing to invest in a project that delivers on the goals and objectives explained in the RFQ. Tax abatement and tax increment financing are financing tools that are not preferred. The city would prioritize funding requests that are one-time investments tied to physical improvements to the building(s) and the site, as has been the case for other projects the city has provided strategic investment in recent years. Any potential investment would likely come at the beginning of the project for improvements to the property or could be structured through the sale price of the property.  

What are the top 3 uses the city would like to see? 

No specific uses have been pre-determined. Please consult the RFQ document and review the Community Vision documents for guidance.  

For our purposes, the price of $625k is too high. Is that the price for the church, or is that up for negotiations? 

The city is willing to invest in a project that delivers on the goals and objectives explained in the RFQ. Tax abatement and tax increment financing are financing tools that are not preferred. The city would prioritize funding requests that are one-time investments tied to physical improvements to the building(s) and the site, as has been the case for other projects the city has provided strategic investment in recent years. Any potential investment would likely come at the beginning of the project for improvements to the property or could be structured through the sale price of the property.   

Is adaptive reuse the favored approach for the church, or for all the existing structures?  

The city does prioritize the adaptive reuse of the church building before the classroom addition and retail buildings on site. The classroom addition and retail buildings do not need to be part of the adaptive reuse but may be incorporated if they add value to a team’s vision and plans for the site.  

Ideal RFQ would meld all structures? Can they merge ideas? 

The city is open to all proposals and we look forward to your creative solutions.  

Are any of the structures designated historic? 

Currently, none of the structures are designated as historic.   

Do we know the current condition of the boiler system? 

The boiler has not been turned on in two years. Its current condition is untested.  

Is there any chance we could see the church property a second time? 

Yes, we scheduled a second-look walk-thru for Tuesday June 18th from 9-10 am. Information was sent out to the pre-submission meeting attendees. To attend the second-look walk-thru your team must have had representation at the mandatory pre-submission meeting held on June 5, 2019.  

How would one calculate the tax on the property? Is the tax payable monthly or quarterly? Would the new tax rate be calculated on the final agreed upon transaction amount? 

Tax rate is determined by Cuyahoga County and payment plans are at the County’s discretion. The tax rate is based on several variable factors including the value of the proposed improvements. Please contact the County or a financial real estate professional for more information. 

Please contact Cuyahoga County Property Tax Division for assessments and payment options.  

Joseph Micciulla
Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer Office
jmicciulla@cuyahogacounty.us
(216) 698-6435